The warmth of their news programming came across in the documentary. UTV seemed to have the touch where the BBC seemed cold and aloof, UTV was warm, open and fun.
I always knew their studios were small, but I didn't realise how small. The Kelly Show, crammed into a 1,600 Sq Ft studio for the first four years of its existence, before moving into the slightly bigger Studio 1 at 2,500 Sq Ft. I think that studio was built with the audiences in mind, as Gerry said, a proper built in audience seating area.
With those studios some great news programmes and entertainment shows came out, nothing compared to the one floor studio space they have now at City Quays.
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Blimey, that is small. Some (most?) regional news studios were larger than that.
Blimey, that is small. Some (most?) regional news studios were larger than that.
The original studio opened in 1959 was just 1,200 Sq Ft, with a "larger" studio opened in 1962 at 1,600 Sq Ft. And that was it until 1993, when the new extension was opened in June 1993, with the new studio named Studio 1, at 2,500 Sq Ft. I remember May McFettridge comedy actor John Linehan saying that Studio 1 had cleverly constructed sets and wide angle lenses on the cameras to make it look much larger than it was.
The original studio opened in 1959 was just 1,200 Sq Ft, with a "larger" studio opened in 1962 at 1,600 Sq Ft.
Or as Gerry Kelly put it "There were two studios. A small studio... and an even smaller one"
Yes, and Gerry had to use the small one. Also, apparently for a time, UTV's "Six Tonight" news show would air in the 1,600 Sq Ft studio. At 7pm that set would be dismantled, the Kelly set installed, and ready for the 10.40pm broadcast. At 12.10am when the show ended the set was dismantled and the news set installed.
Blimey, that is small. Some (most?) regional news studios were larger than that.
The original studio opened in 1959 was just 1,200 Sq Ft, with a "larger" studio opened in 1962 at 1,600 Sq Ft. And that was it until 1993, when the new extension was opened in June 1993, with the new studio named Studio 1, at 2,500 Sq Ft. I remember May McFettridge comedy actor John Linehan saying that Studio 1 had cleverly constructed sets and wide angle lenses on the cameras to make it look much larger than it was.
Those numbers are amazing. UTV's audience wasn't all that much smaller than that of Tyne Tees, who used their 2500 sq ft Studio 2 for local news, and 900 sq ft Studio 3 (not much smaller than the original size of UTV's main studio) for short bulletins and continuity at Christmas. UTV must have used some quite clever techniques as I didn't notice the Kelly studio being that small when I was over there in 1990.
Blimey, that is small. Some (most?) regional news studios were larger than that.
The original studio opened in 1959 was just 1,200 Sq Ft, with a "larger" studio opened in 1962 at 1,600 Sq Ft. And that was it until 1993, when the new extension was opened in June 1993, with the new studio named Studio 1, at 2,500 Sq Ft. I remember May McFettridge comedy actor John Linehan saying that Studio 1 had cleverly constructed sets and wide angle lenses on the cameras to make it look much larger than it was.
Those numbers are amazing. UTV's audience wasn't all that much smaller than that of Tyne Tees, who used their 2500 sq ft Studio 2 for local news, and 900 sq ft Studio 3 (not much smaller than the original size of UTV's main studio) for short bulletins and continuity at Christmas. UTV must have used some quite clever techniques as I didn't notice the Kelly studio being that small when I was over there in 1990.
Oh it was. I have visited Havelock House as a kid when my dad did security for UTV. The studio was very small. The audience were placed on a scaffold type rig, with 85 people on a balcony, right next to the very hot studio lights. It was like a sauna in there when you had the cameras and crew in to. There was not much room for guests in the original studio.
In 1993 when Derry City won the Sam Maguire Cup, I remember the Kelly Show did a live link up to Derry, at the Guildhall Square, and I remember being with my dad in the UTV outside broadcasting truck with their sports reporter Adrian Logan who was covering the event. I remember watching the live link up to Havelock House.
UTV were fantastic. Great team. And they were very liberal, in allowing the 8 year old son of their security team into the outside truck, and seeing the behind the scenes bits, and then seeing the studio too when in Belfast.
I think it was September 1993, as I remember my dad and the UTV guys talking about Kelly coming from their "brand new swanky studio" for the first time in that new series.