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the one reason ITV Southern deserved to lose their franchise...
adam_fransella
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...is because their ident, both visually and in terms of the music that went with it, was perhaps the most dull and subdued ever to be used by any ITV company, and when TVS came along, it was their idents alone that made them a superior South/South East region. The same can be said of those for Meridian - until the ITV1 we know today was created.
As you've guessed, I believe TV continuity is as important as the programmes they introduce -
sad, but true!
As you've guessed, I believe TV continuity is as important as the programmes they introduce -
sad, but true!
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The problem with Southern is that it was stuck in it's own little world and didn't really want to change as such which was one of the reasons why the IBA didn't want to give them the contract for the original 1982-1990 contract round (later extended during the 80's until 1992) Plus they had outside interest which the IBA didn't like.
Whilst TVS gave the viewers in the South and South East a bit of kick of colour into the television sets. Their initial logo (in terms of background and ident) had more black on the screen than any other colour and you thought Southern's blue background was depressing!
to that of Southern, too.
So you would watch a programme you hated for 2 hours just because you liked the continuity in the idents etc???? What utter rubbish.
I still maintain that Southern was fine for its region and its time and loved and respected. But time changes things.
No, no, no, of course not. What I mean is: whatever I watch (or used to watch), the ident that comes before it adds a bit of 'sparkle' to enhance enjoyment. A strange way of looking at broadcasting, I know, but that's how I've always felt.
Plus the Southern star preceded two great shows of the time. Namely "How" and "Worzel Gummidge".
Oh how I wish the current ITV made shows remotely as good
PS I also liked the TVS logo and jingle but never once saw the Meridian ident (it might have been that they had all been phased out when Meridian started??)
Who's to say come January 1st 1982 Southern wouldn't have launched a brand new look with a more dramatic fanfare. (ATV were planning one, prior to their change. It was returning to being "ATV Midlands" on-screen had they not had to Centralise.)
(2) on the home-page, click on the top-left hand section
marked "ITV" (under "Channels");
(3) once in "ITV", go to the section towards the bottom of the list, called "South & S. East England", and click on it;
(4) look for the section marked "Meridian Broadcasting, 1993-present", and click on "Idents", underneath;
(5) enjoy!
I disagree. Although perhaps the most dated of all idents, I like it, as it was bright and colourful, with decent music too.
TSW's Thats My Dog was better than Southern/TVS/Meridian
Interesting!
I personally used to like the Southern guitar jingle, which I thought was a bit more classy than our local ATV Foghorn Fanfare which could seriously damage the hearing of young children! I also used to like the HTV warble, although a friend once said it sounded like electronic vomit. Whatever that is.
Thy knew their remit - the last chord played by Steve Race was accompanied by an onscreen slogan 'The station that serves the south' No mention of shareholders.
Brian Nissen, one of the on-screen continuity announcers passed away not that long ago.
That is very interesting, red16v. Thank you for mentioning all of that.
How can you say that- TVS gave us No.73 The Fraggles, Art Attack, How 2, Finders Keepers etc.
80s CITV wouldn't have been half as good without TVS.
Not to mention the Inspector Wexford series with George Baker.
Did TVS keep Out of Town going?
I used to love that! I think TVS had it's blue logo with "Television South" then.