On the web
since 1996
Updated: Mo 2-Jun-25
HERE COMES SUMMER!
The Return of the COW
This update focuses on the return of BBC 1's first computer-originated world (or COW), brought back for the 40th anniversay of EastEnders. While most of the nations relied on the archive for this, BBC 1 Wales went above and beyond by resurrecting their original globe player device.
And the folks there were kind enough to send me some photos so I could update the BBC 1 1985 page with a further look at the workings of these brilliant machines.
Other fun stuff!
Relax and watch the ripples on the Thames on a very calm day and an equally calm night! These animations are based on a Java applet written by David Griffiths and coverted into JavaScript so they can run on any browser.
Remember static - the random picture of dots you saw when tuning an analogue TV set? Hard to put on YouTube because too much changes too quickly for the codec to cope. But here it is perfectly generated by your browser (both in colour and black and white).
The story of the disappearance of Central and Westcountry, swept away by the Carlton branding machine.
The story of the disappearance of LWT, HTV and the regional announcers, despite assurances from the Government that ITV's regional identities were safe in their hands.
The story of how Carlton and Grampian disappeared along with hours of regional programming.
A FAQ on digital TV from 1999 when it was a new thing! A time when you could plug a set-top box into your TV and get Sky One on subscription with no dish, no cable and no internet required.
From 2003, the annoyance of colourful, sometimes animated, permanent on-screen logos or "DOGs" that most channels have nowadays.
TV Logos Index
Updated
TV Station logos from yesteryear, featuring Dave Jeffery's Flash Files and Flash-free symbols, clocks and break bumpers. With articles on the visual brand history of the BBC, Thames Television and ITV's unified look from 1999 to 2005. Now with more images of BBC 1's golden globe ident player.
Public Information Films Index
Updated Th 1-Aug-24
Transcripts of public information films with some available to watch (if you have RealPlayer, VLC or something similar and can put up with the tiny video size!).
Channel 5, Britain's newest and last terrestrial analogue TV network, was launched on Easter Sunday 1997 by The Spice Girls. This is an FAQ on the station from 1999.
Everything you always ever wanted to know about PDC, the amazing invention which enabled you to set a timer to record a programme and it would still work, even if the programme was delayed. An FAQ from 2003 when analogue TV was still a thing.
TV favourite Zippy from Rainbow lets rip with a four-letter word in the name of entertainment. Yes it's really Zippy. Don't believe it? See for yourself!
Trying to get hold of an old TV theme? Here are the track listings from the TV Sets collection and This is the Return of Cult Fiction, which includes White Horses, judged to be the best tv theme ever!
In 1996, Dave Van Staveren created a web site that turned out to consist almost entirely of other people's web pages. The other people weren't happy - especially when Dave accused them of copying from him! That December he visited the BBC and apologised for his actions. But that wasn't the end of the story...
Fifteen to One Updated Su 1-Dec-24
Find out how you go about inventing a popular quiz show and what it's like to appear on one, now with a new introduction summarising the show's history, including its revival in 2013.
Right to Reply Updated Su 1-Dec-24
I appeared on viewer feedback programme Right to Reply seven times! This section has transcripts, screenshots and video of my contributions. The index page is now mobile-friendly and has updated descriptions.
Full Contents Updated
A full list of contents for the pages at this web site. New and updated pages are indicated, as are those featuring audio and video clips.
ANDREW WISEMAN
Colour Production
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