@Striplights1980 I don't know if they were ever required to give that much technical information or not- This station only signed off one night a week, the remaining days they still played the sign-on clip at 6 AM. Other stations didn't give as much info when signing off or on.
@SouthOCmixdown Yes, and this station is a perfect example- when the Fox network started it became just another network affiliate. To be fair though, a couple months ago they actually STOPPED keeping their logo on the screen! It's still on during Fox shows, but that's actually controlled on the network's end (their feed is clean, but they insert logos from individual stations over it.)
All the movies in syndication now are pre-packaged for TV with edits and commercial breaks already placed.
Anybody remember KOVR channel 13 signing off with the little bee who puts on a nightcap, gets in bed and says "Good Night"? Or KHSL channel 12 with the Native American Chief doing the sign language? Ah...Good times
I remember as a kid watching the sign-off, and I wouldn't change the channel until the tone came on several seconds after the color bars came up. No idea why, but I waited for 'em.
The real TV-40's already been dead for about 20 years. The final blow came in 2000 when they started putting their own constant logo on the screen on show that weren't already ruined that way by the Fox network. The analog signal of course will be gone this February.
Ah yes, Tom LaBrie! "Welcome to Night Comfort, we're here to put a smile on your face and some comfort in your life." Got any late-night footage of cap'n Mitch & Mr Seymour from Great American Builders? That would be CLASSIC!
They were doing "Night Comfort Theater" overnight in the late 70s, they showed a lot of uncensored R-rated movies in the 80s but I doubt any of it was hardcore porn. I'd like to see some proof of that!
That was on channel 31- they ran it uncut in May 1986, when they ran it again in May '87 they used a TV version which had a bunch of stuff changed! I have a tape of it from KTVU with a few trims; a station in Kansas City got fined by the FCC for showing that movie in 1988.
And stays on the screen all the time! The Fox HD feed is actually bug-free, but most Fox stations including this one put their own bugs on it. Only good thing is it's just in the black space during 4x3 shows, so you can crop the picture to 4x3 and get rid of the bug!
KTXL was owned by Jack Matranga for many years. It was sold in 1988 to Renaissance Communications, then it was sold again in 1996 to it's present owner, Tribune Broadcasting of Chicago, which Sam Zell has bought the company recently..
This brings back fond memories of this station. From Big Time Wrestling to Captain Mitch. I was hoping someone recorded KTXL's sign-off. Thanx for doing so, great stuff.
There must have been at least one other before this, since the transmitter shown here went into use October 1985. I have the one they changed to after this, as soon as I find the tape I'll put that up, though you'll want to see that on Divx Stage 6 to hear it in stereo.
They had a sign-on clip similar to this too, which they ran every morning right before "The 700 Club" at 6:00. At the end of Night Comfort Theater between 5:30 and 6:00, they would often fill out time after the last movie with short films, cartoons and other weird stuff.
After about a minute of the tone heard here, it actually changes to a lower one. I have about 5 minutes of the test pattern from this as I let the tape run all the way to its end. The sign-offs I taped weren't stopped until the signal went completely off, or the tape ran out.
It wasn't just Field stations - WOR-TV (now WWOR) had this INTV logo (and in the mid-1970's, an earlier logo of the same group) on their sign-ons and -offs. And WOR was RKO General. (Though KHJ [now KCAL] did not show the INTV logo, that I know of.)
Wow!! So much technical info and jargon. I remember in 1985 TV close downs were simply "God Save the Queen" and goodnight. See you at 6:30 A.M.
Striplights1980 5 months ago
@Striplights1980 I don't know if they were ever required to give that much technical information or not- This station only signed off one night a week, the remaining days they still played the sign-on clip at 6 AM. Other stations didn't give as much info when signing off or on.
eyeh8nbc 5 months ago
@ih8ContentID I have a life too, that's why I don't waste it watching bugs!
eyeh8cbs 10 months ago
Wow. Look at that equipment. That mixing board with the analog VU meters on it.
Reel to reel, mainframe video feeders? True museum pieces.
Freedom in television truly died after UHF went away.
SouthOCmixdown 1 year ago
@SouthOCmixdown Yes, and this station is a perfect example- when the Fox network started it became just another network affiliate. To be fair though, a couple months ago they actually STOPPED keeping their logo on the screen! It's still on during Fox shows, but that's actually controlled on the network's end (their feed is clean, but they insert logos from individual stations over it.)
All the movies in syndication now are pre-packaged for TV with edits and commercial breaks already placed.
eyeh8nbc 1 year ago
Anybody remember KOVR channel 13 signing off with the little bee who puts on a nightcap, gets in bed and says "Good Night"? Or KHSL channel 12 with the Native American Chief doing the sign language? Ah...Good times
ArchStantonSavage 1 year ago
@JackBauer152 It was very sad as in the fall of 84 we lost if of my local cable system on the southern oregon coast..
lockenjr 1 year ago
OMG The Memories! I Watched This Station What I Was A Kid! Anyone Remember Captain Mitch?
iMoviePhil3a 2 years ago
is the TV station really broadcasting when the color bars appear?
LuimmR15 2 years ago
Yes- they usually showed this all night until signing back on at 6:00. If I was awake I'd set my VCR clocks by the clock they had onscreen.
eyeh8nbc 2 years ago
ahh the days before basic cable was in every single home...
thegreatsamurai82 2 years ago 3
I remember as a kid watching the sign-off, and I wouldn't change the channel until the tone came on several seconds after the color bars came up. No idea why, but I waited for 'em.
Seltaeb9091 3 years ago
on october 26 2008 ktxl 40 will be 40 years old happy birthday
broughham 3 years ago 3
The real TV-40's already been dead for about 20 years. The final blow came in 2000 when they started putting their own constant logo on the screen on show that weren't already ruined that way by the Fox network. The analog signal of course will be gone this February.
eyeh8nbc 3 years ago
Does anyone even watch TV 40 anymore?
o0901325a 3 years ago
Better than KCRA 3...
co678 3 years ago 2
I miss the old 40 logo :(
white93taurusgl 3 years ago 6
Ah yes, Tom LaBrie! "Welcome to Night Comfort, we're here to put a smile on your face and some comfort in your life." Got any late-night footage of cap'n Mitch & Mr Seymour from Great American Builders? That would be CLASSIC!
twanghang 3 years ago
very cool! love the studio shots.
crypticreign 3 years ago
Me Too!!! = )
jerrymouse2008 3 years ago
I remember when they used to show hardcore porn overnight on channel 40 during the late 70's.
slap1328 3 years ago
How old were you and was tv 40 free or you need ascrambler to get that
dinfg6 3 years ago
They were doing "Night Comfort Theater" overnight in the late 70s, they showed a lot of uncensored R-rated movies in the 80s but I doubt any of it was hardcore porn. I'd like to see some proof of that!
eyeh8cbs 3 years ago
Can we? lol
PortPowerKS 3 years ago
Yeah, I kind-of remember channel 40 showing "Private lessons" with Sylvia Kristel.
Amar7605 3 years ago
That was on channel 31- they ran it uncut in May 1986, when they ran it again in May '87 they used a TV version which had a bunch of stuff changed! I have a tape of it from KTVU with a few trims; a station in Kansas City got fined by the FCC for showing that movie in 1988.
eyeh8nbc 3 years ago 2
Thanks. That's some interesting TV history!
Amar7605 3 years ago
That's Right. And That Station Was KZKC-TV(Now KSMO-TV).
jerrymouse16 3 years ago
Pong!
3338MAN 4 years ago
I haven't seen another logo like that! Maybe that's what drew people in so the programming could keep them hooked.
marcus813 4 years ago
these were the good old days of tv 40! until the fox network messed it up. when i was a kid i really loved the tv 40 logo that was so colorful
tmsan74 4 years ago
I saw the station recently the rainbow TV40 logo is still on the tower at the station
xde18 4 years ago 2
Sadly the station inside isn't the same! I drive past it occasionally during my thrift store runs in that area and it makes me cry.
eyeh8cbs 4 years ago
I kinda liked the old Rainbow 40 logo. Today, it's just too generic...
godgundam10 4 years ago 2
And stays on the screen all the time! The Fox HD feed is actually bug-free, but most Fox stations including this one put their own bugs on it. Only good thing is it's just in the black space during 4x3 shows, so you can crop the picture to 4x3 and get rid of the bug!
eyeh8cbs 4 years ago
KTXL was owned by Jack Matranga for many years. It was sold in 1988 to Renaissance Communications, then it was sold again in 1996 to it's present owner, Tribune Broadcasting of Chicago, which Sam Zell has bought the company recently..
dgendvil 4 years ago
This brings back fond memories of this station. From Big Time Wrestling to Captain Mitch. I was hoping someone recorded KTXL's sign-off. Thanx for doing so, great stuff.
gladfan1989 4 years ago
There must have been at least one other before this, since the transmitter shown here went into use October 1985. I have the one they changed to after this, as soon as I find the tape I'll put that up, though you'll want to see that on Divx Stage 6 to hear it in stereo.
eyeh8cbs 4 years ago
KTXL still broadcasts from those same Fruitridge Road studios.
TJL31SJ 4 years ago
They had a sign-on clip similar to this too, which they ran every morning right before "The 700 Club" at 6:00. At the end of Night Comfort Theater between 5:30 and 6:00, they would often fill out time after the last movie with short films, cartoons and other weird stuff.
eyeh8cbs 4 years ago
Also, from my understanding KTXL's tone as of 1986 was set at 733.5 Hz.
wmbrown6 4 years ago
After about a minute of the tone heard here, it actually changes to a lower one. I have about 5 minutes of the test pattern from this as I let the tape run all the way to its end. The sign-offs I taped weren't stopped until the signal went completely off, or the tape ran out.
eyeh8cbs 4 years ago
I Was Hoping You Had A Sign-Off Of This Station! Thanks!
jerrymouse16 4 years ago
Me too, though I don't live in Sac-town. Too bad no national anthem was included.
NEPatriot 4 years ago
INTV always show up on the Field Stations I saw this logo on KBHK in the 1990's
sky1beam 4 years ago
It wasn't just Field stations - WOR-TV (now WWOR) had this INTV logo (and in the mid-1970's, an earlier logo of the same group) on their sign-ons and -offs. And WOR was RKO General. (Though KHJ [now KCAL] did not show the INTV logo, that I know of.)
wmbrown6 4 years ago