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Channel 4 30th Birthday

(November 2012)

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CA
Cavan
Damn it! The ident was Scrapyard!
TT
Tumble Tower
I've also watched and recorded the 9pm programme junction, in the hope I might see an old ident, but was disappointed at seeing Scrapyard .
BR
Brekkie
Seems somewhat apt. The novelty of seeing old idents has worn off now considering we can see them anytime we like online - but one thing which strikes me about the C4 ident and the original Four Score at least is how the idents manage to be both fun and authoritive at the same time.
CA
Cavan

It hasn't been the best birthday. Hopefully in 10 years it'll be decent.
OM
Omnipresent
I'm surprised at just how little coverage there is of Channel 4's 30th anniversary. There are a few features online but that's about it:

http://tvcream.co.uk/

http://therewillbeaplace.com/tag/channel-4/
TI
tightrope78
I remember watching it start! I was only 4 1/2 but even then I was fascinated by television idents etc.
BR
Brekkie
And talking of Countdown it's moving earlier yet again a week on Monday to a start time of 2.40pm - so I guess that explains all the recent quiz commissions, which look set to air at 3.30pm.

It's been recommissioned for a couple more years but Countdown is in Catch 22 - C4 move it earlier, it loses viewers, so they move it earlier etc. etc. etc. It wouldn't be so bad really if they cut Deal back to 45 minutes and then had Countdown at 3pm, new quizzes at 3.45pm and Deal at 4.15pm.
PT
Put The Telly On
This may be of interest...

Also...

This may be of interest *plug*... http://sptfy.com/nn


*The links above have no Red Triangle warning.
GB
GavBelfast
"feelinglistless" on the Comments section of that Guardian article says it for me.

Channel Four used to be and feel so distinctive, and it was the last real new channel event (as pretty much everyone went from just three to four channels).

If anything, its logo apart, I'd say it now has the least distinctive feel of the five "terrestrial" channels, which is sad.
RW
Robert Williams Founding member
Channel Four used to be and feel so distinctive, and it was the last real new channel event (as pretty much everyone went from just three to four channels).

Unless you were served by a relay transmitter, in which case you had to wait a bit - 1985 in our case.
MA
Markymark
Channel Four used to be and feel so distinctive, and it was the last real new channel event (as pretty much everyone went from just three to four channels).

Unless you were served by a relay transmitter, in which case you had to wait a bit - 1985 in our case.


Not just a relay transmitter, some main stations. Only two out five of the main transmitters carried C4 in TSW's
region from day 1, and that (coupled with the Equity dispute) was why TSW decided not to even attempt to sell any advertising until early 1983.

The original plan was for all 50 main transmitters, and some key relays to carry C4 from day one.
However there was pressure exerted on the IBA to equip all six main stations, and virtually every
relay in Wales for S4C from day 1. So sites in Eng/Scot/NI had to take a back seat for a while.

That said C4's coverage on Nov 2 82 was 87% of the population.

I recall watching the BBC News that night, they spun the story to say ONLY 87% of the population were able to see Channel 4, conveniently forgetting that when BBC 2 started (the last channel to be launched before C4) it was only available in the London area, and required a new TV, and aerial. Never let the the facts get in the way of a good story eh ?
Last edited by Markymark on 4 November 2012 10:28am - 2 times in total
JV
James Vertigan Founding member
Channel Four used to be and feel so distinctive, and it was the last real new channel event (as pretty much everyone went from just three to four channels).

Unless you were served by a relay transmitter, in which case you had to wait a bit - 1985 in our case.


Not just a relay transmitter, some main stations. Only two out five of the main transmitters carried C4 in TSW's
region from day 1, and that (coupled with the Equity dispute) was why TSW decided not to even attempt to sell any advertising until early 1983.


I was surprised when Huntshaw Cross was one of the first transmitters to get analogue Channel 5!

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