Notice how the phrase "hung parliament" was hardly, if ever, used during the coverage. The term, coming from the expression "hung jury", was not actually used widely in Britain until 1975 when somebody used it in an article.
I was wondering why Alastair Burnet gave way to David Dimbleby as the host after 1974 - it was because he had defected to ITN and presented election nights for them instead.
Interesting that the polls were predicting a better Conservative performance than what actually happened. In several elections it has been the other way round. It was probably the strength of the Liberal vote that denied the Tories a majority.
He also worked for ITN before 1974. All in all, he presented eight election night specials (1964, 1966, 1970, Feb 1974, Oct 1974, 1979, 1983 and 1987). David Dimbleby equalled that record this year. Whether he will surpass Burnet or not remains to be seen.
Ah, thanks for posting this ajs. Are there any more pre-1979 general election nights you have posted, or intend to post - in particular the October 1974 election.
By rights, Edward Heath should have remained PM after this election, as the Conservatives had the most votes. But at least there was an October election which was a more certain outcome.
During this entire election coverage, viewers may notice picture jumping and other aspects of interference. This is a fault with the original videotape recording made bny the BBC in the 1970s and cannot be rectified.
Is that true? I was under the impression that the only recording was made by a private individual since the BBC didn't keep a copy (for more than a short time anyway). If it hadn't been for this person we wouldn't be able to watch this coverage today.
@ajs41 No, this all exists on the original 2" Quadruplex videotapes, the only broadcast standard videotape format at the time. You can see that this video's sharpness is of broadcast quality, and not of any of the apalling domestic VCR formats (Betamax, VHS etc.).
Yup, that's true. These are the original videotapes (they could only record 90 mins max. per tape).
I've heard the videotape quality of the 1970 election is even worse, and that's also on its original tapes.
Thanks for that info. It must be some of the earlier elections such as 1959 or 1964 that were recorded by an individual rather than the BBC because I can remember someone pointing that out before.
@ajs41 The BBC recorded those elections on videotape then transferred to film, when the videotapes were due to be wiped and re-used, as was common practice in those days. Many TV programmes (such as Till death us do part or Doctor Who) were sold overseas in this way (16mm film transfers of the original videotape), although many such TV programmes made their ways into private hands.
Due to the importance of the election coverage, I would have thought that the BBC would have kept those films.
The election music for Feb and Oct 74 elections was far better than what bbc has used since 1979 who stook with dimble-bore for so long.
1969delt 4 months ago
This looks like the first post-war election where the Liberals were taken semi-seriously.
EmperorTam 8 months ago
Thanks for Uploading! To bad the US networks don't re-show our Presidential Election coverage, that would be awesome
efan2011 10 months ago
@efan2011
CSPAN used to.
lawrence142002 5 months ago
@lawrence142002
Really? Do you know what elections did they show?
efan2011 5 months ago
@efan2011
I remember seeing 1992, 1988 and 1976 at one point or another on there. I dunno if they still do.
lawrence142002 5 months ago
@lawrence142002
Thanks for the info, too bad C-span does not show them anymore, I would actually watch the channel more!
efan2011 5 months ago
Truly amazing! These recordings are re-emitted by the BBC?
Wilbtube 11 months ago
01:39 "... and to our viewer online via You Tube."
tsangari 1 year ago
Very exciting election though.
lawrence142002 1 year ago
Funny how it opens to Fanfare to the Common Man, a very American piece of music.
lawrence142002 1 year ago
Notice how the phrase "hung parliament" was hardly, if ever, used during the coverage. The term, coming from the expression "hung jury", was not actually used widely in Britain until 1975 when somebody used it in an article.
LiterallyMad 1 year ago
I was wondering why Alastair Burnet gave way to David Dimbleby as the host after 1974 - it was because he had defected to ITN and presented election nights for them instead.
Interesting that the polls were predicting a better Conservative performance than what actually happened. In several elections it has been the other way round. It was probably the strength of the Liberal vote that denied the Tories a majority.
swanarcadian 1 year ago
@swanarcadian
He also worked for ITN before 1974. All in all, he presented eight election night specials (1964, 1966, 1970, Feb 1974, Oct 1974, 1979, 1983 and 1987). David Dimbleby equalled that record this year. Whether he will surpass Burnet or not remains to be seen.
dartaddict 1 year ago
Ah, thanks for posting this ajs. Are there any more pre-1979 general election nights you have posted, or intend to post - in particular the October 1974 election.
By rights, Edward Heath should have remained PM after this election, as the Conservatives had the most votes. But at least there was an October election which was a more certain outcome.
swanarcadian 1 year ago
During this entire election coverage, viewers may notice picture jumping and other aspects of interference. This is a fault with the original videotape recording made bny the BBC in the 1970s and cannot be rectified.
AidanLunn 1 year ago
@AidanLunn
Is that true? I was under the impression that the only recording was made by a private individual since the BBC didn't keep a copy (for more than a short time anyway). If it hadn't been for this person we wouldn't be able to watch this coverage today.
ajs41 1 year ago
@ajs41 No, this all exists on the original 2" Quadruplex videotapes, the only broadcast standard videotape format at the time. You can see that this video's sharpness is of broadcast quality, and not of any of the apalling domestic VCR formats (Betamax, VHS etc.).
Yup, that's true. These are the original videotapes (they could only record 90 mins max. per tape).
I've heard the videotape quality of the 1970 election is even worse, and that's also on its original tapes.
AidanLunn 1 year ago
@AidanLunn
Thanks for that info. It must be some of the earlier elections such as 1959 or 1964 that were recorded by an individual rather than the BBC because I can remember someone pointing that out before.
ajs41 1 year ago
@ajs41 The BBC recorded those elections on videotape then transferred to film, when the videotapes were due to be wiped and re-used, as was common practice in those days. Many TV programmes (such as Till death us do part or Doctor Who) were sold overseas in this way (16mm film transfers of the original videotape), although many such TV programmes made their ways into private hands.
Due to the importance of the election coverage, I would have thought that the BBC would have kept those films.
AidanLunn 1 year ago
great! looking forward to this one!!!
beatroot09 1 year ago
It's so weird watching one of these things without David Dimbleby at the helm.
karmapoliceman43 1 year ago
The Spitting Image version of him is so much better
gopconservative78 1 year ago