I think it was in early 1991 that the laws were changed regarding UK TV schedule listings in magazines. Both the ''Radio Times'' & ''TV Times'' were allowed to cover all aspects of UKTV (including Sky too by that point as it had started in '89) for the first-time, and also a lot of rival magazines began, such as ''What's On TV'' & ''TV Quick'' (I can remember the ad for that one, with Liz Smith (Nana from ''The Royle Family'') in it singing ''That's The Way I Like It'' by K.C & The Sunshine Band, as she went to the newsagents to buy the mag!).
Also, the newspapers started to do their own listings magazines too, so for my family & friends there wasn't so much of a reason to buy either the ''Radio Times'' or ''TV Times'' anymore, whereas upto that point it was fairly essential to buy both to help plan your daily TV viewing for the BBC & ITV/Channel 4.
Nowadays, who needs listings mags when you have your Sky EPG etc?
Until then BBC, ITV and Channel 4 protected the copyright in their programme listings which is why newspapers were only allowed to print one day's programmes (except on Saturday when they could print two) and the TV magazines held a monopoly.
For the full story, check out my book "The Radio Times Story". (Blatant plug!)
Apparently, well known drummer and V/O Ringo Starr was the first person in the U.K. to own a domestic VCR. I read it on the web - ergo it's indisputable. He might have old tapes lying around with some classic early 70's stuff. Perhaps someone could email him and ask ?
One thing I do remember was how strictly controlled publication of the schedule was. Radio Times for BBC, TV Times for ITV (and later Channel 4), very limited details in the newspapers. Occasionally Radio Times had to do national editions (print strikes?), these included S4C programmes but only the welsh language ones. I don't think Radio Times published ITV and Channel 4 details until 1990. They even had a special edition for each local radio area.
Somebody mentioned old german schedules. Their broadcasting hours were even shorter, regional third programmes from 18:00 - 22:30 most nights, national channels 16:15 - 24:00 during the week, weekend start about lunchtime. There was a special morning programme for 3 hours, this was only broadcast in West Berlin and west german transmitters covering the DDR.
If you can receive BR-Alpha, check the schedule for Saturday mornings, they still show some very quaint english lessons from the 1980s.
There was a strike at Waterlows, printers of the RT, in the 1950s when it enjoyed a sale of 9 million copies a week,the highest circulation of that type in the world. The strike last nine weeks and only edition was produced each week. It was printed at Thomson's Withy Grove plant in Manchester, the only place in the UK capable of a nine million print run (Waterlows having seven different print works around the UK).
Apparently, well known drummer and V/O Ringo Starr was the first person in the U.K. to own a domestic VCR. I read it on the web - ergo it's indisputable. He might have old tapes lying around with some classic early 70's stuff. Perhaps someone could email him and ask ?
The problem is if they can't find a working machine to play the N1500 format tapes.
I know that there are still a few still alive and kicking but these machines were notoriously unreliable even when new, so you'd be extremely lucky to be able to transfer a large number of tapes, which we hope Ringo Starr to have.
That's if the tapes haven't degraded to white mould, rendering them totally unplayable.
can anyone tell me if this website still working? or is it me? tryed using way back machine ,but this is excluded for some reason? if all fails is there any other website that would show the same ?
Comments
Until then BBC, ITV and Channel 4 protected the copyright in their programme listings which is why newspapers were only allowed to print one day's programmes (except on Saturday when they could print two) and the TV magazines held a monopoly.
For the full story, check out my book "The Radio Times Story". (Blatant plug!)
Keep It in the family also was remade in the US as Too Close For Comfort
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Too_Close_for_Comfort_(TV_series)
There was a strike at Waterlows, printers of the RT, in the 1950s when it enjoyed a sale of 9 million copies a week,the highest circulation of that type in the world. The strike last nine weeks and only edition was produced each week. It was printed at Thomson's Withy Grove plant in Manchester, the only place in the UK capable of a nine million print run (Waterlows having seven different print works around the UK).
November 1977
1725 News followed by Weatherman
0005 Weatherman
Were women excluded from certain forecasts? lol
The problem is if they can't find a working machine to play the N1500 format tapes.
I know that there are still a few still alive and kicking but these machines were notoriously unreliable even when new, so you'd be extremely lucky to be able to transfer a large number of tapes, which we hope Ringo Starr to have.
That's if the tapes haven't degraded to white mould, rendering them totally unplayable.
can anyone tell me if this website still working? or is it me? tryed using way back machine ,but this is excluded for some reason? if all fails is there any other website that would show the same ?
oh dear thats sites down again
I think the domain name with the website's hosting company has expired and the website owner for some reason won't renew it.
well if thats the case i'll take it, i could do alot with that site
oh right its back again. if they don't want it i'll have it:)
i just emailed them ,i hope they reply