Pre school i loved the music (always waiting for Live and Let Die) during afternoon closedowns mum would leave on whilst she set about getting dinner together for dad which was a pretty good set up 'cos with nothing to miss on TV there's no distractions and the family dinner was always excellent as a result, life before the multi channel TV dinner age eh.
You are so right there too for sure-and in a way it was so much nicer too really than now then! But I guess that is how it is now then as such with progress too!
After the trade test colour films finished, BBC 2 would not come on the air till at least 10:00, when they would broadcast a test card - at 10:30, they would put on transmitter information, then return to the test card till 11:00, when the first transmission of Play School would be broadcast - after which, the test card would be shown until 11:30, then BBC 2 would then close down altogether until around 4 pm, then the test card would be shown until they came on the air - at around half five during Open University opening hours - often not before half seven. The only exceptions were on live racing days, live cricket and Bank Holiday Mondays, when BBC 1 was broadcasting a Bank Holiday edition of Grandstand - BBC 2 would shove a couple of old films into the schedule - and, of course, Wimbledon!
And to think that they wanted Channel 4! At that point - and they were told as much - they couldn't fill the two channels that they had - even BBC 1 often had bits of test card during holiday times in the mornings - and nearly an hour of it between three and four - occasionally slotting in the odd Welsh programme - oddly enough minus any subtitles - as if we English (the Scots, Northern Irish and even the Welsh were spared this) speak Welsh!
By June 1980 that had changed!!!! CEEFAX began broadcasting on the channel firstly from 09.45 until 10.27/30 then Engineering Information followed by test card then Play School and back to the testcard before transmitters shut down and then 40 minutes before testcard or a programme then CEEFAX would be radiated (weekdays). On Wednesdays CEEFAX would open up at 09.20 until 09.57/30 followed by Gharbar at 10.00 then an educational programme followed by Play School then Engineering Information and back to the testcard thereafter.
Thank you for this of course. This was a daytime closedown, not a night-time one as some may believe. At the time here in 1981, BBC2 did indeed close down then too. So the time shown here is pm, not am. As others have said too, it was not really until September 1983 when Daytime on Two started that they were on air all day and if not with Pages from Ceefax. Before that Test Cards F or G would be shown, or if not, the channel would be off air, in the same way really it was at night-time too. This had occured since the 20th January 1975; prior to which Test Card F was shown all day long. I don't remember that of course; but that date was my seventh birthday by coincidence! The BBC at the time decided-to save money-to turn off BBC2 in the daytime unless there was something to show. BBC1 was not affected by this at the time; where For Schools Colleges was shown around the News and Pebble Mill At One; along with the children's series at the time too. When not, Test Card F was shown. ITV of course too was also not affected by it either. Well done too!
I have also read before in the Test Card Circle magazine that up until the 1983 date I gave, BBC2 would come on air around 10.10am; whereas after that it was at 8.52am or so. This was on weekdays at the time. On weekends, there would often be a lengthy Open University-OU- broadcast, which sometimes would start at 6.25am and run right through until 3.10pm; although this was not the case all the time by any means too. Thank you!
Indeed, but I believe they had stopped showing the test card for most of the day in the January 1975 cutbacks, and just closed the transmitters down (as seems to have happened here). That may have been reversed later in the 70s when they'd found a bit more money, but it was definitely the norm for a while to just broadcast a blank screen and tone during the day.
I remember after 11.00 play school a brief test card at 11.30 BBC 2 was non existant for a few hours then did show up. Some Wednesday's during summer months. there a cricket match being shown NOT test match cricket.
They really did close down, too. No test card, just straight into shutting down the signal until around 3pm, when they're start up again with the test card and music. If we were lucky, we'd get the PM5544, (or rather the test card G variant), and the, 'Bread tape.' Happy days.
@@somedude5422 Called as such due to it having a number of alternative versions of commercially available tracks by artists including Bread, The Monkees, Cat Stevens, Wings and Carly Simon, intermixed with instrumental versions of other popular tunes. It's known as the, 'Bread Tape', due to the very first tune being Breads, 'Baby I'm A Want You.'
Here's the reason why the test card didn't appear on this occasion. As BBC2 didn't start programmes until 3.55pm CEEFAX pages would have appeared with tone at 3.20pm (as soon as the transmitters were switched back on again) followed by music at 3.30pm so as CEEFAX would have faded to black at 15:52/30 there would be no need for BBC2 to return to a trade test transmission before closing down.
Before The Pages From Ceefax was introducing on 28th April 1983 over on BBC2 from 4.00am will be Ceefax AM before the programmes for the Open University at 6.25 to 8.05 am and return to the Testcard at 8.05am with the tone and music at 8.45am before the 15 minutes Pages From Ceefax in full transmission at 9.00 before 11.00am Play School until 9th September 1983 the last final over on BBC2 is no more over on BBC2 at all, and next week commence on 12th September 1983. Play School is shifted over on BBC1 half an hour earlier at 10.30am permenantly, before the new term of schools programmes over on BBC2. Week commencing on 19th September 1983 with the special Daytime On 2 Ceefax Pages educational Information for learning and training courses resources basis also from 1st October 1983 both channels will introduced overnight Pages from Ceefax and music over on BBC1 and BBC2 without being closing down all night Ceefax without the Testcard being shown and you agree this one. Many thanks. Michael D'Ambrogio Any chance to upload some more of the overnight Ceefax and music on BBC1 during the closedown please. Here's some listing of BBC1 Closedown and Ceefax Junction dates, also over on BBC2 Closedown and Pages From Ceefax Junction dates: for examples BBC1 Closedown and Ceefax Junction 24th December 1983 Parts 1 to 38 sections.* BBC2 Closedown and Ceefax Junction 25th December 1983 Parts 1 to 49 sections.* * Note the BBC1 and BBC2 trade test Festive Christmas of music. BBC1 Closedown and Ceefax Junction 1st January 1984 Parts 1 to 43 sections.*Please note partly BBC Christmas festive the first two tapes lasts for 2 hours for a limited after return the normal ordinary trade test tapes are back normal. BBC1 Ceefax Junction 28th October 1983 Parts 1 to 22 sections. BBC2 Ceefax Junction 17th August 1983 Parts 1 to 25 sections. BBC2 Ceefax Junction 1st May 1984 Parts 1 to 12 sections. BBC2 Ceefax Junction 20th June 1984 Parts 1 to 22 sections. Many thanks Michael D'Ambrogio
If i remember rightly, BBC2 use to Closedown on a regular basics in theearly 80's as BBC Schools were still transmitted on BBC1 during weekday morning and didnt transfer to BBC2 with Daytime on 2 until 83. their were occassion special events including the local and national election or the open of parilament where their they were transfer to BBC2, I use to remember the engineers at Sandy Heath transmitter use to switchoff the transmitter for couple hours, until they restart up again with Ceefax.
You don't shut down on US networks, as every minute you are on air means money from commercials. Back then NBC, CBS and ABC would fill any blank gaps with infomercials, movies, syndicated shows, re-runs etc, anything to get ad revenue. In 1981 all three main networks would have been on the air from at least 6.00am, and would probably sign off around 2.00am the next morning.
John King - IIRC infomercials weren't a thing in US until the mid 1980's. Before that there were the interstitials, unscheduled pieces of programming of diverse themes designed to fill gaps of no more than 15 minutes (most likely after a movie) in any time slot. Of course, syndicated (new and rerun) programming would fill up slots of 30 or 60 minutes, but those were already scheduled,
BBC Budget cuts, The BBC Didn't get much income from tv taxes payers for tv programming as at the time the tv licence fee in 1981 was £59.99, this is why in 2024 the tv licence fee as it is now is so expensive and people moan about it.
i remember these closedowns of this era, it was usually time for me to take an afternoon nap at these times back then.
i remember these afternoon closedowns, i remember we used to take the time to have a siesta sometimes.
Pre school i loved the music (always waiting for Live and Let Die) during afternoon closedowns mum would leave on whilst she set about getting dinner together for dad which was a pretty good set up 'cos with nothing to miss on TV there's no distractions and the family dinner was always excellent as a result, life before the multi channel TV dinner age eh.
You are so right there too for sure-and in a way it was so much nicer too really than now then! But I guess that is how it is now then as such with progress too!
After the trade test colour films finished, BBC 2 would not come on the air till at least 10:00, when they would broadcast a test card - at 10:30, they would put on transmitter information, then return to the test card till 11:00, when the first transmission of Play School would be broadcast - after which, the test card would be shown until 11:30, then BBC 2 would then close down altogether until around 4 pm, then the test card would be shown until they came on the air - at around half five during Open University opening hours - often not before half seven.
The only exceptions were on live racing days, live cricket and Bank Holiday Mondays, when BBC 1 was broadcasting a Bank Holiday edition of Grandstand - BBC 2 would shove a couple of old films into the schedule - and, of course, Wimbledon!
And to think that they wanted Channel 4! At that point - and they were told as much - they couldn't fill the two channels that they had - even BBC 1 often had bits of test card during holiday times in the mornings - and nearly an hour of it between three and four - occasionally slotting in the odd Welsh programme - oddly enough minus any subtitles - as if we English (the Scots, Northern Irish and even the Welsh were spared this) speak Welsh!
By June 1980 that had changed!!!! CEEFAX began broadcasting on the channel firstly from 09.45 until 10.27/30 then Engineering Information followed by test card then Play School and back to the testcard before transmitters shut down and then 40 minutes before testcard or a programme then CEEFAX would be radiated (weekdays). On Wednesdays CEEFAX would open up at 09.20 until 09.57/30 followed by Gharbar at 10.00 then an educational programme followed by Play School then Engineering Information and back to the testcard thereafter.
Thank you for this of course. This was a daytime closedown, not a night-time one as some may believe. At the time here in 1981, BBC2 did indeed close down then too. So the time shown here is pm, not am. As others have said too, it was not really until September 1983 when Daytime on Two started that they were on air all day and if not with Pages from Ceefax. Before that Test Cards F or G would be shown, or if not, the channel would be off air, in the same way really it was at night-time too. This had occured since the 20th January 1975; prior to which Test Card F was shown all day long. I don't remember that of course; but that date was my seventh birthday by coincidence! The BBC at the time decided-to save money-to turn off BBC2 in the daytime unless there was something to show. BBC1 was not affected by this at the time; where For Schools Colleges was shown around the News and Pebble Mill At One; along with the children's series at the time too. When not, Test Card F was shown. ITV of course too was also not affected by it either. Well done too!
I have also read before in the Test Card Circle magazine that up until the 1983 date I gave, BBC2 would come on air around 10.10am; whereas after that it was at 8.52am or so. This was on weekdays at the time. On weekends, there would often be a lengthy Open University-OU- broadcast, which sometimes would start at 6.25am and run right through until 3.10pm; although this was not the case all the time by any means too. Thank you!
My nan once said to me "If you haven't got anything nice to broadcast, then don't broadcast anything at all"
Love me a good lunchtime tv closedown 🤣
This is from Tuesday 3rd November 1981.
Love the programme menu design.
Indeed, but I believe they had stopped showing the test card for most of the day in the January 1975 cutbacks, and just closed the transmitters down (as seems to have happened here). That may have been reversed later in the 70s when they'd found a bit more money, but it was definitely the norm for a while to just broadcast a blank screen and tone during the day.
I remember after 11.00 play school a brief test card at 11.30 BBC 2 was non existant for a few hours then did show up.
Some Wednesday's during summer months. there a cricket match being shown NOT test match cricket.
12.30! That's when my class has lunch!
+Tanya Teddy Timthon... Me too when i was in secondary school
Grange Hill on 6.05 was rare and The Waltons pre Channel 4
Grange Hill was regularly repeated on 2 from 1979 to 1983.
They really did close down, too. No test card, just straight into shutting down the signal until around 3pm, when they're start up again with the test card and music. If we were lucky, we'd get the PM5544, (or rather the test card G variant), and the, 'Bread tape.' Happy days.
Bread tape?
@@somedude5422 Called as such due to it having a number of alternative versions of commercially available tracks by artists including Bread, The Monkees, Cat Stevens, Wings and Carly Simon, intermixed with instrumental versions of other popular tunes. It's known as the, 'Bread Tape', due to the very first tune being Breads, 'Baby I'm A Want You.'
Bruce Hammal at the mic.
Here's the reason why the test card didn't appear on this occasion. As BBC2 didn't start programmes until 3.55pm CEEFAX pages would have appeared with tone at 3.20pm (as soon as the transmitters were switched back on again) followed by music at 3.30pm so as CEEFAX would have faded to black at 15:52/30 there would be no need for BBC2 to return to a trade test transmission before closing down.
Before The Pages From Ceefax was introducing on 28th April 1983 over on BBC2 from 4.00am will be Ceefax AM before the programmes for the Open University at 6.25 to 8.05 am and return to the Testcard at 8.05am with the tone and music at 8.45am before the 15 minutes Pages From Ceefax in full transmission at 9.00 before 11.00am Play School until 9th September 1983 the last final over on BBC2 is no more over on BBC2 at all, and next week commence on 12th September 1983. Play School is shifted over on BBC1 half an hour earlier at 10.30am permenantly,
before the new term of schools programmes over on BBC2.
Week commencing on 19th September 1983 with the special Daytime On 2 Ceefax Pages educational Information for learning and training courses resources basis also from 1st October 1983 both channels will introduced overnight Pages from Ceefax and music over on BBC1 and BBC2 without being closing down all night Ceefax without the Testcard being shown and you agree this one. Many thanks. Michael D'Ambrogio
Any chance to upload some more of the overnight Ceefax and music on BBC1 during the closedown please.
Here's some listing of BBC1 Closedown and Ceefax Junction dates, also over on BBC2 Closedown and Pages From Ceefax Junction dates:
for examples
BBC1 Closedown and Ceefax Junction 24th December 1983 Parts 1 to 38 sections.*
BBC2 Closedown and Ceefax Junction 25th December 1983 Parts 1 to 49 sections.*
* Note the BBC1 and BBC2 trade test Festive Christmas
of music.
BBC1 Closedown and Ceefax Junction 1st January 1984 Parts 1 to 43 sections.*Please note partly BBC Christmas festive the first two tapes lasts for 2 hours for a limited
after return the normal ordinary trade test tapes are back normal.
BBC1 Ceefax Junction 28th October 1983 Parts 1 to 22 sections.
BBC2 Ceefax Junction 17th August 1983 Parts 1 to 25 sections.
BBC2 Ceefax Junction 1st May 1984 Parts 1 to 12 sections.
BBC2 Ceefax Junction 20th June 1984 Parts 1 to 22 sections.
Many thanks
Michael D'Ambrogio
Christopher Williams want to Richie Felo?
Anna and Elsa found out that BBC Two is closing down on lunch time in 1981. That's strange.
Yes Tuesday 3rd November 1981 was not excactly exciting TV that evening
If i remember rightly, BBC2 use to Closedown on a regular basics in theearly 80's as BBC Schools were still transmitted on BBC1 during weekday morning and didnt transfer to BBC2 with Daytime on 2 until 83. their were occassion special events including the local and national election or the open of parilament where their they were transfer to BBC2, I use to remember the engineers at Sandy Heath transmitter use to switchoff the transmitter for couple hours, until they restart up again with Ceefax.
In the U.S., of course, they surely would have found a few infomercials to show.
Unless its PBS. They didn't use to come on the air until the afternoons years ago.
You don't shut down on US networks, as every minute you are on air means money from commercials. Back then NBC, CBS and ABC would fill any blank gaps with infomercials, movies, syndicated shows, re-runs etc, anything to get ad revenue. In 1981 all three main networks would have been on the air from at least 6.00am, and would probably sign off around 2.00am the next morning.
John King - IIRC infomercials weren't a thing in US until the mid 1980's.
Before that there were the interstitials, unscheduled pieces of programming of diverse themes designed to fill gaps of no more than 15 minutes (most likely after a movie) in any time slot.
Of course, syndicated (new and rerun) programming would fill up slots of 30 or 60 minutes, but those were already scheduled,
For a while in Iran, some channels shutdown at lunchtime
WHY DID THEY CLOSEDOWN IN THE AFTERNOON? THEY'RE MEANT TO CLOSE DOWN AT NIGHT!!!!
BBC Budget cuts, The BBC Didn't get much income from tv taxes payers for tv programming as at the time the tv licence fee in 1981 was £59.99, this is why in 2024 the tv licence fee as it is now is so expensive and people moan about it.
@@scottpeacock5492 I see
They eventually moved the Schools and Colleges programmes to Daytime on 2.
Good afftenoon !
Was at school when this happened. Don't think it happened in school holidays or weekend
Is that a tache on Hanna, or just the microphone?
Shutdown at lunch time?
Looks like Tony Hancock is alive
Clock 12:32am.
Pm I would guess surely so too.