ABC TV Start up _ ITA Picasso tuning signal, 1960s

This a digital re-creation of part of the Emley Moor, ABC TV weekend television start up, for the North of England from the mid-1960s. It was radiated at the start of weekend transmissions on a Saturday and Sunday morning, on the monochrome 405 line TV system on channel B 10. It was also broadcast with a different transmitter location caption for the North-West of England on Channel B9 from the ITA transmitter at Winter Hill and for the Midlands from the ITA Transmitter at Lichfield on channel B 8. ABC was a trully great TV station, which later merged with Rediffusion in London to become Thames TV in 1968.

[@alanrandall49]

Wonderful music, thanks for uploading on TH-cam for everyone to enjoy.

[@JHollowayNetwork]

Thames Television used the same start-up music from 1968 to the early 1980s.

[@Vinnytv7679]

"This is the Associated British Cinemas Weekend Television, broadcasting on channel 8 at the Litchfield, channel 9 at the Winter Hill and channel 10 at the Embley Moor transmitters of the Independent Television Authority"

[@scorpiofootiemad]

Yes,as they were a shotgun marriage of ABC and Redifusion,this tune was the first tune of the Thames start-up,and then the Salute To Thames piece was played over the Thames logo,the opening notes were heard at the start of a Thames produced programme.

[@avidutubewatcher]

amazing what people record - great for historical purposes

[@grahampearson5670]

Perpetuum Mobile was heard over the tuning signal on ABC whereas the second half of the start up tune had a showbiz tune.

[@alexmacleod3728]

The ABC March?

[@AllenJeremy]

I am sure that Thames Television used the same start up tune as the one heard in this clip

[@scorpiofootiemad]

This is what we Midlanders had at the weekends,but with Lichfield as the tx name.

[@RayGrimsby]

The original start up sequence for ABC Television has never been shown.From 1955/6 when ITV started in the north a test card was shown followed by the original ABC triangle (the same as used in the cinemas) which radiated for until programmes started.

[@scorpiofootiemad]

I have seen that transmitter,near Huddersfield isn't it?

[@georgewatson3954]

Thought sound and vision was the ABC start up tune

[@aliburns2150]

Today part of Granada, Lancelin Television, Yorkshire.

[@grahampearson5670]

The Emley Moor transmitter was turned over to Yorkshire Television in 1968.

[@Horifice]

"Perpetuum Mobile", by Mike Roberts. A pretty ropey string orchestra if I ever heard one!

[@barbarakirk1451]

Didn't the Penguin Cafe Orchestra also cover the tune?

[@stever4899]

@@barbarakirk1451 Completely different piece with the same name.