CH 4 opening 2 November 1982

[keithmcneill55]

Excellent video, loved it, love looking back at these landmarks in TV history :)

[joannedj1]

I remember watching the launch of Channel 4. Was 9 and a half and was round at my grandparents' when it came on air for the first time on 2nd November 1982. :D

[GLFVIDEO]

@joannedj1

Memory is a wonderful thing most of the time. Thank You for your comments.

GLF

[arwelp]

The intro to the clip's not quite right in saying the 4th channel started on 2nd November 1982 - S4C opened up the night before!

[GLFVIDEO]

@arwelp

OK, Let's say the first "National" - except Wale, service. A bit of a mouthful isn't it!.

[d347b2]

Channel 4 1982: symphonic orchestra backing, scenes of the wonders of nature, art, and culture.

Channel 5, 1997: Spice Girls and Keith Chegwin's penis.

[GLFVIDEO]

@d347b2

Er, yes - I'll stay with Channel 4 Thanks!

GLF

[GLFVIDEO]

I'm not sure how often they showed the VT after it's first txn - sorry. The quality is down to the SONY professional recorder used.

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

GLF

[CaptainSiCo]

Fantastic quality! I remember watching the launch! How often did they play this film in the early days? I'm aware of launch day, the first anniversary, the start of afternoon programming (15-10-84?), and a rogue appearance in Dec 1988. Although I think the version shown on their first anniversary differed slightly.

[Tripp1993]

They should bring back the first ident for the 30TH ANNIVERSARY of Channel 4, like they did for Channel 4's 25th anniversary back in 2007, and re-air the 25th anniversary documentary!

[jpecks1]

BRILLIANT

[GLFVIDEO]

@jpecks1

I am pleased you enjoyed it.

GLF

[steeviebops]

Interesting that the test card doesn't have the parallel lines on the IBA:CH4 caption, therefore it was generated at the transmitter site rather than Channel 4 HQ.

[GLFVIDEO]

@theoldiesman

Yes it was very well edited. I did state in the text accompanying the VT that the voiceover was by Paul Coya.

Thanks for your comments.

GLF

[onenettv2010]

i like closedowns, i'll do on sparta remix today as soon as video responses.

[MrCol1969]

Respond to this video... this is the way to start a tv station! all channel 5 cud produce was the bloody spice girls!!!!!

[GLFVIDEO]

@MrCol1969

Yes, and look what happened to them!. Thanks for your comments.

GLF

[callwithcurrentconti]

Chillling - my pores seem to be following every contour of the theme.

[GLFVIDEO]

@callwithcurrentconti

Yes, That is when TV was at it's height in the UK. The BBC and ITV began to sit up and wonder what the third contender might offer....

[djjaseuk]

this intro still makes the hairs on my arms stand to attention!

[GLFVIDEO]

@djjaseuk

I know precisely what you mean. Thanks for your comments.

GLF

[bradgandy02]

I love it. "Now our first program (or programme,) Countdown!

[GLFVIDEO]

@bradgandy02

Yes, they don't make 'em like that anymore!

GLF

[radiodarkhorse]

I miss the old Channel 4

[GLFVIDEO]

@radiodarkhorse

I agree, C4 is not at all the same. It is a great shame, some call it progress, I do not.

GLF

[JFredUK]

A new TV channel opening nowadays is no big deal. But, back then, it really WAS something you rmeembered well. I rushed home from school on that particular Tuesday in order to watch the last half hour of the test card, almost with baited breath, as the time ticked away until the beginning of programmes. I wasn't disappointed.

[GLFVIDEO]

@JFredUK

Yes! I was working, but set my VCR to Record the event, hence the VT on my Channel. Thank You for taking the time to add a comment, it was a pleasure to read.

Regards,

GLF

[WhatsInTheFog]

From one geek to another...thanks for clips like this;)

[GLFVIDEO]

@WhatsInTheFog

You are most welcome!

[twocvbloke]

I think when 2012 arrives, I'll be more interested in Channel 4's 30th anniversary than that other event they're planning, I think it's something to do with sport or running around with a flame or something... :P

[Vennegoor10]

ITV is oft used as the example of TV dumbing down over the past 30 years, and quite rightly. But look at Channel 4 in 1982 versus now. The trailer for today would be makeover shows and Big Brother.

[GLFVIDEO]

@Vennegoor10

I take your point. Thank You for your comments.

[matty12jkishs]

Thank God for the people who keep these

[GLFVIDEO]

@matty12jkishs

Thank You for the thought, God did not enter into it though!.

[mfraz74]

Happy 28th birthday Channel 4.

[Jver10]

Happy Birthday Channel 4!

[DonaldMcKinney]

Did I spot clips from Ken Russell's Valentino in the opening montage film??

[GLFVIDEO]

Quite probably!.

[TheScotty9646]

Whats the classical peice on the Channel 4 testcard called? just before the afternoon of the station opening.

[GLFVIDEO]

I do not know the title of the piece. It would be my assumption that it was just a 'library piece' of music, unpublished for general release - but I could be wrong.

[Hollyoaksmad1]

god lol when do the programmes start haha

[GLFVIDEO]

I take your point. This intro only happened on Opening night. Usual intro was just the logo and 'Fourscore' muz.

[Glamking1]

I wish this was repeated on Channel 4 again for its Channel 4 at 25 at 5.55am on November 2nd 2007 with the IBA testcard. or the reasons they did not repeat it.

[AidanLunn]

Legally they wouldn't be allowed to show the testcard with the IBA branding on it.

[tsangari]

Why not?

[AidanLunn]

@tsangari I'm not entirely sure but that's why the IBA logo wasn't carried on the transmitters in service card on the mock LWT start-up that was shown on the morning of LWT's final day.

[GLFVIDEO]

In actual fact with the live transmission there was about 90 seconds of 'dead air' that is a blank screen! I edited most of that gap out of my video, viewers would have thought there was nothing there if I had left it in. Thanks for your comments.

[LuthansaTerminal]

@GLFVIDEO there was an interview in their 25th birthday documentary with one of the controllers where she said that none of them watching the launch at C4 knew that there would be so much black screen. They thought that there'd been a fault until the logo came crashing through it

[GLFVIDEO]

It could well have been the result of an over enthusiastic TC (transmission controller) fading the test card early in his quest to be ready to 'roll' the opening VT. Who knows, it is history now!

[cwilliams1976]

@LuthansaTerminal Because of the technicalities which were involved, the IBA ETP-1 testcard would fade out at 02 seconds past the minute ending in a 2 or 7 and then would remain black for 58 seconds until the signal finally reaches the television station.

[LuthansaTerminal]

@cwilliams1976

That makes no sense at all, where do you get this nonsense from?

[cwilliams1976]

@LuthansaTerminal This was from when the actual cards went on the air.

[cwilliams1976]

@LuthansaTerminal From when the card was aired

[LuthansaTerminal]

@cwilliams1976

I meant where do you get this '2 seconds past the minute ending in a 2 or a 7' nonsense? And what does 'until the signal reached the TV station' mean'? You have no idea what you're talking about

[cwilliams1976]

@LuthansaTerminal The IBA's testcard faded out at say 1.02pm or 1.07pm for example and takes two seconds to fade to black, then as the testcard was transmitted from the IBA's Engineering Division at Crawley Court, Winchester, it would take about 58 seconds for the logo of the television company to appear as they have to pick the signal directly from the transmitter sites and the IBA's Winchester office as I have witnessed a changing over of the transmitters en route.

[LuthansaTerminal]

@cwilliams1976 That makes a little more sense, but not much... I think the phrase I'm getting at is 'Citation Needed'

[cwilliams1976]

@LuthansaTerminal When the ETP-1 card aired on ITV in the days before TV-am, the fade into black happened at 9.22am or at 9.27am and then the start-up would begin 58 seconds later as the IBA had to hand-over to the programme companies in the same way.

[scorpiofootiemad]

I recall the opening day of C4,when with five minutes to go to the start,the screen went blank,and we all thought that a power cut had occured,but no,it was exciting times when they began!