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Old 26-08-2002, 23:55
TheCableGuy
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What is it with ITV and that little black and white thing that appears about 3mins away from adverts? I always remember seeing it, then it seemed to go away - and now i have noticed it again on this show. It can be usefull cos you know the break is coming soon.
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Old 27-08-2002, 00:05
Sazz
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I think you answered your own question there
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Old 27-08-2002, 00:05
TheCableGuy
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Originally posted by Sazz
I think you answered your own question there
So thats the only use?
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Old 27-08-2002, 00:06
Sazz
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I think so, but to be honest im as clueless as you
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Old 27-08-2002, 00:09
TheCableGuy
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Originally posted by Sazz
I think so, but to be honest im as clueless as you
Doh. perhaps its the aliens -


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Old 27-08-2002, 05:44
Fatbloke
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youre right, no not about the alien thing..., it marks either an advery break upcoming or a live broadcast upcoming - though I'm not sure whether that bit still applies.
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Old 27-08-2002, 11:11
TheCableGuy
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Originally posted by Fatbloke
youre right, no not about the alien thing..., it marks either an advery break upcoming or a live broadcast upcoming - though I'm not sure whether that bit still applies.
Oh ok then - i knew there had to be some reason for it.
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Old 27-08-2002, 11:38
rewind
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It alerts region broadcasters that an advert break is coming up so they can get their adverts ready.
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Old 27-08-2002, 11:52
beermonster
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Originally posted by craig@rewind
It alerts region broadcasters that an advert break is coming up so they can get their adverts ready.
& it alerts me to ask the wife to get me another beer whilst I nip upstairs for a pee.
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Old 27-08-2002, 17:18
625
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They are called 'cue dots' and, as people have correctly pointed out, are used to signal to the ITV regions that an ad break is rapidly approaching and so they need to be ready to play out the commercials.

These days they only turn up on live broadcasts, because otherwise the exact timings of ad breaks are already known in advance.

You also see them on the other terrestrial networks.
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Old 27-08-2002, 17:38
The Magic Monkey
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Did the cue dots themselves actually mean anything? Were they like barcodes, each one meaning somehting different?
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Old 27-08-2002, 17:49
simong2002
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am I right in thinking they were a failsafe in case the automatic system didnt work?
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Old 28-08-2002, 00:41
TheCableGuy
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Originally posted by 625
They are called 'cue dots' and, as people have correctly pointed out, are used to signal to the ITV regions that an ad break is rapidly approaching and so they need to be ready to play out the commercials.

These days they only turn up on live broadcasts, because otherwise the exact timings of ad breaks are already known in advance.

You also see them on the other terrestrial networks.
Oh ok then. but surely they could have a system that is not visible to the viewer, seeing that thing on my WS tv always distracts me from the show im watching. And its not like they are rapidly approaching, they have usually 3 mins - it only takes a second for a person or machine to press a play button (if adverts are that simple)
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Old 28-08-2002, 17:31
bringbackGalaxy
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Cue Dots

625 is 100% correct they are cue dots. I dont know if the same applies today, but in the 70's and 80' each region had its own variation of the dot. Some were still while some moved. Sometimes they appear on live broadcasts only to be taken away again as they have changed their minds!! Cue Dots appear 60 seconds before a break, so when you see one next time and you are dying for a pee, at least you know you dont have to suffer too long!!!
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Old 28-08-2002, 20:32
andyk22
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They are also used to warn the power grid of up coming breaks as when they begin most people put on a cuppa at the end of say Coronation Street.

Imagine a few million kettles being turned on simutaneously and you'll realise that if the grid didn't provide a surge of power Britain would literally short circuit its self.

People that work for the grid have TV's installed monitoring the main 5 channels and with a rough idea of viewing figures can accuaratly guess what power needs to be genrated when a programmes ends.

If it is too much or little electricity you will notice your lights flicker.
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Old 29-08-2002, 16:47
beermonster
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Originally posted by andyk22
They are also used to warn the power grid of up coming breaks as when they begin most people put on a cuppa at the end of say Coronation Street.

Imagine a few million kettles being turned on simutaneously and you'll realise that if the grid didn't provide a surge of power Britain would literally short circuit its self.

People that work for the grid have TV's installed monitoring the main 5 channels and with a rough idea of viewing figures can accuaratly guess what power needs to be genrated when a programmes ends.

If it is too much or little electricity you will notice your lights flicker.
Nerd!
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Old 29-08-2002, 20:37
andyk22
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If it wasn't for those people the countrys power system would collaspse - your fridge would cut out - beer go warm!!! - can't see where to piss in the dark - fall down the stairs in the dark.
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Old 29-08-2002, 20:41
bobmac
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Originally posted by andyk22
...fall down the stairs in the dark.
…and think of the strain that would put on the NHS

Those guys controlling the add-power levels are keeping Britain ticking!
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Old 29-08-2002, 21:11
andyk22
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lol - actaully they have diesel generators in hospitals just in case! but every thing else relys on them!
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