Strictly speaking, this was the first show "not on ITV". The first show on S4C was, if not before, on 1982-11-02, and on Channel 4, 1982-11-09. However, it remained on ITV, though 1983-01-25 was the last 09:10 show, with it moving to 09:17 until 1983-05-17.
Signal was on 104.3 when it launched. As for Malvern, the first time I visited after Channel 4 began, there was a problem with the set we had with us, as it wouldn't quite tune to 68!
Interesting that some early VHF radios sold in the UK may have only gone up to 100 MHz - how common was this? I guess the one shown is from the '60s by the look of it.
The original UK Vhf band I think went to 95 or 96MHz when it started in 1955, there were only the three national stations available.The police were on around 100 MHz using AM.
Early VHF valved sets only covered from 88 to 100 Mhz, US sets covered up to 108 from the 1940s! by the early 70's, imported radios covered the whole 88 to 108 band.
@@Sheffield_Steve I had a radiogram for a few years from 1989. The absolute highest frequency it could tune to was 104.5 MHz. This allowed me to receive BBC Radio Derby. There was an adjustment "out" on it that caused the strong stations to "spread", but I fixed that and was then able to receive BBC Radio Shropshire on 96 - previously it was lost between BBC WM and BRMB.
Like many ILR stations at the time, Gwent Broadcasting didn't last too long. By February 1985 it merged with CBC to become Red Dragon Radio (Now Crapital South Wales, alas).
I had no idea that 84 was the start of the independent local radio boom. Edit: ok, I'm certain that reference to 'penentrating the parts the fourth channel can't reach' is a reference to the Heineken slogan.
@@jackcrawford3921 just to factually clarify that the final edition of the IBA Engineering Announcements was on 31st July 1990, and the IBA was replaced by the Independent Television Commission on 1st January, 1991. The IBA had no existence at all in 1997, not even barely as someone else here has put it
Just think that Newport local radio station is now known as Capital on 97.4 MHz FM and Smooth on 1305 KHz MW!
'So please be prepared to help any bewildered consumers'. Love this, saying it as it is! 3:47
Yeah, that made me chuckle.
John Lovell and Marie Nicholson helm the first Engineering Announcements exclusively on Channel 4/S4C.
Strictly speaking, this was the first show "not on ITV". The first show on S4C was, if not before, on 1982-11-02, and on Channel 4, 1982-11-09. However, it remained on ITV, though 1983-01-25 was the last 09:10 show, with it moving to 09:17 until 1983-05-17.
Signal was on 104.3 when it launched. As for Malvern, the first time I visited after Channel 4 began, there was a problem with the set we had with us, as it wouldn't quite tune to 68!
Channel 68 wasn't the best channel to use either, i always found the signal weak at the top of the band and as you say some sets struggled at the top!
At 2:45, the background is really creepy.
Interesting that some early VHF radios sold in the UK may have only gone up to 100 MHz - how common was this? I guess the one shown is from the '60s by the look of it.
My Gran had a radiogram that went up to 102 Mhz I think.
The original UK Vhf band I think went to 95 or 96MHz when it started in 1955, there were only the three national stations available.The police were on around 100 MHz using AM.
Early VHF valved sets only covered from 88 to 100 Mhz, US sets covered up to 108 from the 1940s! by the early 70's, imported radios covered the whole 88 to 108 band.
@@Sheffield_Steve I had a radiogram for a few years from 1989. The absolute highest frequency it could tune to was 104.5 MHz. This allowed me to receive BBC Radio Derby. There was an adjustment "out" on it that caused the strong stations to "spread", but I fixed that and was then able to receive BBC Radio Shropshire on 96 - previously it was lost between BBC WM and BRMB.
Was this the first use of Monkman's "Current Affairs" as signature tune?
Yes it was indeed.
John specifically said so. Well, he said new look, but it also included new sound!
Like many ILR stations at the time, Gwent Broadcasting didn't last too long. By February 1985 it merged with CBC to become Red Dragon Radio (Now Crapital South Wales, alas).
*Capital. It's not crap.
It is CRAP-itol. Would have been great if Capitol had been a national station when the genius of Kenny Everett was around.
It's AM service is now known as Smooth as well
@@jackcrawford3921 AM 1305 closed recently.
@@sillygoose635*Crapitol
I had no idea that 84 was the start of the independent local radio boom.
Edit: ok, I'm certain that reference to 'penentrating the parts the fourth channel can't reach' is a reference to the Heineken slogan.
Darvel (Scottish)
Heathfield (TVS)
Bala (HTV Wales)
Cwmafon (HTV Wales)
Rye (TVS)
West Runton (Anglia)
If I knew anyone working in the TV trade living in an area that couldn’t get Channel 4 or S4C yet, I would’ve videoed this show for him/her/them!
Another thing - why were there no engineering announcements for the launch of Channel 5 in 1997?
The last Engineering Announcement was in mid-1990, and the IBA barely existed by 97.
@@blueheelercultist ok
@@jackcrawford3921 just to factually clarify that the final edition of the IBA Engineering Announcements was on 31st July 1990, and the IBA was replaced by the Independent Television Commission on 1st January, 1991. The IBA had no existence at all in 1997, not even barely as someone else here has put it
@@madmurdock100 thanks
I need the name of the song on that intro
Beacon Hill (TSW)
Chatton (Tyne Tees)
Knockmore (Grampian)
The number of listeners on VHF in 1983 was still quite low as most people listened on MW
1:08 This is what the British map would look like if the sea level rose slighly
agreed lol
Seems that the IBA intentionally sped up the "Current Affairs" music, instead of having a pre sped up copy from the distributor.
Pol Yil sounds slower
Yeah, sounds like they initially slowed it down before using it at its normal speed.
It could have been an audio problem with the broadcast master tape as to why the opening music is slower.
I think this might have been the original version...
Sometime later, they must have got it pitched-up (around 1983 or 1984)...
Or possibly a fault with the recording used as the source?
Welwyn (Thames/LWT)
"It's 9:15 And From Winchester, Engineering Announcements For The Radio and Television Trade!".
No kidding Sherlock, thanks for pointing that out 🙄
On tvs…
Man about the house
(🎼 'CURRENT AFFAIRS' BY FRANCIS MONKMAN.)"Hello Again,And here we are with a new look on a new channel!".