IS
The problem with a channel like bid up was that it had to be live and it had to have all the back end functions like phones and graphics otherwise the programme doesn't work.
If there's a power issue or major computer failure then they're off air a lot longer - they can't just chuck a recorded programme on or just do something else in the studio
If there's a power issue or major computer failure then they're off air a lot longer - they can't just chuck a recorded programme on or just do something else in the studio
JA
At least it's not the permanent "breakdown" when they went off air for good and the plug was pulled mid-programme.
JB
Occasionally they'd play out three hours worth of Screenshop/TVshop/TV Warehouse or whatever it was calling it's self then and cut back to the studio every 20 minutes for a technical update.
If it was just bid they'd show Speed Auction TV like here:
The problem with a channel like bid up was that it had to be live and it had to have all the back end functions like phones and graphics otherwise the programme doesn't work.
If there's a power issue or major computer failure then they're off air a lot longer - they can't just chuck a recorded programme on or just do something else in the studio
If there's a power issue or major computer failure then they're off air a lot longer - they can't just chuck a recorded programme on or just do something else in the studio
Occasionally they'd play out three hours worth of Screenshop/TVshop/TV Warehouse or whatever it was calling it's self then and cut back to the studio every 20 minutes for a technical update.
If it was just bid they'd show Speed Auction TV like here:
TI
On one of the websites for old Beeb employees someone mentions they were just about to introduce a film when they heard in their earpiece the director shouting "What do you mean it says 'short version'?".
Anyone know the site? Sounds like an interesting story and I'd like to read it.
On one of the websites for old Beeb employees someone mentions they were just about to introduce a film when they heard in their earpiece the director shouting "What do you mean it says 'short version'?".
Anyone know the site? Sounds like an interesting story and I'd like to read it.
SW
Found it! http://www.tech-ops.co.uk/pres/page2.html
Some other interesting breakdowns on there.
Anyone know the site? Sounds like an interesting story and I'd like to read it.
Found it! http://www.tech-ops.co.uk/pres/page2.html
Some other interesting breakdowns on there.
VM
Found it! http://www.tech-ops.co.uk/pres/page2.html
Some other interesting breakdowns on there.
This reminds me that there's a very early breakdown story in 'Tales from a Cold Field':
Anyone know the site? Sounds like an interesting story and I'd like to read it.
Found it! http://www.tech-ops.co.uk/pres/page2.html
Some other interesting breakdowns on there.
This reminds me that there's a very early breakdown story in 'Tales from a Cold Field':
Quote:
In the very earliest days, there occurred a minor incident, which revealed quite conclusively that all possible eventualities had not been foreseen. Picture the scene: the desk TA had settled down for the evening, and was about halfway through watching a nice costume drama. (Quality monitoring was taken very seriously in those days.).
Suddenly an unintelligible strangulated voice issued from the loudspeaker beside him. The performers in the costume drama had evidently heard it and understood, for it had an immediate effect on them. Most of them immediately shambled off the set, fumbling for concealed packets of cigarettes. One of them was heard to pass a distinctly non-period remark. A few moments later, all of the lighting on the set went down, leaving the scene in semi-darkness.
The TA was rather uneasy about all this, but concluded that this might be the work of a modern and therefore trendy producer. After a minute or more had passed in total silence, however, he felt impelled to ring Alexandra Palace and find out what was going on.
"Ah. there doesn't seem to be much action going on in this play, does there?"
"It's all right, old boy. The transmitter's broke, so the cast have all pushed off to the canteen 'til it's fixed."
"Ah, so you're off. But the problem here seems to be that we aren't.."
"Um. Get back to you on this one, old boy."
This was the way things had always been done at the Palace, up to that time. There was no viable system of telerecording in existence, so all performances, even the repeats, were done live. With only one transmitter in service, if it broke there just wasn't any point in going on with a performance. After it had been fixed, the control room would presumably send someone out to round up the cast, whereupon they would all troop quietly back, and the production would resume from where it had left off, in a gentlemanly way.
A new memo detailing breakdown action was issued shortly after this incident.
Suddenly an unintelligible strangulated voice issued from the loudspeaker beside him. The performers in the costume drama had evidently heard it and understood, for it had an immediate effect on them. Most of them immediately shambled off the set, fumbling for concealed packets of cigarettes. One of them was heard to pass a distinctly non-period remark. A few moments later, all of the lighting on the set went down, leaving the scene in semi-darkness.
The TA was rather uneasy about all this, but concluded that this might be the work of a modern and therefore trendy producer. After a minute or more had passed in total silence, however, he felt impelled to ring Alexandra Palace and find out what was going on.
"Ah. there doesn't seem to be much action going on in this play, does there?"
"It's all right, old boy. The transmitter's broke, so the cast have all pushed off to the canteen 'til it's fixed."
"Ah, so you're off. But the problem here seems to be that we aren't.."
"Um. Get back to you on this one, old boy."
This was the way things had always been done at the Palace, up to that time. There was no viable system of telerecording in existence, so all performances, even the repeats, were done live. With only one transmitter in service, if it broke there just wasn't any point in going on with a performance. After it had been fixed, the control room would presumably send someone out to round up the cast, whereupon they would all troop quietly back, and the production would resume from where it had left off, in a gentlemanly way.
A new memo detailing breakdown action was issued shortly after this incident.
NT
I saw this go out too! In those days, if you had a Sky analogue dish then you could get RTL (and a heap of other German broadcasters) - so I assumed then it was someone in the control room at LWT...
A NSFW one here from LWT, I remember seeing this go out. Worth it just to hear the shock in Peter Lewis' voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOLrnyUeMc4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOLrnyUeMc4
I saw this go out too! In those days, if you had a Sky analogue dish then you could get RTL (and a heap of other German broadcasters) - so I assumed then it was someone in the control room at LWT...
NT
And then there's this one from the day before the 1987 general election which caused a bit of a stir and a few problems for ITV. All caused by apparently a VT which was unexpectedly being used in an edit and left in remote at Thames so kept stopping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qAKvHRGqys
What happened afterwards? Was the PEB shown later in the evening?
Imagine if a party election broadcast fell off air now - social media would be full of conspiracy theorists...
And then there's this one from the day before the 1987 general election which caused a bit of a stir and a few problems for ITV. All caused by apparently a VT which was unexpectedly being used in an edit and left in remote at Thames so kept stopping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qAKvHRGqys
What happened afterwards? Was the PEB shown later in the evening?
Imagine if a party election broadcast fell off air now - social media would be full of conspiracy theorists...
MA
And then there's this one from the day before the 1987 general election which caused a bit of a stir and a few problems for ITV. All caused by apparently a VT which was unexpectedly being used in an edit and left in remote at Thames so kept stopping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qAKvHRGqys
What happened afterwards? Was the PEB shown later in the evening?
It was shown the following night, (which was a Friday) so LWT had the 'honour' of playing it out rather than Thames
And then there's this one from the day before the 1987 general election which caused a bit of a stir and a few problems for ITV. All caused by apparently a VT which was unexpectedly being used in an edit and left in remote at Thames so kept stopping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qAKvHRGqys
What happened afterwards? Was the PEB shown later in the evening?
It was shown the following night, (which was a Friday) so LWT had the 'honour' of playing it out rather than Thames
