I don't know why stations don't sign off anymore, one would think that in an age where the TV news meade is trying to drill environmentalism and energy conservation into everyone's head that the TV stations would lead by example and actually shut down. But I guess it's a case of one rule for me but not for thee.
Great stuff. I'm 28 and have vague memories of sign-offs from the late 80's/early 90's, right before most networks went to 24/7 programming. I remember falling asleep on the couch one night and waking up at around 3:30 AM to the test pattern noise and that weird graphic on the screen. I still remember how it kind of freaked me out.
At the time, Channel 2 used to sign off weekday mornings around 5am or so (on weekends, they stretched it out by scheduling a "LATE LATE SHOW" around 5am, featuring an older film lasting about an hour or so, signing off around 6:30 or so, only to sign on at 7am).
A lot of radio stations, also, still signed off in 1965-66. WAYS in Charlotte, NC had one of the most upbeat shows on overnight due to the fact that the DJ was Jackson Armstrong! Great post because I love these things.
Ahh, the good old days, when we didn't have those tacky infomercials during the wee hours of the night. Late night TV back in the day (and I'm old enough to remember) had the late news followed by The Tonight Show or another late-night talker, then the late-late show. Some stations aired reruns of old series and/or five-minute religious sermons before sign-off - and many of those sign-offs, national anthems and test patterns were art forms in themselves.
A later WCBS-TV sign-off by Norm Stevens, from 1978 (on which he announced the sign-on time as 6:05), has now been put up on:
watch?v=I6_RnTmMccw
. . . only, missing the TV Code SOGP notice (which, in any case, had the "It assures you of high standards for the television programs designed to entertain and inform you" line taken out by then).
The announcer says WCBS-TV will sign back on at 6:15am. Little did he know that someday 2, 4, 5, 7, 11 and 41 would all have newscasts starting between 4:30 and 5am...
Or that most stations never sign off now except for transmitter maintenance.
Dean Friedman,in his song"Ariel",mentions about Ch.2 signing off the air.
They used to invite you to listen to WCBS radio overnight in their "American Airlines Music Until Dawn".There was something comforting in that,something not available in this 24/7 world.
I remember when these TV stations used to sign off either at midnight or after that/. Nowadays, TV is 24/7; especially with all these infomercials.
nanlisa 3 months ago
I don't know why stations don't sign off anymore, one would think that in an age where the TV news meade is trying to drill environmentalism and energy conservation into everyone's head that the TV stations would lead by example and actually shut down. But I guess it's a case of one rule for me but not for thee.
OlegKostoglatov 4 months ago
@OlegKostoglatov they stay on because of these infomercial brings in money
bluewolverine40 4 months ago
'The programs of WCBS-TV are broadcast for viewing by the public without charge...'
Hmm...guess I never should have fed the VCR that half-dollar...
chip64c 6 months ago
i liked these sign offs on TV stations years ago. i used to stay up late nights to see them
troyboy7962 7 months ago
:42, Geez! I hope whoever recorded this got permission from channel 2!!
LandondeeL 9 months ago
Great stuff. I'm 28 and have vague memories of sign-offs from the late 80's/early 90's, right before most networks went to 24/7 programming. I remember falling asleep on the couch one night and waking up at around 3:30 AM to the test pattern noise and that weird graphic on the screen. I still remember how it kind of freaked me out.
MrMatt8204 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
At the time, Channel 2 used to sign off weekday mornings around 5am or so (on weekends, they stretched it out by scheduling a "LATE LATE SHOW" around 5am, featuring an older film lasting about an hour or so, signing off around 6:30 or so, only to sign on at 7am).
fromthesidelines 1 year ago
A lot of radio stations, also, still signed off in 1965-66. WAYS in Charlotte, NC had one of the most upbeat shows on overnight due to the fact that the DJ was Jackson Armstrong! Great post because I love these things.
monkeeman1966 1 year ago
thanks for showing this from back from the day..before my time definetly!
CRAZYHARRY4 1 year ago
Ahh, the good old days, when we didn't have those tacky infomercials during the wee hours of the night. Late night TV back in the day (and I'm old enough to remember) had the late news followed by The Tonight Show or another late-night talker, then the late-late show. Some stations aired reruns of old series and/or five-minute religious sermons before sign-off - and many of those sign-offs, national anthems and test patterns were art forms in themselves.
TV the way it was meant to be.
markojameow 1 year ago
Dear SignOffGuy,
Whatever happened to Mr.Norm Stevens the booth announcer for WCBS TV Ch.2 in NYC?
143AC 1 year ago
@143AC - From my understanding, Mr. Stevens is now deceased, having died around 1988.
wmbrown6 1 year ago
A later WCBS-TV sign-off by Norm Stevens, from 1978 (on which he announced the sign-on time as 6:05), has now been put up on:
watch?v=I6_RnTmMccw
. . . only, missing the TV Code SOGP notice (which, in any case, had the "It assures you of high standards for the television programs designed to entertain and inform you" line taken out by then).
wmbrown6 1 year ago
The announcer says WCBS-TV will sign back on at 6:15am. Little did he know that someday 2, 4, 5, 7, 11 and 41 would all have newscasts starting between 4:30 and 5am...
Or that most stations never sign off now except for transmitter maintenance.
303Gregg 1 year ago
Dean Friedman,in his song"Ariel",mentions about Ch.2 signing off the air.
They used to invite you to listen to WCBS radio overnight in their "American Airlines Music Until Dawn".There was something comforting in that,something not available in this 24/7 world.
rentslave 2 years ago
@rentslave Score! I used to sometimes listen to 'Music Till Dawn'. (Don't figure out my age, LOLOL).
Juliaflo 1 year ago
Yes, TV used to sign off at night. This makes me feel old. .
vraydio 2 years ago 19
anpanman!
keiichiudagawa 3 years ago
Nice work on this! :)
duncombepat 3 years ago 4
Awesome!
veelalynne 3 years ago
that "2" logo used to scare the s%#$ out of me when it zoomed in during their station id
zekepig 3 years ago
NICE.
tapthat2012 3 years ago
still nice.
tapthatt2012 2 years ago
I agree.
enigma413 3 years ago
Good job, I like it..
MSTS1 3 years ago