WSBK TV-38 Boston - Sign-On - 1987

[Jamo1973]

I used to be able to get WSBK abd I'm from western CT. I remember this opening well. Tyvn for posting ;0

[R9588]

WSBK is currently affiliated with MyNetworkTV, but talks between them broke down this week, and as a result, both the station and MNTV have agreed to part ways. WSBK will revert to an independent station effective October 31.

[LowellDevil]

@R9588 Excellent! The station needs to stay independent permannently.

[VaultMasterDBT]

If that were all true, then it didn't occur; WSBK still carries MNTV as of 12/24/11.

[JHollowayNetwork]

the same national anthem sequence was used on WOR-9 New York City in 1981.

[PhenomVidKING013]

S.T.L. means... Studio Transmitter Link!

[davewriter100]

I've watched three sign-ons and sign-offs from this station that featured the Mormon's SSB film, and all the other stations that carried this had the credit: "Produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: The Mormons" at the end... I wonder why did this station cut that off? Time restraints, perhaps?

[StoogeWatcher]

That was basically the difference between independent stations and those owned by major networks.

[goofygoat2009]

I miss Dana and the Movie Loft...

[snoopy64116]

I miss "Ask the Manager."

[rfschober]

In NJ back in the mid-late '80s we had WSBK TV 38 on our cable. I remember watching The Movie Loft quite often.

[jcjofers]

I signed-on WSBK TV38 in the 1980's more times than I can remember. The most important thing to in the morning was to get to the station on time, for took 15 minutes to warm-up our big 180 thousand watt transmitter before you could apply the beam supply voltage to the klystron amplifiers that put us on the air. That great transmitter, which served us well, will be signed-off for good in February of 2009. But, TV38 lives on as WSBK-DT. I'm still there.

[MSTS1]

Thanks for that info, interesting too.

Were you actually the person who ran these bits on air? I used to see these ALL the time in those years when I had to be up at those hours..

[jcjofers]

Yes, when I was assigned to master control. But, I was one of the many technicians that worked in the station's master control and studios. There were about 35 of us in the 1980's. We also worked with Dana Hersey on the Movie Loft, built station promos and manned the remote truck for Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins home games. We were very fortunate to work with some great producers, directors and talent. I consider the 70's, 80's and 90's to be the golden age of independent television.

[NEPatriot]

WOW--the inside story from a TV38 technician. You I guess also have seen the Mormons National Anthem film a few times when signing on the station. At the end of the film, just as the frame closes around the statue of Liberty, it fades to black before the PRODUCED BY tagline. I do know WOR-TV used this film as far back as the 1980's, and never faded out early.

For sign-off, the station would switch to a picture of the tower just before dissolving to the film.

How long have you been w/TV-38?

[MSTS1]

Well, that's interesting to read. I did my best to capture some of that material and list them on my channel for others to see. The old indys are missed. Thanks for dropping by and for your comments.

[Mr36O]

@MSTS1 I just wanted to say that WSBK was one of my favorite UHF channels back in the 80's and into the 90's I loved all of the programming. I'm 34 now and I actualy miss those channels especialy TV38 before it was a network affiliate Watching those old promos and hearing Dana Hersey's voice brings back so many good memories of TV when I was young. TV will never be the same again.

[freebrook]

man, so many memories -- thanks for posting these!

[tpirman1982]

Talk about 100% patriotism with the "Star Spangled Banner".

[Benhalllums1]

WSBK-TV "The New Television 38" Boston, MA became 24/7.

[egger7577]

Why would someone record this?

[crypticreign]

Because it's awesome?  Sorry we get geeky about this stuff :)

[VaultMasterDBT]

Definately would not say geeky, as it is not that in any sense of the word..more like passionate :)

[VaultMasterDBT]

Why not? Why are you treating this as if it is so strange? There are a number of reasons why items like this end up on tapes, but getting up in the mornings to watch this kind of stuff was/is fun. Jusat because YOU may not be a media-oriented person doesn't mean you have to ask ignorant questions :P

[egger7577]

The question was out of curiosity rather than ignorance. I was curious as to why it was recorded; for archive purposes, or was something being taped directly after this and this is why someone had it on video; sorry I guess I should have been more specific. I was not trying to be ignorant but apparently labeling me as such makes you feel better. Have a nice day.=)

[MSTS1]

That's a fair enough question- If you have seen the videos in my catalog, there are many of both- some are available because a tape ran-on, but most are recorded on purpose.

I recorded this piece and others like it knowing that they would not be around forever, with corporate 24-hr TV on the horizon.

I think it was worth the energy I expended to press a record-button to now have many others have the ability to see what used to go on in our local TV broadcasting, two decades ago.

[egger7577]

This is true considering most channels nowadays run infomercials late at night rather then signing off.

[Punkghost21]

this is the one i seen before sonic

[LowellDevil]

I wish I had a entire library of clips from the old TV38.

[kevin62387]

Me too.

[Punkghost21]

do you have any creature features clips?

[MSTS1]

No, none.

[Punkghost21]

i wish i had a tape with all these on it i really really really do

[hkfreak]

Lobster.

[Punkghost21]

i miss the sign offs. they should start doing it again

[MSTS1]

I remember that weekend overnights, particularly Sunday-Monday overnights had more test slides up, such as the STL 35mm slide shown here. I always found the more interesting mix of stuff on weekends.

[rocketrob73]

Dana Hersey "THIS IS TV 38, WSBK TV, BOSTON" classic lol now back 2 Hogan's Heroes or Bruins Hockey!

[kevin62387]

YES along with Ask The Manager & Tom Larsen Show.

[wb8976]

Neat to notice that they sign off and on with a slide listing only the call letters and STL. I do notice two test cards right before the sign on message.

[NEPatriot]

And for the record, 83 Leo Birmingham Parkway is now home to some of Boston's radio stations. WSBK is now located at the WBZ-TV studios 1170 Soldiers Field Road.

[wmbrown6]

The circular test pattern (which appeared a might distorted at the bottom the morning of this taping) dated to the early to mid 1980's. Interesting 'SBK had both that and full-screen color bars.

[wmbrown6]

I'm curious - was it the case at WSBK where the Mormons "SSB" was their sign-on anthem, and the Air Force 'Aim High' "SSB" used for sign-off? (Given that the latter was used on a 1986 sign-off.)

[NEPatriot]

I think they used the Mormons SSB for both off and on when I saw them last turn the trick so to speak in 2001. Since about 2005, WSBK-TV has been a 24/7 operation, and quite the dull, corporate driven shadow of its once grand self!

Sometimes in the 1980's and into the 1990's at sign-off, before going to the film TV-38 would show a brief shot of their broadcast tower at an angle. The tower had in big letters TV 38, which were switched to UPN 38 when WSBK was a UPN station.

[Benhalllums1]

WSBK-TV 38 Boston, MA aired from January 1987 having the Mormon's National Anthem to sign-on TV38.