:-(
A former member
It did because it give LWT three peak time slots, Fri/sat/sun.
NJ
Remember of course when LWT's hours were moved back to 5:15 they had to provide an early evening news programme which they didn't have to do previously for a 7pm start. The solution to this was to farm it out to Thames and for a while you had that strange situation of Thames saying bye, LWT coming on air and then 20 seconds later going back to Thames for some news. I don't think LWT did its own news programmes for many years, possibly not until around 1988?
Neil Jones
Founding member
Many thanks for the replies. This may cause a ruckus. Regarding the Thames/LWT split. To me the weekend is Saturday and Sunday. ABC and ATV pre '68 followed that. I know why LWT had a 7.00/5.15 start for revenue reasons but does a few hours on a Friday night have much difference?
Remember of course when LWT's hours were moved back to 5:15 they had to provide an early evening news programme which they didn't have to do previously for a 7pm start. The solution to this was to farm it out to Thames and for a while you had that strange situation of Thames saying bye, LWT coming on air and then 20 seconds later going back to Thames for some news. I don't think LWT did its own news programmes for many years, possibly not until around 1988?
RO
That's correct Neil, 8th January 1988 (coincidentally my birthday) was when LWT news started. Previous to this, the only news LWT provided at weekends themselves, was a short bulletin read by the continuity announcer, on Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday night. The bulletins had no graphics, no photos, no reports.
Following complaints by the IBA, LWT created a dedicated news service, originally produced by Screen News. In 1990 Chrysalis took over the production contract. Before this, LWT said that it didn't have the resources to provide a weekend news service, despite employing around 90 journalists for output, such as Weekend World and The London Programme.
One other thing to mention; the stories that the continuity announcer read out on LWT news, prior to 1988, were taken from copy from either wire agencies, or ILR stations. So, it may have been that a mid afternoon story, that was the top story on Thammes news, may not have been the top story on LWT news, and may not have even been mentioned.
I recall seeing one LWT news bulletin from the 1980s, where there were just three stories read out.
Following complaints by the IBA, LWT created a dedicated news service, originally produced by Screen News. In 1990 Chrysalis took over the production contract. Before this, LWT said that it didn't have the resources to provide a weekend news service, despite employing around 90 journalists for output, such as Weekend World and The London Programme.
One other thing to mention; the stories that the continuity announcer read out on LWT news, prior to 1988, were taken from copy from either wire agencies, or ILR stations. So, it may have been that a mid afternoon story, that was the top story on Thammes news, may not have been the top story on LWT news, and may not have even been mentioned.
I recall seeing one LWT news bulletin from the 1980s, where there were just three stories read out.
NL
Remember of course when LWT's hours were moved back to 5:15 they had to provide an early evening news programme which they didn't have to do previously for a 7pm start. The solution to this was to farm it out to Thames and for a while you had that strange situation of Thames saying bye, LWT coming on air and then 20 seconds later going back to Thames for some news. I don't think LWT did its own news programmes for many years, possibly not until around 1988?
That's something I never understood mind you ABC had a similar setup. They had current affairs but not "news" as we know it:
https://www.transdiffusion.org/2001/01/11/news-2
Many thanks for the replies. This may cause a ruckus. Regarding the Thames/LWT split. To me the weekend is Saturday and Sunday. ABC and ATV pre '68 followed that. I know why LWT had a 7.00/5.15 start for revenue reasons but does a few hours on a Friday night have much difference?
Remember of course when LWT's hours were moved back to 5:15 they had to provide an early evening news programme which they didn't have to do previously for a 7pm start. The solution to this was to farm it out to Thames and for a while you had that strange situation of Thames saying bye, LWT coming on air and then 20 seconds later going back to Thames for some news. I don't think LWT did its own news programmes for many years, possibly not until around 1988?
That's something I never understood mind you ABC had a similar setup. They had current affairs but not "news" as we know it:
https://www.transdiffusion.org/2001/01/11/news-2
MA
Remember of course when LWT's hours were moved back to 5:15 they had to provide an early evening news programme which they didn't have to do previously for a 7pm start. The solution to this was to farm it out to Thames and for a while you had that strange situation of Thames saying bye, LWT coming on air and then 20 seconds later going back to Thames for some news. I don't think LWT did its own news programmes for many years, possibly not until around 1988?
That's something I never understood 2
It was branded ‘Thames Weekend News’ , in effect a Thames production for LWT, but I doubt anyone other than folk like us even noticed the juxtaposition, and folk like us knew what it was all about anyway!
Many thanks for the replies. This may cause a ruckus. Regarding the Thames/LWT split. To me the weekend is Saturday and Sunday. ABC and ATV pre '68 followed that. I know why LWT had a 7.00/5.15 start for revenue reasons but does a few hours on a Friday night have much difference?
Remember of course when LWT's hours were moved back to 5:15 they had to provide an early evening news programme which they didn't have to do previously for a 7pm start. The solution to this was to farm it out to Thames and for a while you had that strange situation of Thames saying bye, LWT coming on air and then 20 seconds later going back to Thames for some news. I don't think LWT did its own news programmes for many years, possibly not until around 1988?
That's something I never understood 2
It was branded ‘Thames Weekend News’ , in effect a Thames production for LWT, but I doubt anyone other than folk like us even noticed the juxtaposition, and folk like us knew what it was all about anyway!
IS
Remember of course when LWT's hours were moved back to 5:15 they had to provide an early evening news programme which they didn't have to do previously for a 7pm start. The solution to this was to farm it out to Thames and for a while you had that strange situation of Thames saying bye, LWT coming on air and then 20 seconds later going back to Thames for some news.
Though that scheduling was unusual, I think only one summer.
Usually the Thames bulletin was on at 6, either by itself or at the beginning of the 6 o'clock Show
Remember of course when LWT's hours were moved back to 5:15 they had to provide an early evening news programme which they didn't have to do previously for a 7pm start. The solution to this was to farm it out to Thames and for a while you had that strange situation of Thames saying bye, LWT coming on air and then 20 seconds later going back to Thames for some news.
Though that scheduling was unusual, I think only one summer.
Usually the Thames bulletin was on at 6, either by itself or at the beginning of the 6 o'clock Show
BL
That's probably because the THS/LWT circuit switch at the PO tower was automated to happen bang on
17:15:00, either that or BT's router control system clock was running fast
I suspect he just waffled on too long forgetting it was a ‘hard’ junction and not one that could be happen a second or so later.
The pre-1968 schedule is what it was. Every minute of time was accounted for by the authority. The same for post 1968.
I remember watching a handover of Thames to LWT in around mid 1980s and the presenter waffled on for too long, that she was cut off mid sentence and went straight into LWT ident.
I remember watching a handover of Thames to LWT in around mid 1980s and the presenter waffled on for too long, that she was cut off mid sentence and went straight into LWT ident.
That's probably because the THS/LWT circuit switch at the PO tower was automated to happen bang on
17:15:00, either that or BT's router control system clock was running fast
I suspect he just waffled on too long forgetting it was a ‘hard’ junction and not one that could be happen a second or so later.
BL
From memory LWT offered this increased news provision rather than as a result of IBA pressure. No doubt LWT had one eye on the forthcoming franchise changes.
That's correct Neil, 8th January 1988 (coincidentally my birthday) was when LWT news started. Previous to this, the only news LWT provided at weekends themselves, was a short bulletin read by the continuity announcer, on Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday night. The bulletins had no graphics, no photos, no reports.
Following complaints by the IBA, LWT created a dedicated news service, originally produced by Screen News. In 1990 Chrysalis took over the production contract. Before this, LWT said that it didn't have the resources to provide a weekend news service, despite employing around 90 journalists for output, such as Weekend World and The London Programme.
One other thing to mention; the stories that the continuity announcer read out on LWT news, prior to 1988, were taken from copy from either wire agencies, or ILR stations. So, it may have been that a mid afternoon story, that was the top story on Thammes news, may not have been the top story on LWT news, and may not have even been mentioned.
I recall seeing one LWT news bulletin from the 1980s, where there were just three stories read out.
Following complaints by the IBA, LWT created a dedicated news service, originally produced by Screen News. In 1990 Chrysalis took over the production contract. Before this, LWT said that it didn't have the resources to provide a weekend news service, despite employing around 90 journalists for output, such as Weekend World and The London Programme.
One other thing to mention; the stories that the continuity announcer read out on LWT news, prior to 1988, were taken from copy from either wire agencies, or ILR stations. So, it may have been that a mid afternoon story, that was the top story on Thammes news, may not have been the top story on LWT news, and may not have even been mentioned.
I recall seeing one LWT news bulletin from the 1980s, where there were just three stories read out.
From memory LWT offered this increased news provision rather than as a result of IBA pressure. No doubt LWT had one eye on the forthcoming franchise changes.
JA
Actually its documented Thames would opt out of the final CITV junction on a Friday because of 5:15pm and this was happening in 1991 and 1992 at least and presumably before that.
Yes I remember that. This was when Home and Away was swapped with LWT News to begin at 600 on a Friday to match the Monday to Thursday schedule. As LWT didn't start until 515, Thames added a filler cartoon and an ad break until 515, when LWT News began.
The 5:15 Friday split between Thames and LWT is also the reason why the childrens programmes finished at about 5:14pm. Give Thames a chance to say goodbye, and allow the formal handover to LWT.
Actually its documented Thames would opt out of the final CITV junction on a Friday because of 5:15pm and this was happening in 1991 and 1992 at least and presumably before that.
Yes I remember that. This was when Home and Away was swapped with LWT News to begin at 600 on a Friday to match the Monday to Thursday schedule. As LWT didn't start until 515, Thames added a filler cartoon and an ad break until 515, when LWT News began.