Transmission From The Midlands: 1982-2004

So, from tomorrow, transmission moves from Birmingham to Leeds, ending almost half a century of broadcasting from the Midlands to the Midlands.

The switch to Leeds is to happen tomorrow at either 9:25 or 12:00, with the Central presentation team shadowing them until sunday night, when Central Presentation will close for the final time, ripping the heart out of Central.

If some people from (the soon to be former) Central Presentation department are reading this, I would like to congratulate them on always broadcasting a highly professional and enjoyable service - East, West and South. Even in the post ITV 1days, the Central team have still managed to provided a much cleaner, more professional service; to say nothing of the past.

I am certain that the Leeds team will try their hardest, but unfortunately, because there will only be two pres directors monitoring the output of 8 regions, and 12 sub regions, the service is bound to be a poor copy of Central.

So, if you have any comments for the people who are to lose their jobs from Sunday, or about the service they have provided over the years, please do post them here.

I would like to wish everyone at Central Pres the very best of luck in the future.

If it's almost 50 years why does the thread title say '1982-2004'?

If transmission is moving to Leeds does that mean the Central region goes back to ad breaks without the 'optical' between each commercial or has Leeds been re-vamped technology wise?

I am not entirely sure. I think the technology which will be used is older than the current equipment in Birmingham.



Because Central itself started broadcasting in 1982, but there has been a presentation department in Birmingham since ITV launched there in 1955.

Because this website is infested by people who could hardly rub two GCSEs together, at the moment.

The next phase in the great ITV master plan, I suppose.

Those colour bars with "BAT3" across the bottom will live with me for ever.

I think it does, as YTV (and the other ex-GMG North) regions still do not have the breakflash, AFAIK out of the ITVplc operation YTV has the oldest equipment as it doesn't use the Breakflash where as Central and LNN do.

I knew Central transmission was rumoured to be moving to Leeds, I didn't know it would happen so suddenly, though it doesn't suprise me, but I can see it making bugger all difference, the only thing probably being more technical cock-up's, they'll probably get Granada or YTV by accident knowing them. It wouldn't suprise me if they moved the Weather there next!

Forgive me for sounding dumb, but if Central's equipment is more newer then why have they decided to come to Leeds who have old equipment, the big guys at ITV have lost it IMHO, just watch out for more calamaties as Leeds will cock it up!

The Birmingham equipment, although newer than Leeds, was only set up to play out ONE region, exactly like the South Bank's prior to the changeover.

Leeds had the advantage, although older, of already being set up to play out multiple regions. Adding a few extra was "relatively" simple.

They had to pay out big bucks to convert the South Bank to multiple play out, so didn't want to spend too much more money on the standby site, hence they chose one that was already "fairly" capable.

Thanks for the explanation Nick Harvey, it's a shame Birmingham's pres unit is to close, Leeds will make a total cock up of this, damn the ITV bosses!

I know there are many people inside ITV that share the view that this is an interim step. The end game is to move all ITV transmission to BBC Broadcast at White City. I hope not.

Surely not SMG or UTV though ?.