New Sky factual channels launched
On 27th May, Sky began a new push into factual programming with the launch of two new channels: Sky Nature and Sky Documentaries. Also on that date, the History channel was rebranded Sky History, as part of a strengthening of …
BBC Radio branding in need of a tidy-up
Last updated: 4th June 2020. Back in 1997, the BBC realised that it was responsible for hundreds of very different looking logos, ranging from broadcast channels to corporate services. As well as being very expensive, the other big negative is …
BBC One Peter Crouch promo issues
Today saw the launch of the full-version promotion for one of BBC One’s highest profile shows in recent weeks: Peter Crouch: Save Our Summer. Hopefully the comedy in the show will be better than the trail suggests. Anyhow, on to …
Pronunciation 101
Last updated: 7th June 2020. In the past, broadcasting organisations – particularly the BBC – were quite strict about standards of pronunciation among on-air talent, such as presenters, announcers and voiceover artists. Regional accents were rarely heard. Received pronunciation was …
BBC One reintroduces now/next pointers
As reported earlier on the TV Forum website, BBC One seems to have brought back now/next sequences. A design first seen in January 2016 was used in the junction leading into tonight’s edition of The Graham Norton Show. Now/next pointers …
RTÉ One updates promo endboard
RTÉ One has been phasing in a new promotion endboard design over the last few days. The previous design – first aired in January 2014 – is still in use but it does look as though it’s on the way …
The history of the BBC trade test transmission
First published in 2008. Last updated: 4th August 2020. This page contains examples of the various tuning signals and test cards used on BBC Television since the 1930s. The feature remains a work-in-progress and we’d be delighted to hear from …
RTÉ TV daily start-ups
Last updated: 6th June 2020. Long after elaborate daily start-up routines were dispensed with on British TV, the tradition continued on Irish TV – until c. 1997 in fact. Though it must be said, RTÉ’s daily ritual was a fairly …
Early in-vision teletext in Ireland
Until the late-1980s, the test card filled most of the daytime hours on RTÉ One and RTÉ Two. And actually, even by the 1980s, the RTÉ One analogue transmitter network only came back online at 10am (weekdays) after the overnight …
A lesson in how not to execute a BBC One/BBC News Channel handover
Since the launch of BBC News 24 in November 1997, BBC One has used a simulcast of the 24-hour news channel to fill the overnight hours. Prior to that, BBC One’s transmitter network was closed down during the night. Unlike …