WTAF TV 29 Philadelphia PA 1973 Sign Off.wmv

Ch. 29 started as a small station that transmitted from Jenkintown. Most people in the Philadelphia area, including myself could not get the station in clear. Then they moved their transmitter to the Roxboro section which is when this was recorded. Around 1975 they went to 5 million watts and became the strongest UHF station in the Philadelphia area. The last picture has a test pattern from when they moved their studios to 4th and Market Streets so it was several years after the audio.

[@TGGaineyProductions]

I remember one late night when 29 accidentally used the card with their 70's logo with Jill Chernekoff announcing the station ID after some dead air once their SSB film ended in 1984.

[@mrmoore1972]

I had forgotten 29's logo in the 70s...I always assumed the 29 design circa 1985 was from the 70s as well. It and channel 48 were what I grew up with with (that and 17 for Ultraman)

[@70sleftover]

We were lucky ten or so miles north of Jenkintown -- all Philly stations came in crystal-clear on the old rabbit ears and UHF hoop in my house. I had no idea 29 was broadcasting from Jenkintown earlier, although come to think of it they were using call letters WIBF in old newspaper clippings I found as a kid (from the mid-60s?), and I remember in the 1970s the obscure FM station WIBF broadcast from the top of the Benson East apt. bldg on Old York Road at Township Line Road.

[@jareddicarlo7816]

The Flag Evolution SSB heard at the end of this clip was only two years old at the time of this recording. WTAF continued to use it up until 2000 or so.

[@stevations]

During the early 70s CH 29 had Whirlybirds show about helicopters, movies with submarines and music dance shows.....I think Jerry Blavat had a show. It was a great station if you could get their signal.

[@NEPatriot]

Thanks for the clarification. Also cool to see a couple of test patterns. Unusual to see one where the graphic gives the address.

[@michaellong3836]

Still trying to locate TV-29's sign-off they used during 1979-82, which was a film of a sunset, with the song "Good Night" by the Beatles, playing in the background.

[@stevations]

+Michael Long I think part of that is on the CH 34 FL sign off that is part of an upload of mine. Search FL stevations and it should show up. It was part of a bunch of FL stations all in one upload and the Goodnight segment was only a few seconds long....probably the station did not want to pay the copyright royalties for the whole song.

[@MrRonfelder]

wphl-tv ch 17 also was 5 Megawatts for the visual carrier just like ch29.

[@stevations]

That is the building at the transmitter site in Roxboro along with pictures from inside the building

[@BartCEdge]

That's Was 50 Years Ago 1973 2023

[@axy56]

This is channel 29 WTAF TV

[@NEPatriot]

And of course at the end of the video we hear the opening vamp of what we sign-off fans call the "Flag Evolution" national anthem. Which lasted into the 80's at least. The picture at 0.20, is that of the Jenkintown studios?

[@Rlotpir1972]

Does anyone have the Windsor font logo for this channel (1974-1979)?

[@ajg2558]

I know in the 80s they were at 5 million watts , maximum

[@MrRonfelder]

remember that was only the visual carrier. A standard video signal when they measured the 5 megawatts was strictly only the vertical and horizontal sync pulses plus blanking. NO picture info though.

[@johnissoevil]

Nowadays, FOX doesn't use "4th and Market Streets" as the address, they use the actual physical address.

[@OSN_TV_2024]

Is now a fox affiliate

[@kaiokendo]

WTAFak?