UTV Startup Music.wmv

The old UTV startup from 1971 until the early 80s. The tune is known as 'The Antrim Road'

[@BobMartinsback]

I am 10 again! Sitting then in Mossley County Antrim waiting for the programmes to come on. What a memory! What a tune, after the first few notes I could hum the whole piece. Now all we need is the schools programmes idents and clock from UTV in the early 1970s...

[@michaelstephen819]

This was the sound track to my Saturday mornings as a youngster. I haven't heard this for decades, but the tune stuck precisely in my head - not many pieces of music can do that!

[@colmmccabe7223]

I born in February 75 and remember this tune very well.

[@rainpop3036]

Good memory

[@andyatkinson3574]

Cushions thrown on the floor with me and my brother dancing round, i havent heard this in over 40 years but never forgot it.

[@SteveBuchananArt]

You have no idea how long I have waited to hear this piece of music! What a brilliant find - well done

[@billyshearer1]

Oh I used to love this!!! Fantastic find! Ah... the wait for the programmes to start. I can't tell you how chuffed I am to hear this music again. Thought I was going made as no one I know remembered it!

[@TheFantasia93]

Thank you for that. I remember that tune well. It usually came with an IBA test card.

[@bowtown]

I can't believe I have found this! To me this is childhood school holidays waiting for this at about 10.30am (or later?) when tv started. Happy, happy times ; )

[@Voxac100b]

The tune was written in 1968. It was last used in 1987. It's by far the best piece of music used for the old ITA startups. I wonder who the announcer is? I remember the old blue card startups well.

[@bowtown]

Thanks for posting this - would never have looked for 'Antrim Road' though - always thought this was a polka and had this word in the title?

[@CJODell12]

2:32. This is Ulster Television, broadcasting on the Black Mountain transmitter of the Independent Television Authority.

[@grahamnancledra7036]

Isn't that wonderful - someone who wrote all the spoken words for us in case we are all deaf.

[@ianringland1090]

Wow thanks. I've been looking for this piece of music for years. Part of the soundtrack of every 1970s NI childhood. I had always thought of it as "the scottish tune that played during IBA transmitter information" but it's actually called "The Antrim Rd" ...too cool.

[@ardsguy38]

What a great find, havent heard this whole piece of music in years, many thanks.

[@gaggymott9159]

Ards here, too! 👍👍👍

[@Thomas828]

By heck, that's the very tune I've been carrying about in my memory for more than thirty years and now you've bought it back just as I remember it! Good man yourself, Darzog!

[@Tiggzg]

Brought back happy childhood memories :)

[@Voxac100b]

Isn't it lovely the way the temp changes at 0:29

[@rhiannahwarm8451]

So glad to be reminded of this and the old screens/test cards. Happy days!

[@brucedanton3669]

Thank you so much!!

[@tomlyons1735]

About time this was up. Couldn't find it for ages.

[@Voxac100b]

2:12 The late David Dunseath for many he was considered the premier broadcaster in Northern Ireland

[@gloobag666]

absolutely fecking thrilled to hear this. well done mate.

[@keithlawcomedy]

whatever happened the other tune that used to play behind some still adverts and when there was time to fill. It was on a vibraphone(possibly brass aswell), it's been stuck in my head for years and I'd love it as a retro ringtone

[@niallbradley4492]

I remember this tune good memories

[@troublegum65]

Memories of very happy days - thank you for posting darzog.

[@Voxac100b]

@frglee Yes it did finish with the chord. The announcement was always at the end... which indicated the start of the mornings programmes, When the music was played the transmitter card with the frequencies was shown,

[@tonyt5919]

I remember that so well, also reminds me that I'm getting older,lol.

[@iusetaloveher]

Thanks for posting this. Remember this when I was little.

[@Fonziedaz1]

Good old emmon Holmes

[@MrNinjaFish]

Super Duper. Hoy noy broyn coy. What aboyt ye Steven? Cheerio noy.

[@simonguitarman]

This is brilliant, I think this is the best pre 70's start up music for any ITV region. Is this available on cd anywhere? P.S. BRING THE ITV REGIONS!

[@ewanodoherty2545]

simonguitarman Unfortunately not, it was put out on a De Wolfe library music LP, 'The British Isles' 😊

[@joebruce5827]

Sad to see the UTV going the way of STV; basically ITV with local news input. At least stv has kept its own logo.

[@rainpop3036]

So true Joe

[@alexastudios]

No, Not really.

[@billyshearer117]

People in Grampian region have lost their branding to STV

[@StefanTCTS]

@@billyshearer117 yeah why is that?

[@billyshearer117]

@@StefanTCTS Same reason as ITV but on a smaller scale, a consistent brand...

[@niallbradley4492]

Great memories Niall used to laugh at this tune!

[@rainpop3036]

Why its a masterpiece man 😂

[@Voxac100b]

@ETVable The piece of music used 1959 - 69 was called Seamus

[@oinker1695]

This may seem a bit random but I could picture this song being played at a brisca race.

[@eamonnca1]

I remember this playing on a loop waiting for Channel 4 to start.

[@seanycage2610]

It was utv not channel 4 👍

[@eamonnca1]

I distinctly remember it playing on a test card that was broadcast on the Channel 4 wavelength before the launch of the channel. It said at the bottom, “IBA - CH 4”

[@MadcarRecords]

Thank you so much! Like a lot of the other people who have commented I've had this tune in my head since childhood and felt a strange sense of loss that I didn't know what it was called or how to find it. I could remember different parts of it but if you had asked me I'd probably have though they came from several different test card tunes. I always imagined it was probably by Havelock Nelson, or at least arranged by him. How did you find this? You must have it on CD or something? It's so funny to discover it's called The Antrim Road! Now, I have a feeling there were other, similar test card tunes from the 60s or 70s, from either UTV or BBC Northern Ireland, and that if I could now get this one out of my head (again!) I could think of some of them...

[@Voxac100b]

The tune was credited to (Wayne Hill/Ward). I have a crystal clear copy...

[@frglee]

I've been trying to find this for years...The last one of my old ITV startup music collection. Thanks! It'd be great to see a recreation of the actual startup. Did the music really end with that rather dischordant chord and the logo? And was the verbal intro at the end or the start or somewhere in the middle?

[@BHAFCboy3456]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@johnferguson4655]

The Announcer is Keith Burnside.

[@Voxac100b]

Long before Keiths time

[@rlnarayanan72]

noice

[@misschristymarieluca]

I just got a new profile picture!

[@duncanation]

1:42 There is a Camera in the Reflection

[@seanmcgouran4091]

Who composed / arranged the music?

[@Voxac100b]

2:21 also a legend 🤣🤣

[@Fcutdlady]

Jackie Fullerton

[@sammcferran2737]

Announcer possibly is Keith Hayes, sounds like him

[@Prospro8]

Sam McFerran I'm not sure, but I think it might be Jimmy Greene, sounds more like him. The VO may have predated this piece by some time.

[@Voxac100b]

+Prospro8 Jimmy Greene had left UTV by this time but it does sound like him

[@Gazza63]

def not Keith Hayes

[@frglee]

Have you any idea what music was used in the 1960's?

[@MichaelOKeefe2009]

Ah yes, ULCER Television, the channel that gives me ulcers in my stomach.

[@tonyt5919]

Yeeee haaaa,!😃

[@gaggymott9159]

Does anyone know who composed this piece?

[@marnanel]

Gaggy Mott Credited to Wayne Hill, I think.

[@sylwiaz200]

Used in Daria:Early 1970s Used in Rick & Morty:1975-early 80s

[@appunewtoonssaturn6940]

rediffusion

[@cerinolancerinolan7148]

U tv were okay the way they were, The itv schedule leaves a lot to be desired Monday - Friday same programmes during morning into after noon EVERY DAY Repeatative same rubbish programmes.

[@bighands69]

That box at 1.34 takes back so many memories. It was as if it was yesterday,