Thames Television Start-up

Thames Television Start-up, followed by ITV Schools Clock countdown and ATV ident into the titles of Stop, Look Listen.
The start-up music is "Perpetuum Mobile" by Michael Roberts, followed by Johnny Hawksworth's "Salute to Thames".
TX: 01/02/1979

[@SteveMallison]

Many's the time I sat in my little sound cubicle in the old Kingsway studios and ran this station opening at the start of another day. Announcer Philip Elsmore would give the station ident and then the Thames March came from a telecine channel. Loved that old EMI TR 90 tape machine, although it was only single track mono. No need for it anymore as everything is 24 hours and run by computer.

[@ChrisReardonUK]

Fantastic to find the man who pushes the buttons while I waited for this lovely music & picture, usually when off sick (ahem) from school. Would have been 1970s. Thank you so much for entertaining me when a little boy. 😀

[@martinda7446]

@@ChrisReardonUK Me too...Waiting for 'The Champions'. It was a real treat to hear The Thames March.

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

Wow, now there's a name from the past... Philip Elsmore. He was brilliant. I understand he's still alive at the ripe old age of 82. Good on yer Phil!

[@ardennite1]

Yes, if it was possible to have a favourite continuity announcer, mine would have been Philip Elsmore. I might even say that he came across to me as 'avuncular'. These Thames Television (and ATV) idents were very much a part of a happy childhood obviously spent watching too much telly !

[@TheMasterNo6]

Wonderful. Wasn't ITV and franchises like Thames so majestic back then? Oh how I wish ITV were broken up again and refranchised, with a new IBA to regulate and award franchises....blame Thatcher.

[@trevordance5181]

Thatcher has a lot to answer for...

[@christopher9727]

Only Jesus Christ blood can cleanse us of are sins come to Jesus Christ today Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Come to Jesus Christ today Jesus Christ is only way to heaven Repent and follow him today seek his heart Jesus Christ can fill the emptiness he can fill the void. The Holy Spirit can lead you guide and confort you through it all Heaven and hell is real cone to the loving savior today Today is the day of salvation tomorrow might be to late come to the loving savior today John 3:16-21 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Mark 1.15 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Hebrews 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Jesus

[@andypsa10]

As a tiny kid in the early/mid 70s I was sick a lot and would lay on the sofa looking at a grainy TV screen waiting for it to come to life with this. Really takes me back to simpler more wholesome times compared to today.

[@plonchyvideos7456]

Yes, I used to enjoy catching a cold, getting the day off school and watching all this. I used to like the TV transmitter news, too.

[@christopher9727]

No hope in going to the past come to the loving savior today Seek his Holy Spirit in prayer today he can give you peace confort and guidance today Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Come to Jesus Christ today Jesus Christ is only way to heaven Repent and follow him today seek his heart Jesus Christ can fill the emptiness he can fill the void Heaven and hell is real cone to the loving savior today Today is the day of salvation tomorrow might be to late come to the loving savior today John 3:16-21 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Mark 1.15 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Hebrews 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Jesus

[@AP-uk3wm]

Hands up if you still know every single note of both of these jingles and get taken back to being a very young kid when you hear them!

[@christopher9727]

Only Jesus Christ blood can cleanse us of are sins come to Jesus Christ today Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Come to Jesus Christ today Jesus Christ is only way to heaven Repent and follow him today seek his heart Jesus Christ can fill the emptiness he can fill the void. The Holy Spirit can lead you guide and confort you through it all Heaven and hell is real cone to the loving savior today Today is the day of salvation tomorrow might be to late come to the loving savior today John 3:16-21 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Mark 1.15 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Hebrews 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Jesus

[@denisespencer6550]

Count me in

[@paulrose9180]

You have to come from a fairly narrow age range for this to mean anything and for me it brings back memories of childhood when we had 3 channels none of which were 24 hours. And I don't remember it being a problem. What's weird is someone thought to record and preserve this ready for KZbin decades later.

[@ardennite1]

But, it's just as well that they did, wouldn't you say ?

[@robertianhawdon]

I often think this, but then I guess it was probably a teacher who recorded this for use in future classes. Either way, great piece of British TV history.

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

Georgraphically narrow range too - you have to have lived in the southeast mid 70s to 1982

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

@@robertianhawdon VCRs were a bit beyond the pay of most teachers in those days or most schools. In my experience you tuned in at the scehduled time to see the transmission. Usually on a b/w set which the teacher struggled to tune correctly - this is the real reason why they all disapproved of TV.

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

I would also expect a lot of stuff was recorded by TV engineers who wanted the testcard before the programme started to use as a testing tool esepcially when connecting a VCR to a customer's TV..

[@ronnpatrick305]

One of the best videos I've watched on KZbin in a long time! Thanks for sharing

[@adrianooiuk]

This is my childhood! I'm 43 now but to me this is skiving off school memories from The 70s and early 80s before TV AM came along to rescue us all! Pure nostalgic indulgence. How I long for such simple pleasures in life - nothing like skiving off school and pressing your forehead into the radiator to fain a temperature whilst waiting for Thames television start up..........kids these days don't know they are born!

[@sillygoose635]

Adults today don't know if they're dead or not.

[@bpage4132]

This is my all-time favourite TV start up with the Thames logo, and still brings me back memories,

[@mickeydodds1]

Glorious heroic stuff to watch when you've just switched on the telly first thing in the morning. Compare to the shyte it flings in our faces today.

[@FishOnTwoWheels]

OMG I've been after part of this theme for years. When I was a little kid and stay over at my Grans for a week now and again, I used to ask her to wake me up so I could specifically listen to the part from about 3 mins 10 secs to 5 mins. I LOVED the power of that theme and was great hearing Philip Elsmore's warm friendly voice again. GREAT posting! Thanks :-)

[@BM-jy6cb]

Ahh. I well remember back in the late 60's/early 70's as a pre-schooler sitting with mum and loved watching that clock with the segments disappearing thinking how magic it was and the anticipation of kids programmes about to start. I'd forgotten it was "for schools and colleges" - I enjoyed them though - must have been more of a nerdy kid than I realised!

[@russellgoodall6206]

Always loved this Thames TV start up, so many childhood memories and the Friday evening handover to London Weekend Television at 7.00pm . The Protectors were first up and it showed Robert Vaughn and a shot of Big Ben with the hands at 7’ O’clock 👍😀

[@ooeyb]

Ah the majesty of it all. I wish they'd brig back regional idents.

[@royandjacqueline1294]

I was 10 years old in 1975. I remember 05:58 Independent Television for Schools and Colleges. Stop, Look, Listen Aaa! The good olde days! ♥️🥰🇯🇲🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🕊️🔥✝️

[@marksinthehouse1968]

I agree

[@caroline-janehall1984]

Me to😞

[@DesmondPhillips-gz5fs]

Salute to the Thames is the first piece of (albeit light) classical music that I listened to, and waited for, aged ~4. The central march section is very Waltonian with elements of Crown Imperial / Orb and Sceptre IMHO

[@richardemra971]

I remember the picture always had a somewhat grainy flickery existence in those days. Somehow adding a kind of magic to the whole viewing experience How things have changed@

[@merrylegs234]

Perpetuum Mobile is so determinedly cheery that it is almost menacing. If I launched a coup d'etat, this would be the music I would have played on all channels while broadcasting was suspended.

[@thisiszaphod]

merrylegs234 Ha ha! Yes, indeed. I'd have gone for the LWT start up, mind!

[@antster1983]

+thisiszaphodbeeblebr Don Jackson's "A Well Swung Fanfare"?

[@davidlewis1193]

I'd go for Henry Mancini's arrangement of "Tommy Overture" - up there with the "Sir Lew Grade March" as the Marmite of ITV themes. I have a weakness for music that takes itself far too seriously and a sadistic joy in inflicting it on people who hate it! Lol

[@Tripp1993]

_Perpetuum Mobile_ does sound a bit dissonant.

[@icecreammanevans1204]

Happy days..gone forever. .....😥😥😥

[@ercaysalih5433]

a time michine is the arnser

[@sillygoose635]

Not happy days.

[@bailarcoruna9546]

How wonderful to hear these again, I never thought I ever would. I live in Spain now so never see English TV but have strong memories of all aspects of TV at the time when I was small, at the time when Thames started like this.

[@jelboy1]

Memories of my childhood . Watching this every morning . Great days back then..........

[@karlcarpenter5528]

So many memories, I always loved this, even stranger were the transmitter news updates, Bluebell Hill anyone ?

[@adriancorbett5706]

Vital for those of us in the TV trade

[@andrewescalona8447]

IL FIRST HEARD THAT OPENING TUNE WHEN THAMES TV FIRST STARTED WITH THE ITA THAMES TELEVISION PICASSO CARD ON 30TH JULY 1968

[@mwgary]

This brings back memories of the the late 70s/early 80s being “sick” with the guts ache or some other excuse to not to go to school.

[@ChrisReardonUK]

Haha. Yes. Me too.

[@cliveevans9795]

Same here specially if it was pe

[@trevordance5181]

Snap, although in my case it was late 60's/early 70's and it was the ITA then not the IBA. Remember the Rediffusion start ups too!

[@alexmacleod3728]

done the exact same

[@cliveevans9795]

My mother knew when I was faking an illness she wasn't fooled easily

[@dougmac8979]

have been looking for this music for 30 years?!? . thank you for uploading...... me thinks the screen grab is a later version as i seem to remember a different older black and white ident before the engineering test broadcast started but with THIS music

[@antonyconnolly2738]

Ahhh, to hear the Startup full Ident Theme again !! Each Region had one, back then !! I liked the Tyne Tees one too, as it had all the Northern Trad Songs incorporated into it, such as Bobby Shafto, The Keel Row, Blaydon Races & others !!! 😀

[@london19657]

Such a beautiful song. Thanks for posting. BTW, I'm an insomniac from London and grew up with this. Stirring stuff!

[@paulxinternational6616]

This start up music was also used by ABC and carried onto Thames when ABC and Rediffusion merged to create Thames.

[@TheWillsy]

This was Thames.......from London!

[@deanmoke]

I've been searching for this music for years, thankyou for posting. While away from school sick, I would often try to find some signs of daytime life by flicking between the 3 channels hoping to catch something to watch (anything!). Mostly, all I found was this and I would just sit there watching and listening (hadn't discovered radio at that point). Up to the point I found this video (2015), I could still hear the tunes I heard all those years ago in my head. A warm feeling runs through me as I realise my memory has been faithful (in this case anyway).

[@magicgeezer]

Class start-up and good quality too, the good ole days of morning tv. Superb suff buddy.

[@brucedanton3669]

Thank you for this and well done indeed too all round!!

[@rockypupoxo]

Takes me back to the 70's in junior school where the teacher would wheel out the the TV with the sun shrouds around the screen and switch it on and this would come on first thing in the morning , and we would watch school programs like "how we use to live " lol happy memories!

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

I have happy memories of school holidays watching the Thames start up sequence and waiting for the programmes to start! Salute to Thames is such an epic piece of music, the way it builds up to the climax rather overshadows the programmes that followed it :-)

[@london19657]

p.s. I actually sat in the classsroom while we waited for this programme to begin. That's the point. Cheers.

[@Milliososis]

Children today have no idea what it was like in the 70's and 80's tv wise. If you got up before 6am which I often did at 2-3 years of age this is what you would see....but somehow it was ok...it was like a build up to the main presentation...the days when things were appreciated and nothing was taken for granted.

[@cjmillsnun]

Before 6 in the 70's all you would get is static. But yeah in the 80's Just before 6am, you got the TV-AM startup sequence in full, Good Morning Britain Music, followed by Daybreak music. After TV-AM you got your local startup (Anglia in my case), then into the schools programmes.

[@barebarekun161]

Milliososis Just watched this and I was born in 93' And I rather watch this instead of tons of shitty show with channels runs 24 hour I hate that shit!

[@Gary80264]

Milliososis I remember as a child you had to put up with this music.

[@joannegray5138]

Barebare Kun - you were born 20 years too late, bless you. Nice to see someone who didn't grow up with it appreciate things like this.

[@davidlewis1193]

I miss this so much. Our culture is way ahead of our evolution. Our culture doesn't really stop for the night anymore. We evolved to hunt and gather through the day and rest at night. The 24/7 culture is bad for us. The startup and sign-off used to be my wake-up call and my bed-time. They helped me structure my day and gave me a sense of constancy in a chaotic world. Now that they're on KZbin they do again. But that's my autism talking so what do I know...

[@thepepperpot3809]

This is so much nicer than the local start-ups on US TV stations in the 1970s. In my Birmingham-sized city, there were 7 stations: three of them affiliated with the big 3 national networks, two local independent stations, and two public TV stations. None of them had these nice musical interludes prior to sign-on. They'd go from static to test card to a slide of our city with the station's ID/announcer and right into a program, on every channel. When I was home sick from school, I'd watch one of the public TV stations until The Price Is Right came on at 11.

[@gregsells8549]

Did any of your stations play the national anthem at sign-on like at sign-off? Or show the Seal of Good Practice? One station where I grew up started with the anthem, then the Pledge of Allegiance, then the Prayer of St. Francis, and finally "Your American Heritage" before airing "Sunrise Semester."

[@thepepperpot3809]

@@gregsells8549 At sign-on, the only stations that did the NAB Seal of Good Practice tag were the network affiliates. No prayers, YAH, pledge or anthem. I forget which affiliate did Sunrise Semester, though. At sign-off, all stations did the anthem. None did the pledge. The network affiliates did the NAB again. One affiliate did prayers, one affiliate did YAH. ::sigh:: Yep, I have that kind of memory-and was always watching TV as a 70s child when I should've been asleep, either late at night, or super-early in the morning. I caught up on all that sleep in college, I guess!

[@gregsells8549]

@@thepepperpot3809 Sunrise Semester was on CBS.

[@2008giles]

Such happy memories of childhood waiting for ITV Schools to start in the late 1970s. Thames was the best!

[@davidtownson1476]

The start of Rainbow or Danger Mouse.

[@gentsw13]

The 'start-up' music was also used by ABC your weekend Television in the North and in the Midlands! John Benson made The IBA announcement. That's a fact, i was there, sincerely, Keith Martin.

[@bwc1976]

Are you THE Keith Martin?

[@arthurvasey]

bwc1976 No - just A Keith Martin - haven’t you heard - he comes in six-packs!

[@izzywizzy7095]

Oh I remember this like it was yesterday! Me mum upstairs hoovering while I waited for the telly to start...then all the schools programmes which took me right up to my luncheon meat sarnie....aahh simple times!

[@NWOConspiracyGroup]

Brings back memories of the piano key VHS at school - Ahhh those were the days. Excellent upload. A real treasure indeed.

[@Doctor_Kissworthy]

I remember all of these themes, but especially on Saturday mornings waiting for 'Thunderbirds' to come on... It really takes me back to a better time...

[@leemendham4788]

+sonorman44 Wouldn't have been Thames on a Saturday, of course.

[@Doctor_Kissworthy]

I suppose it must have been in the holidays, then

[@MarkFoster321789]

You mean LWT: Thames only repeated Fireball XL5 and Stingray during school summer holidays 30 years ago (as far as Gerry Anderson's shows are concerned). However Thames screened the first Thunderbirds film during Christmas 1980 that I remember as a 7 year old!

[@spatzk]

Thank you so much, I've been searching for a part of this for about 10 years!!! Exclent

[@micmac99]

3:20-3:23 Americans know this as the logo preceding The Benny Hill Show, which was broadcast in the USA in the late 70s-early 80s.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Pretty much, though it sometimes came up on other shows Thames produced/aired like Cosgrove Hall's Count Duckula series when Nickelodeon aired it in the '80's.

[@bwc1976]

@@ChristopherSobieniak Count Duckula and Dangermouse were great! I also remember seeing Man About the House here a couple times.

[@23Daves]

I used to love the music played underneath the Thames logo as a kid, and found the end bit of the extended version here especially stirring. As an adult, of course, I'm baffled as to what I ever saw in it. As a kid I also kept asking my teacher why there was a hole in the "E" on the Thames logo (look, there is, on the bottom bar of the "E") and just got told to be quiet. Someone scratched or broke it in some way, didn't they? I knew it then, and I know it now.

[@Gary80264]

I know how you feel. You had wait and wait for it to start

[@glenconmc]

I still find that music stirring, I think the arrangement and orchestra are fantastic.

[@BBC600]

LOL I just noticed that mark on the "E". Probably a scratch on the slide!

[@leemendham4788]

Yeah, none of your digital rubbish in those days!!

[@maidstone1982]

T H O N K

[@martinda7446]

I can only guess how glorious it would sound with a decent recording,...but I'm pleased (very) it's here?

[@TheJaking87]

I remember the accompanying music themes like it was yesterday!

[@stevebirch7175]

wonderful piece of music

[@garylewis7451]

Just wonderful memories.....!!!!

[@cerinolancerinolan7148]

Great programmes Benny Hill, Fresh Fields, George & Mildred, Minder, Rainbow and Button moon Up the elephant round the castle and many others.

[@theaethelred3427]

The piece of music from 4:59 to 5:55 is especially evocative for me - I remember it like it was yesterday but I can't find any information about it.

[@julianfogarty2243]

It's called "Frivolity". More info on this link kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmi8ZZiXf5JlkKM

[@theaethelred3427]

@@julianfogarty2243 Thank you

[@thatsixtiesguy6016]

Happy memories. I lived in Surrey as a kid, and as well as receiving Thames/LWT we could also get a very grainy Southern. I'd watch both start-ups, switching between the two.

[@garylewis7451]

Remember this SO WELL!!!!!!!!!

[@ercaysalih5433]

i remember the early thames tv start up from the early 70s it said iba transmiters in servis

[@StarDev94]

3:19 is what I came here for! ^_^

[@glenmclaughlin2972]

OMG! We were all taken to the TV room in school to watch Stop, Look Listen! We all used to try and hold our breath when the clock came on, and we used to get told off as we all used to collapse gasping for breath, such innocent times and fun. Now they probably see how many swearwords they can fit in in a minute!

[@sillygoose635]

Better then the nonsense they used to pack into the stuff you'd watch.

[@martinda7446]

Great, great music...love it....Oh, memories, waiting for The Champions after bunking off.

[@ardennite1]

Does anybody remember 'Monday's Newcomers' which used to be shown on Thames Television, at 9.15am ? It was a 10 or 15 minute preview of new advertisements, which sometimes went on to air on ITV. It used to be followed by schools' programmes, for a time during the 1970s

[@AlexAlvarez-uq8ct]

Yes Silver Lady - I remember them, now that you've mentioned it. I preferred IBA engineering information though, it was my introduction to the music of Sir Arthur Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan!).

[@RetroGUY77]

I was reading a book by Danny Baker called Sailing To Sea in a Sieve and he was talking about watching TV when he was ill, off school and how he would have a day of every 4 weeks on the Monday to watch those commercials in the 60s. He said he didn't know why they were on the air and if they were even supposed to be!

[@denisespencer6550]

I miss Thames Television

[@johnrider5701]

We may have had only three channels in those days but today we have hundreds of them and there's nothing worth watching. At least back in those days it was quality over quantity.

[@trevordance5181]

Is it true that the Thames tv theme tune and ident tune came from the traditional cry of female London street vendors selling fresh lavender from wicker baskets who'd sing out as they wandered the highways and byways, "Who will buy my sweet lavender"? I seem to remember seeing something about that when Thames first came on air in 1968, but perhaps I'm mistaken!

[@cjmillsnun]

Yes. thames.today/who-will-buy-my-sweet-lavender

[@GlowkiesComedian]

"This is Thames Television, Operating on the london area transmitters of the independent broadcasting authority."

[@TheWillsy]

Still missed after all these years.

[@MarkFoster321789]

Happy 50th Birthday Thames!

[@cliveevans3328]

remember this being on during the summer holiday from school. .used to be laying in bed.,and hearing my mum do her housework.,specially on a Monday when she would do the washing and clean the house. ...

[@andrewescalona8447]

Bring Back Thames Television. Bring Back Philip Elmore

[@anthonyperkins7556]

The music on the ITV Schools also had another version of it called Chateaux Clock Edit with a more pastoral gentler section before the middle eight and end.

[@CaptainSiCo]

Yes, there were two different one minute “clock edits” of the longer track that lasted over two minutes. “Clock edit” is merely internal ATV jargon.

[@keithshayle7027]

A piece of music that harks ba k to a time when the UK at least had some beleif that we still aspired to greatness on the world stage, coupled with a self assurance from the voice of the commentator.

[@glenconmc]

Fantastic!

[@80sandretrogubbins25]

Great clip.

[@IanWelland]

I think the voice in the changeover from IBA card to Thames TV ident card is that of legendary Philip Elsmore? Whatever happened to Philip?

[@Matelot123]

www.imdb.com/name/nm0255672/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm

[@ercaysalih5433]

as far as I can remember when thames tv opened up everyweek day morning I was so happy becuse the early days of thame had it all 9 30 there was no jeamey kyle show

[@stevehillier7018]

Love Philip Elsmores very astute voice very RP

[@leewainman4928]

Phillip elsmore

[@jane1975]

@Steve Hillier: Everyone had what is known as "received English" back then on all the channels, there wasn't a dialect or accent in sight. The reason why this was, was because the announcers had to be clear and precise in their continuity announcements [ particularly when re-iterating the transmitter information] so that people could understand them. They had to be well spoken and have no dialect or accent even if the locals would of done. By the early 90's or so, no one bothered with it anymore-which in my opinion was a shame. Some accents can be pretty broad and sometimes incomprensible. Unless you were from a dual language region like Wales of course, in which case continuity announcers spoke both their native Welsh and English and of course HTV [ Harlech Television] covered both Wales and the West Country of England from North Devon to the Severn Estuary , Bristol and maybe Gloucestershire too, overlapping with Central Television broadcasting to the West and East Midlands and parts of South Derbyshire [ the North served by Yorkshire].

[@PrAnG2000]

OMG!! What is the music @ 05:57? I remember that from my school days.

[@romanaii]

Vhs and dvd releases of chorlton and the wheelies had ident at start , my little nephew used to copy the tune

[@grahampearson5670]

ITV station start up sequences were around four minutes long.

[@glenmclaughlin2972]

Just a quickie for anyone who was a kid in the 70s I recently got the 1970s Scrap Book by Robert Opie, it is fantastic, jam packed with products from the period, talk about nostalgia! You can get it on Amazon.co.uk

[@highwindsclarke2685]

5:02 Some of this music was heard on a Cosmos episode.

[@garylewis7451]

Loved this!!!!

[@phildurrant2422]

Only today did I understand the start up music is the ABC weekend startup music. So would have been known from Liverpool to Hull to Oxford pre 1968 but not in London.

[@adilwagner1065]

06:58 ATV Colour Logo

[@adilwagner1065]

6:57 Sorry

[@johnpot]

I hope the startup still exist

[@AlisonWheeler]

Monday mornings and the announcements from the IBA with transmitter news. 👍

[@MissMX]

Those IBA transmitter announcements were preceded by Gilbert & Sullivan overtures!

[@bwc1976]

I would have loved seeing all that technical stuff as a kid! I'm American but I envy so many aspects of the British TV system as it was back then.

[@hakureicirno6059]

Is the clock countdown at 5:57 generated from a real clock ? Since the "slashes" on that clock faded very smoothly and computerized video generators wasn't a thing in 1970s.

[@tomgreen663]

Yes it would have been a mechanical clock, but probably recorded once with captions added live.

[@ashfaq1999]

Classic Thames Television

[@F4Insight-uq6nt]

Interesting Channel Title.. Looks Coded to me.

[@RAX118G]

It's the registration number of my favorite bus. But I got it wrong - it should be RAX18G.

[@francescvinadelmar9978]

uses car honker for 3:22,3:29,3:37,4:16,4:31 and 4:52.

[@MichaelOKeefe2009]

This is Sobble Television, operating on the Wyndon area transmitters of Macro Cosmos Television.

[@keda1981]

You clearly watched too much ATV... ;)

[@revinhatol]

keda1981 And too much Central from 1982.

[@jane1975]

@revin hatol: I watched too much TVS / a bit of Southern up to 81.

[@TroyConvers5000]

Perpetuum Mobile by Michael Roberts. And the pitch is a little too fast...

[@returnoftheponderer]

good old days when this country was still england

[@explorer806]

Listen to the fruit!

[@paulinegenner2588]

@Gary Masters What Fruit You Have.

[@misschristymarieluca]

"Thames Television Startup" "shows ATV logo"

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

@mharris1270 Very true, we Americans didn't see other ITV regional channels represented as much as Thames was.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

@mharris1270 True, when they weren't BBC's own.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

@mharris1270 Some PBS stations are like that, showing stuff long after it had originally been made, like "Are You Being Served", "Keeping Up Appearances" or "As Time Goes By".

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

@mharris1270 Incidentally, my local PBS station is it's own entity not owned by a university or state, but that is also common here too. Every Saturday they would show "Britcoms" as they have for decades. At present, they apparently run "Are You Being Served" at 9:30PM and "Doc Martin" at 10!

[@bwc1976]

@@ChristopherSobieniak And most of the ATV shows we did get here, we know as ITC instead, as that was another of Lew Grade's companies, and most of the characters had American accents. Thunderbirds, The Muppet Show, etc. It took me forever before I found out The Muppet Show was actually British.

[@thomasblakeley8152]

Made me an onion

[@rtc9063]

God why was ITV for Schools and Colleges so bloody dreary?

[@80ssynthfan48]

Exactly. More dots on the countdown clock alone cannot redeem it.

[@haywardsdave]

lololol...i do remember this when it used to start in the mornings.. It was NAFF...!!!! No wonder Thames lost the franchise...but then I think the BBC was just the same..lol

[@TheKingOfBeans]

What..... What the fuck am I watching?

[@a1artz]

Guess you are from the USA

[@jennymartinez4051]

1937.

[@paulxinternational6616]

This start up music was also used by ABC and carried onto Thames when ABC and Rediffusion merged to create Thames.

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

apparently it was ex-ABC execs' way of sticking it to their Rediffusion counterparts about who wore the trousers in their new merger.