TVS Maidstone: Removing Signs: Summer 1993

The TVS signs were finally removed from the Maidstone studio in the summer of 1993.

[@georgeholland2934]

A great quality recording of one of the 1987 idents at the start. Rather sad to see the name of a great regional ITV being dismantled. There won’t be another TVS.

[@kjfenterprises9618]

2:02 is the TVS Startup theme from 1987!

[@Jesusisthelivingword]

The Owner of southern television and Executive Producer of How Nic Ayling has one of the TVS signs God bless him

[@rentaghost]

Nice to see that the signs were put on properly. Took a bit of effort to get them off. You wouldn't get that with todays mickey mouse TV outfits, they probably put them on with double sided tape these days.

[@sebastianohalloran9093]

I adore the 1987 on theme. The startup was my ring tone until this much better quality recording came along. Thank you!

[@laurenlowndes8303]

They didn't add the Meridian signs as they never took over Maidstone

[@SanFran51]

They used it for newsrooms.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

My aunt Jackie once worked for TVS and was the co-presenter of the TVS science program The Real World.

[@leemendham4788]

When the guy removed the third letter from the wall his colleague should have thanked him for his largesse.

[@joannegray5138]

Lol!

[@97channel]

B-Dum Tsssss

[@tjfSIM]

That's terrible but hilarious!

[@digitalmediafan]

Did they use that purple Maidstone logo at the end on air ? I seemed to remember they fairly often went into programmes with no continuity announcements at all. When ITV was truly regional and creative with it’s ID’s

[@alexdeguzman9284]

I hear coast to coast theme with time-lapse removing signs

[@championn3c574]

You probably wouldn't be allowed to do that without scaffolding these days.

[@scottpeacock5492]

Health and safety gone mad, Eh

[@anderslarsen1321]

@@scottpeacock5492 Yup, less people dies from fall injuries now...

[@christopherhulse8385]

Living in the Midlands, we used to be able to watch TVS under certain weather conditions.

[@digitalmediafan]

Ah tropospheric conditions you mean. I also use to receive Central down here in Brighton

[@centrevezgaming4862]

@@digitalmediafan channel five in the Bingley region of Bradford was worst I should know that I Iived in Bingley from 96-2001

[@securityrobot]

What you mean like having rainstorms and hurricanes in your lounge?

[@anthonylyons9810]

When I lived in Salford in the early mid 70's , As well as Granada we could also receive ATV HTV and Yorkshire Television. With the exception of ATV, The Pictures were Good .

[@TheMeakers]

@Classictv90s Not until about 1997. Post TVS and pre TMS it was The Family Channel Studios

[@PanosDCC]

That's too bad. And just when they found where Maidstone was :P (that's a reference to the "Portakabin TV" song by Richard Stilgoe for those who may not get that).

[@GryphLane]

If anything, Southern needed to know where it was, since it was their lack of coverage over the south east that was the whole reason for creating the dual region in the first place.

[@abhiramakella7146]

The song starting from 0:13 may need to be called "Television South (TVS) logo Medley."

[@lelinh7237]

Goodbye the home of Coast to Coast

[@robertcomer2767]

Who the hell was the stupid accountant who told them to bid £59million for that franchise. A bid £16 million more that the diabolical Carlton took London for. They could have easily bid £20million less and still have retained that franchise. Did programmes improve under Meridian, I very much doubt it.

[@ianlacey11]

Because it was such a highly desired region - Carlton also bid for it and given TVS were in such a pickle after buying MTM in the USA it was felt only a bid high or die approach would work but as you say it was too high as the ITC decided.I believe Meridian bid around the £35 million mark - programmes couldn't improve under Meridian as they,like Carlton were set up as publisher broadcasters - no inhouse facility.

[@chloejones1548]

@@ianlacey11 So who made Meridian News then?

[@ianlacey11]

Meridian made no programmes of their own except the news service.Everything else was like Carlton who went further and contracted out the local news to a joint operation with LWT - London News Network.Most Meridian programmes were made by other companies eg their sister companies and shareholders such as Central and Select TV,others such as Media Merchants and Topical Television

[@chloejones1548]

@@ianlacey11 Yes, I'm aware Meridian was a publisher broadcaster

[@SanFran51]

Broadcast Act 1990. TVS didn't got the memo.

[@anthonyperkins7556]

If I was shutting down TVS i'd remove and melt the opening plaque on the wall in revolt to Maggie Thatchers damage of the ITV system.

[@leatheronwillow3910]

The Maidstone Studios are so under utilised

[@Classictv90s]

Here's an interesting thing what shows were being recorded at The Maidstone Studios at the time TVS Maidstone's signage was being taken down could one of them have been Art Attack perhaps?

[@GryphLane]

Art Attack amongst others were transferred to Scottish but were still using the Maidstone studios for a period. How 2's studio was identical during season 3 in early 1993 even though it was a Scottish production.

[@Classictv90s]

@TheMeakers Thank you the information you provided was very helpful.

[@97channel]

How terrible. TVS was a fantastic provider to the network schedules, it punched well above its weight.

[@robertcomer2767]

Can you really include catchphrase with the annoying Roy Walker and the diabolical All Clued Up with David Hamilton as fantastic programmes to the network?

[@KEITHMU]

Although the V is slightly different, the V in TVS has a has a more rounded second stem

[@paulwalker6297]

Just like "they" did at BBC Pebble Mill - and ALL down to the bean counters who NEVER understood how or why TV works or exists 🤔

[@Classictv90s]

When did TVS Maidstone officially become The Maidstone Studios?

[@adrianandlaura]

Ah love this! I live next to the studios :-)

[@Moviesxp]

I will miss TVS...even if i wasn't born when they took off the signs.

[@tehbrazspartan]

This video it makes me want to cry. :(

[@quizman1967]

Sad to think they would have been scrapped. I'm the sort of anorak that would have loved them, if they hadn't been as big! Also, what font is it?

[@abhiramakella7146]

The font for the logo is Clearface Gothic. You can find the font family for this font here: ifonts.xyz/clearface-gothic-font-family.html

[@TheWillsy]

Coast To Coast theme love it!

[@securityrobot]

Bring out the coast to coast people.

[@Gallowaywind]

Where can i get a copy of the music used in this video? its clean :P!

[@warren12pete]

does anyone have a higher definition video version of the end station ident animation

[@geneclart1]

love your videos

[@SanFran51]

TVS.... a franchise that got axed because they forgot the franchise rules have changed in 1990 and that ITC were now expecting them to afford to pay them over the next ten years. AND TVS BIDDED WAY TOO HIGH.

[@glassowlie]

That and buying an American company just before the stock market fell.

[@ReleaseThaPressure]

And now the whole place has been demolished and replaced by flats and housing development.

[@glenncooney3959]

ReleaseThaPressure The Maidstone Studios are still there, but the front area has been sold off for housing. It’s a shame the front area couldn’t be kept for the front of the studios.

[@paulwalker6297]

Just like "they" did at BBC Pebble Mill - now a housing estate.

[@geoffhaggett3080]

No the studios and offices still stand and are being used by business. The grass and car park areas were sold for housing.

[@sebastianohalloran9093]

@@geoffhaggett3080 let's hope they kept enough space for people to park still!

[@muk8804]

URGGGH all that pigeon shit around the letters that those workers would've been handling

[@Fcutdlady]

What became of the maidstone studio ?

[@BruceDanton-xw6eg]

See below for answer to that one.

[@centrevezgaming4862]

I want to know did anyone buy the signs after they removed them

[@BruceDanton-xw6eg]

I wonder too.

[@WBBlackOfficial]

Why did they get TVS? Does it mean that TVS no longer exists?

[@WBBlackOfficial]

It's like just like DiC Entertainment they pulled the sign

[@SanFran51]

They continued on as a independent production company. But now it's gone into administration at April 2022. They now no longer alive.

[@glassowlie]

​@SanFran51 Not true. TVS was acquired by International Family Corporation. It wasn't long after they lost the franchise the parent company got sold off.

[@annother3350]

So their brand new building lasted 12yrs?!

[@AlexPerrine]

Ann Other although the building still is used today by The Maidstone Studios

[@SanFran51]

It's now rebranded as Maidstone Studios. They sold it off to Meridian. Southern Television sold off their plans to build the Studios to TVS.

[@whatzyouruser10]

Pov: The meridian are started

[@MrBridge09]

A bit of history, that.....

[@firewire7571]

This is sad but I know it was turning into Meridian or some kind of ITV channel

[@lovemunchkin]

they should go to a museum

[@nthnbt8]

They removed the TVS signs from the Maidstone studio because TVS became Meridian in 1993.

[@mwooldri]

Anthony Abate TVS didn't become Meridian. The company existed after Meridian assumed the ITV station franchise - TVS sold its Southampton studios to Meridian, but not the Maidstone Studios. In 1993, TVS was purchased by what is now a Disney subsidiary. Meridian did use the news production facilities there - on and off.

[@dongnam1971]

Goodbye TVS

[@TheMeakers]

@quizman1967 Clearface Gothic

[@kristheprankster]

i see aidan;unn's account has been terminated

[@WBBlackOfficial]

Maybe ITV bought it from TVS and I keep it

[@glassowlie]

It was just shutdown.

[@WBBlackOfficial]

@@glassowlie I read it on wikipedia but now it's called ITV Meridian

[@Robbiewa-bg4lu]

Karma for them outbidding and ousting Southern TV.Maybe the IBA back in the day should have left Southern alone like they did with Granada,Yorkshire,Tyne Tees and Border.All in the North 😀

[@BruceDanton-xw6eg]

If only too they had there.

[@retrocomputerkidkris]

@AidanLunn think about it historical value u never know

[@TrishulFilms]

I hope it isn't demolished. Maybe they could reutilize it as a museum or an institute.

[@AlexPerrine]

Nope, The Maidstone Studios still makes TV Shows

[@yannahgabi5541]

Beacause of. Meridian

[@sammmuelgoddett150]

a network does not change into a network lol.

[@PaytenHicksTheVideoEditor]

Yes they do

[@stopscaringus2473]

97channel TERRIBLE!? TVS, Terror V of Doom Screams? Southern was the best, how could you like TVS?

[@jaydee2559]

TVS was far better than Meridian! Meridian has been and always will be utter shite.

[@YuletheLuckyOwl]

Mary: TVS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE V OF DOOM!! STFU SON OF A *beep*!!! Yule: NO! Please don't talk about the V of Doom.... The filmed version scared the crap out of me since my childhood... DON'T TALK ABOUT IT MARY!! Mary: Fine! I won't talk about it too much... Actually I feel bad for you....

[@YuletheLuckyOwl]

Jay Dee WHAT!? Don't you dare say anything crap about Meridian! Yes, I know they did not produce a lot of programs like TVS did.... BUT! I know that Carlton was even worse than Meridian! I HATED THEIR LOGO!!! I mean come on! No imagination... And the programs... DON'T GET ME STARTED!! ~Yule ( I am hiding in my mansion because I don't want my twin sister involved in this since she has a super beserk rage when anyone said something offensive about us or Meridian.... It means her temper will go down & she will go nuts....)

[@Orange9098ItsOrangewithContent]

+Yule Cristobal reported

[@GryphLane]

Southern was crap. How could anyone like them compared to TVS?

[@jamesshore2987]

is there a name for the music?

[@rajtheangrydj2711]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3jbepaDrqt0rqM

[@rajtheangrydj2711]

The Track is Called: TVS Startup By Ed Welch

[@sammmuelgoddett150]

ITV WY U DO DIS???

[@julianhanc8272]

That's Granada

[@glassowlie]

ITC did this because another company took its franchise. That's how the system worked.

[@firewire7571]

ITV should reboot tvs

[@HermitOfBlackLake]

The good old days when work men actually put some effort in and worked really fast. Not like the lazy louts you get these days.

[@MrDavey2010]

Dear oh dear. How self indulgent! Who actually cares?

[@GryphLane]

Dear oh dear. How moronic that you don't.