BBC all network radio - Dec 22, 1978

The BBC response to a strike in December 1978 was to collapse all its radio services into one network.

[@johnking5174]

ITV was the only television channel available on this day (except for Yorkshire TV viewers, as they were on strike too) - The schedule on ITV for the evening of Fri 22 Dec 1978 was: 7.00pm The Muppet Show. 7.30pm Sale of the Century. 8.00pm Survival Special. 9.00pm Vegas. 10.00pm News at Ten. 10.30pm Gene Kelly's Dancing Years.

[@johnking5174]

It is amazing look at this from an American perspective. Strike action at our US networks on TV did happen but they never knocked their TV channels off air. Strike action at NBC, CBS or ABC would simply mean more reruns, imports, movies or syndicated programs in it's place, with a reduced news and local service. A channel never ever signed off. Same for radio stations.

[@TicoStudio90]

Love it. And l wish l could get my hands on that radio cassette. Beautiful memories 🤗❤️

[@johnking5174]

For viewers and listeners in Northern Ireland at this time had a bit more luck, as most in the province could pick up the Republic of Ireland's RTE One and RTE Two television channels as well as RTE Radio, so along with Ulster Television (their ITV region), many in Northern Ireland had some choice when this strike both on BBC TV and Radio was on.

[@gordoneli3786]

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[@kanelucas6621]

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[@gordoneli3786]

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[@gordoneli3786]

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[@kanelucas6621]

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[@johnking5174]

They said that normal programming would resume on BBC One the next day Saturday 23rd December 1978 at 3.00pm, meaning the Multi-Coloured Swap Shop and Grandstand would not air, far too quick to get those live programmes on the air, so the first programme back on BBC One was Sports Family of the Year. BBC Two commenced at 1.30pm that Saturday with the film, Around the World in 80 Days.

[@johnking5174]

The schedule for this memorable day Friday 22 December 1978 on the BBC all network radio was as follows: 4.00pm News Summary followed by John Dunn. 5.50pm Shipping Forecast and Weather. 6.00pm News Summary read by Brian Perkins followed by Kid Jensen. 8.00pm News Summary followed by Cormac Rigby with Popular Classics. 10.00pm News and Sport. 10.15pm Bill Rennells, including shipping forecast. 2.00am News Summary followed by close down at around 2.02am. Normal schedules resumed the following day with BBC Radios 1, 2, 3 and 4 back up and running. Remember over on telly land BBC One and BBC Two were off the air from Thursday 21 December 1978 and would resume normal transmission in the mid-afternoon of Saturday 23 December 1978.

[@richardsharpe2966]

I don't think this could ever happen again

[@arthurvasey]

Richard Sharpe Not with the resources of ten networks to choose from - eleven, if you count the World Service - and that's mainly news, these days - the old World Service often had programming similar to what I imagine listeners heard that day - drama, plays, comedy shows from Radio 4, music ranging from pop to the classics - nowadays, it's mainly news - must have been a bit disconcerting for listeners hearing - depending on their normal network of choice - pop music on Radio 3, music in general on Radio 4 (outside of Desert Island Discs and the themes for programmes like The Archers), Radio 2-type music on Radio 1 (in those days, Radio 2 played almost entirely easy listening music and the odd panel game), classical music on Radio 1 - or even Radio 2 ...

[@radioman01]

I don't think it lasted long enough for anyone, apart from us old anoraks, to notice.

[@tylerceci5935]

sksksk

[@gary.h.turner]

I know this is sort of obvious, but just in case there's anyone out there who can't work out why they called it "BBC Radio Ten", it was because it was a combination of Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3 and Radio 4... and of course 1+2+3+4=10.

[@radioman01]

I don't have any more. The cassettes I recorded are long gone. Sorry.

[@johnking5174]

For some perspective: ITV was the only television channel available on this day (except for Yorkshire TV viewers, as they were on strike too) - The schedule on ITV for the evening of Fri 22 Dec 1978 was: 7.00pm The Muppet Show. 7.30pm Sale of the Century. 8.00pm Survival Special. 9.00pm Vegas. 10.00pm News at Ten. 10.30pm Gene Kelly's Dancing Years.

[@jamesrobinson814]

Radioman01 - do you happen to have any longer recordings of this "Radio 10" service? The full output was 1600-0200. 40th anniversary approaching of course! Thanks.

[@christopherhulse8385]

12.5% is a massive pay award, unthinkable today.

[@radioman01]

Today yes. But back then inflation was raging, with interest-rates in double figures.

[@johnking5174]

@@radioman01 It is amazing look at this from an American perspective. Strike action at our US networks on TV did happen but they never knocked their TV channels off air. Strike action at NBC, CBS or ABC would simply mean more reruns, imports, movies or syndicated programs in it's place, with a reduced news and local service. A channel never ever signed off. Same for radio stations.

[@richardsharpe2966]

BBC went on Strike on the 20 of December 1978 they went back on the 22-23 of December 1978

[@johnking5174]

Radio went back straight away on 22 December, TV followed from 3.00pm on 23 December. ITV gained huge ratings during this strike.

[@richardsharpe2966]

I saw a old clip of ITN News At Ten on you tube for the 22nd of December 1978 and Sir Alistair Burnet said that BBC staff would get 12.5% and 4% that's 16.5% I'm confused

[@richardsharpe2966]

Hearing what Bill Rennells saying Radio ten sounds a great idea for a radio station Also what happened to Bill Rennells what's is he doing now would like to know please

[@johnking5174]

He is currently on BBC Radio Oxford presenting "Harmony Night" - a mix of classic music on Sunday nights from 9pm-Midnight. You might be able to listen live on the iPlayer. Hope this helps?

[@Thomas828]

There's a radio station in Holland called Radio 10 which plays music from the 60s to the 90s. Also we now have Radio 1, 1 Xtra, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, 4 Extra, Radio 5Live, Radio 5Live Sports Extra, Radio 6 Music and the Asian Network. So a combination of all the national networks wouldn't be a simple matter of adding up all the numbers (like Radio 21). If the BBC had a strike like this today then Bill Rennells would call have to call it Radio 30 XtraLiveExtraLiveSportsExtraMusicAsianNetwork, which doesn't exactly trip off the tongue.

[@tylerceci5935]

on the September 10

[@richardsharpe2966]

I saw a old clip of ITN News At Ten on you tube for the 22nd of December 1978 and Sir Alistair Burnet said that BBC staff would get 12.5% and 4% that's 16.5% I'm confused

[@newstarcadefan]

Well, that's because the BBC was woefully behind their independent TV/Radio counterparts.