Status of TVS archive

The physical tapes are a physical asset. They have a value (minimal I suspect) as magnetic tape in a plastic shell or on a metal spool, which could be re-used on obsolete VTRs.

The ownership of the physical tape doesn't imply full ownership of the material on the tape. It is arguable that it would allow you to privately watch the content on the tapes legally, but possibly no more than that.

The content on the tape is intellectual property which is entirely independent of the media it is stored on. Whether it is on 1" tape or files on a server somewhere, it exists separately as a concept to the physical media it is stored on.

It's just like owning a DVD isn't the same as owning the rights to sell the movie or show it on TV.

Yep which makes sense as the channel came out of the remains of TVS.

In the same way that a lot of the staff of UK gold and UK Living were Thames employees

Who said that? My implication was that an American person found a load of paperwork pertaining to programming they had never heard of, had no idea of its pertinence, left it behind and bought a clearance team in.

Exactly what do you think TV Forum is?

I'll tell you what it's not - a private army of researchers you can inpolitely bark orders to.

We can only tell you what we know/understand. It may be wrong, but there is precious little in the way of reference material on the subject - especially without the thread being populated with very poorly researched conspiracies like Flextech bought it because they bought the building and then never listed or used the archive even though it would have been quite valuable to them.

If you want people to share information cordially, in the spirit of the forum, your attitude needs to change.

I have already told him three people he should contract outside this forum and he cant be arsed to follow them up.

At least if the tapes can be found and the owner of them identified then it's undeniably a step in the right direction. As I have previously stated, my interest is in the preservation of the TVS archive. The rights to programmes can be sorted out later.



I did hear... I did hear... I did hear...

I want some real proof and evidence.



I find that story a bit dubious because there were still people working in the Maidstone Studios employed by Flextech that must have known about the existence of the TVS archive back in 1996. Challenge was showing TVS programmes so Flextech management would certainly have known about the whereabouts of documentation detailing the rights to any programmes that they were showing.

This is why I'm more inclined to believe that the documentation detailing the rights to TVS programmes was taken out of the Maidstone Studios and moved to the IFE offices in the US early on rather than thrown out of the Maidstone Studios or a London office in a clearup by staff from IFE or Fox after the Maidstone Studios were bought by Flextech.

I'll SAY THIS ONE MORE TIME

I suggest to anyone WHO want to get more answers, to try and contact the following people. ITS NOT HARD if you try.

* Nic Ayling who has clearly saved Master tapes
* Steve Woodgate current owner of TVS LOGO
* Nigel Pickard ( Family channel controller and Vice thingy of Flextech etc.)

There might not have all the details about should have some clues.

And thats me finshed with this thread.

And me. Over and out.

I have already written to Prism Digital Communications Ltd in Kent to find out if they know or have anything.

I am also going to contact Disney to find out if they have any documentation about the assets of Fox, and also the assets of IFE when they were taken over by Fox, as that might reveal something about the ownership of the TVS archive. I will not initially mention TVS as their staff probably don't know anything but if there's potential information in the sales documents then I will probe deeper.

With due respect Riaz, parts of your posts are coming across as rather demanding and somewhat dismissive towards others who have been contributing in this thread. Whilst I'm sure many would like to know the current whereabouts of TVS' archives it's likely if you are wanting 'cast iron concrete proof' you'll have to do most of the investigating by yourself.

Sometimes though it can be enthusiasts who help get these issues sorted. Like how the Adam West Batman wasn't out on home video until just over a year ago because of rights issues- apparently it was a dedicated group of fans who tracked down who owned what and sorted out the issues, Fox & WB not really taking any action in sorting it out themselves! http://www.wired.com/2014/11/batman-home-video-finally/ Not that it's really the same as the issue with TVS, but shows sometimes it's enthusiasts that sort these things out rather than people in the business!

Agreed, it's just going round in circles.

No-one here knows for certain what happened and so all we can give you are our assumptions and theories based in our experience and knowledge. But no matter what we say, no matter how sensible or well informed you just dismiss it out of hand and ask for definite evidence. Well you're not going to get it!

As my parents used to say: I want doesn't get.


This subject has been discussed here before as well as on other forums dedicated to missing programmes. Experienced people have actually gone out and done the leg work looking for the things and come back with no answers.

I think we've gone as far as we can with you, there's only so much arrogance and ingratitude I can take