Service Information on BBC2

Does anyone remember Service Information on BBC2?

Back in the 1970s, it was shown on BBC2 on Wednesdays at 11:25 am (i.e. shortly after the morning edition of Play School had finished), and lasted about five or ten minutes. I saw on another TV nostalgia web site quite some time ago it was a "ghost programme", because it didn't appear in the Radio Times or newspaper programme listings. The programme was aimed at the TV engineering trade, to announce new transmitters. Remember, during the 70s, UHF transmitters were gradually being rolled out. Although all the main transmitters were in service by 1976 (Fremont Point), they still had to put relays in.

I can remember when I was playgroup age, about 3 or 4, so it must have been 1975 or 1975, I used to watch the morning edition of Play School on BBC2. A number of Wednesdays, I continued watching after Play School had finished.

A clock would appear. The clock was black on white background, which mystified me as I was used to seeing white on black background clocks on BBC1 and BBC2 (N.B. we had a black and white TV). Underneath the clock it said (in italics) "Service Information Follows Shortly", with no mention of BBC2. The announcer said "Service Information follows shortly". Next the clock ticked around and around for a few minutes, with some strange music (I've since found out on another site it was called "Walk and Talk"). Eventually Service Information started.

As a 3 or 4 year old, I didn't understand what the announcer meant by "Service Information". One occasion, after the programme began, I vaguely remember them saying something like "BBC1 UHF, BBC2 Black Hill", and I didn't have a clue what they were on about!

Did anyone else watch this on purpose or by accident? I'm calling out to:

People in their mid thirties , who like me, were playgroup age at the time and had finished seeing Play School on Wednesday (then due to the TV being left on, caught Service Information afterwards).

Aerial riggers and transmitter engineers , or anyone else working in the TV trade at the time, who by now may well be retired and drawing pension.

I think it continued on BBC2 (aka B2) into the early eighties, but was eventually withdrawn. When did the BBC stop putting Service Information on BBC2?

http://www.transdiffusion.org/emc/halcyondays/1970s/hidden.php is an interesting read on this subject.

Oh yes, I watched it too. Every morning at 11:30 on BBC 2. During the 1970s an extended edition on Thursdays developed.

The IBA had an even better programme, 'Engineering Announcements for the Radio and TV Trade'. Tuesday mornings at 9:10. That moved over to C4 in 1983, then moved back to 5:45am, then died when the IBA were broken up in 1990.

The BBC programme ceased around 1982, it was replaced by Ceefax P698, which has also in the last few months ceased. It's all on the Interweb now.

Full information of BBC-2 Trade Test Transmissions can be found here:
http://tcc.members.beeb.net/ttcf.html

Trying to find a download of the theme music, Syd Dale: Walk and Talk ?

If you go to the website PRES HEAVEN, and click BBC -> BBC2 you will find a Flash animation of the 1967 style BBC2 COLOUR clock, with the caption "Service Information follows at 11:30" at the left of the frame. As expected, it is accompanied by the tune "Walk and Talk". Enjoy watching it.

Unfortunately the tune just accompanies the animation, I don't think you can download it as an audio copy. I'm unable to help you on finding a downloadable audio version (e.g. MP3 for your MP3 player).

Here a MP3 copy I did of ripping the music ( I just wish I did this with the Grampian em start up )

http://www.divshare.com/download/879974-b59

enjoy

... another hidden gem was "Monday's Newcomers" on ITV when the new networked commercials were fed down to the regional presentation studios across the network. I seem to remember this at around 0930 maybe slightly earlier. I believe it was also used for publishing purposes so that the ads could have a uniform 'first show' across the network.

... also the Tuesday IBA Engineering bulletin at 0910 was well worthwhile watching too.

It actually spent more time starting at 10:00 than any other.

It got a bit earlier towards the end of its life, though.

There was also that other gem, the "Monday's Newcomers has been cancelled this week" slide, which always seems, from memory, to have been transmitted as often as the "programme" itself. Probably not, though, it just seemed that way.

It was sort of resurrected in 1984 by TVS. They would insert a batch of commercials at 09:30hrs on Fridays on C4 from Rowridge, during what was then the test card, presumably to feed Channel TV with their set of copies ?