WTBS Technical Difficulties - 1986

This is a brief recording of a technical difficulty slide from late 1986 on WTBS (now just TBS). There was a power failure in the area that knocked the station off the air. The video changes colors part way through. I didn't get the whole thing, just about a minute or so.

[@saraflint2982]

"We are experiencing technical difficulties, but here's some pretty music to break the tension."

[@alemarion]

Name of first song: "Window on a Dream" - Bill Wolfer

[@lorenagarcia7182]

Thank you ive been trying to look for this song thank you.

[@johncollie337]

Thanks for the song info! One of the reasons that this technical difficulty is a favorite is because of the music playing. Makes this feel pretty nostalgic. Do you have any info on what the second song is?

[@sillygoose635]

@@johncollie337 It's called "The Falcon" by Earl Klugh & Bob James

[@DUSTINODELLOFFICIAL]

the card featuring a photo of what looks like the uplink station would suggest that is possibly where this broadcast/voiceover originated

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

The slide looks so faded!

[@4HBirtcher]

Typical 1980s color screw up!!

[@ktyt]

@@4HBirtcher I think they tinted the lighting to save power until they could return.

[@AL110806]

0:35

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Some engineer tried to fix the video.

[@A310Productions]

It looks like the person in the studio had likely some kind of curtain open which pointed at the slide making the color off

[@kentennweather]

Wonder how long it took John Young to get his voice over to them for that? Or maybe he ran over there and did it on the fly...

[@TimothyMischka]

He was a DJ at an area radio station at the time, so presumably it wouldn't have been difficult to call him up and record a VO to explain the situation.

[@malamations_]

I'd assume it was prerecorded

[@Bananasplits1234]

​@@malamations_stupid cartoon charecters

[@elkinsinboxinc]

It must have knocked CNN off the air too.

[@4HBirtcher]

No I think even though both are owned by the same Turner Broadcasting, there were two separate buildings somewhere in Atlanta!!

[@elkinsinboxinc]

Actually you're wrong. Because both TBS and CNN were based at 1050 Techwood Drive at the time.

[@gregd4633]

@@elkinsinboxincYou’re absolutely right, I grew up near CNN/WTBS during the 80’s. My dad owned a three stall mechanic shop near the campus. He also serviced Ted Turner vehicles as well

[@faststop4]

John young the voice of wtbs on the power failure voiceover

[@Retrotv]

Did this air during WTBS (Night Tracks) or something else that day?

[@GatorGirl]

+Retrotv It definitely wasn't during Night Tracks - it was sometime in the afternoon. I'm not sure what was supposed to be showing then, but it seemed to go on for a very long time, possibly over an hour.

[@Retrotv]

Speaking of (Night Tracks), do you have any shows from it and it's six spinoffs from 1983-92?

[@GatorGirl]

+Retrotv Sorry, I don't have any full shows. I might have a music video or two, somewhere, but KZbin would never let me put them up for copyright reasons.

[@Retrotv]

I know, try it on Dropbox, I usually tell others to go over there since it's so tough over here on You Tube. if they are NT videos, they have colored font titles.

[@Mecheboy2]

@@GatorGirl who is the voice of the technical difficulties?

[@davidhoover925]

ok this one confuses me. If they are off the air due to a power failure why isnt it just a blank screen. How were they able to show the slide and everything

[@itogi]

David Hoover Different transmitter

[@sayhibobbi]

The slide was likely transmitted from the satellite uplink facility, which IIRC was far enough out of the Atlanta city limits to not be affected by the outage.

[@RyanSchweitzer77]

That is correct, TBS's uplink facility (built & operational in 1976, and using hardware from a local and later internationally-known company, Scientific Atlanta) at the time was located away from their main studios in Atlanta (just NW of the city), and linked via microwave relay. They probably had a rudimentary master control facility at the site to provide some sort of programming (namely this slide) in case of some sort of failure or outage at the main Atlanta studio. There's a video here on YT of their uplink site, recorded back in '77 when they were still WTCG: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIrZkGeKir2knLM

[@ChrisHadleyWriter]

Was this during a Braves home game, by any chance?

[@doctorwhofan6340]

Wow this is so cool I'm from Georgia and didn't know this existed lol. 😅

[@MrBROTHERFELDER]

Something kinda creepy about these.Can’t put my finger on it.

[@nicholascrockett63098]

Cool! I Actually Didn't Know If This Is A Sign Off On Superstation WTBS Atlanta Georgia From 1986

[@4HBirtcher]

No they never signed out for anything, it's just they had a power outage possibly from nasty weather down there!!

[@dameboll]

everything is going to be allright

[@juanmanuellopezzx1445]

what is the name of the songs of the off air?

[@nickallen4318]

@@puyofan99 windows in a Dream is also used a music track for a Ringtone every time you Wait

[@dcwarner]

The cart spot player died.

[@f0rbidden_cheeto]

Why was the color changing all of a sudden? Just asking

[@lowstaar]

The operator is fiddling with the color ballance i guess

[@f0rbidden_cheeto]

@@lowstaar Oh xD

[@LOAT_Official]

Their probably darkening the colours to save energy since.......ya know they were having a power outage

[@douglasdesouzavieira8548]

What time did it happen.

[@douglasdesouzavieira8548]

What Day aired.

[@calsavestheworld]

If they're off the air... how can they show that?

[@Rbyrd77]

If the power went off at the main station on Techwood, it was most likely uplinked to the satellite, from a small auxiliary unit that was outside of the affected area. Or it could have came from a production truck that had its own source of power.

[@1Brother_Bear]

Magic.

[@douglasdesouzavieira8548]

Que Dia foi Isto.

[@ethancarberry-holt3011]

Feels like a fake old EAS video

[@dameboll]

wtbs 1986

[@procellfoxreal]

Scare factor: Low to medium

[@luquitiameche867]

The first time when I go to WTBS I see that creepy doorman episode.

[@dameboll]

i saw this in a vido

[@austinchris19]

When did this air?

[@thewarngamer-gameplaysandw6081]

Also, Easter egg found, The THINGY is a head.

[@SeroNereo]

Where :/

[@puyofan99]

TheWarnGamer is actually my old account. It was a fucking rumor, I just see a blanket and the middle attenta isnt a face.

[@somethinglikeitytofficial6582]

Why did this need to be made?

[@Rbyrd77]

Because its his channel, and he can do whatever he wants with it.

[@rtcp2020]

@@Rbyrd77of course that does not violate the rules

[@blackcombthehedgehog7917]

Get me the full version!

[@luquitiameche867]

How does even creepy? 😮 0:21 0:22