ABC is the company which, under agreement with the Independent Television Authority, provides the television programmes in the North and Midlands on Saturdays and Sundays.
1 Hanover Square, London W.1.
HYDe Park 7222 City Centre House, 30 Union Street, Birmingham 2
MIDLANDS 6083 Television House, 12 Mount Street, Manchester 2
DEANSGATE 4597
Area ITA Channel Vision Sound Opening Date Population ITA Homes
Transmitter Frequency Frequency 000's 000's
Mc/s Mc/sMidlands Lichfield 8 189.75 186.25 17th Feb 1956 8,850 1,765
North Winter Hill 9 194.75 181.25 3rd May 1956 }
Emley Moor 10 199.7372 196.2605 3rd Nov 1956 } 12,452 3,282
Directors
Sir Philip Warter (Chairman); E G M Fletcher LL.D, MP (Deputy Chairman); Howard Thomas (Managing Director); C J Latta; R Clark, LL.B; D J Goodlatte; G A Cooper.
Officers
C J Orr, FCA (Secretary); B R Greenhead (Technical Controller); R H Norris (Advertisement Controller); B Tesler (Programme Controller); D Southwood (Northern Executive and Chief of Outside Broadcasts); E G Harris (Midlands Executive); L Shirley (Features Supervisor); R Taylor (Light Entertainment Supervisor); Penry Jones (Religious Adviser).
Staff
Total members of staff 957 (excluding Alpha Television).
Visits to Studios
A limited number of tickets are available for audiences at certain shows. Applications, enclosing stamped addressed envelopes, should be made to the Ticket Controller at the address of the studio from which the programme originates. The minimum age is sixteen.
Enquiries
Enquiries about artistes and programmes should be addressed to Viewers’ Correspondence, ABC Television, Broom Road, Teddington, Middlesex.
Submission of Scripts
Present requirements are for 60-minute plays, 30-minute children’s serials and 60- or 45-minute series scripts. But programmes change, and authors should contact story editors for the appropriate category to learn of future trends before submitting outlines or scripts.
Programme Journal
TV Times publishes separate editions for the North and Midlands areas giving details of the available programmes.
Studios
DIDSBURY STUDIO CENTRE, Manchester (Didsbury 8181). Winter Hill and Emley Moor transmitters receive their weekend programmes via the ABC master control rooms at Didsbury. Here too is based the Outside Broadcast fleet. The main studio has a stage area of 5,000 sq. ft. and has seating for an audience of 600. The second studio has an area of approximately 1,000 sq. ft., and there is a presentation studio attached to the dual master control rooms, plus an announcer’s booth for sound only.
BIRMINGHAM. Alpha Television Studios, Aston, Birmingham (Aston Cross 3091), are jointly owned by ABC and Associated TeleVision Limited. There are three studios of 3,000, 1,200 and 380 sq. ft., and master control and technical areas which were housed in a new building during 1962.
TEDDINGTON STUDIO CENTRE, Broom Road, Teddington (Teddington Lock 3252). This modern studio centre has been established close to London, where the main body of artistes is available. It specialises in the recording of drama, light entertainment and feature programmes. Studio 1 has an area of 7,500 sq. ft.; Studio 2, 4,750 sq. ft.; and Studio 3, 2,500 sq. ft. The technical equipment covers an area of 8,000 sq. ft. and is fully multi-standard with immediate switching between 405, 525 and 625 line standards. The new central block, opened in 1962, has in addition 13,000 sq. ft. of rehearsal rooms, an acoustically treated recording studio of 1,700 sq. ft., and scenery assembly and handling facilities.
Outside Broadcast Units
ABC have three Outside Broadcast units based at Didsbury, all with 4½” cameras and a smaller vidicon unit. In addition, the mobile videotape recorder can be equipped with one or two cameras, there being a total of twelve available between the units, There are seven microwave link units with portable power generators, and a hydraulic platform tower truck.
Videotape Recording
There are two machines based at Didsbury, together with the mobile unit. At Teddington there are four standards-switchable transistorised recorders together with standards converter equipment. At Alpha Studios, Birmingham, there are two machines.
Colour Television
One of the flying spot telecine channels at Teddington is equipped for the generation of colour signals, and programmes from Teddington have been experimentally radiated by the Croydon transmitter. In addition, numerous public demonstrations have been given over the GPO network, notably those using the continental SECAM system.
Technical Developments
A considerable amount of apparatus was specially developed for the Teddington Studio Centre in order to achieve full multi-standard operation. All this newly developed equipment is transistorised, and, in particular, vision switching matrices and pulse and vision distribution amplifiers have been used in considerable numbers.
Programmes
ABC productions include: News and News Magazines: ABC At Large. Talks, Discussions and Documentaries: The Other Man’s Farm, The Bookman. The Arts: Tempo. Science and Natural History: You’d Never Believe It! Religion: The Sunday Break, Living Your Life, Journey of a Lifetime, Sunday Morning Service, Epilogues. Adult Education: Headway. Sport: extensive outside broadcast coverage of all sporting events, including such minority sports as tenpin bowling, motor cycle scrambles, indoor soccer and amateur boxing. Children’s Programmes: Once Upon A Time. Drama Programmes: Armchair Theatre, The Avengers, Dimension of Fear (four-part thriller serial), Secret Beneath the Sea (six-part children’s serial), Ocean Liner series (untitled). Variety, Light Entertainment and Music: Thank Your Lucky Stars, Sing Along, The Best of Friends, Comedy Bandbox, Candid Camera, The Dave King Show, Life and Al Read. Entertainment Films: several film series produced in collaboration with ABC include The Human Jungle, Sir Francis Drake. Dramatised Documentaries: The Sword in the Web.
Under agreement with the Independent Television Authority, Anglia Television provides television programmes in East Anglia throughout the week.
Head Office: Anglia House, Norwich, NOR 07A, Norfolk
NORWICH 28366 London Office: Brook House, 113 Park Lane, W.1.
HYDe Park 8331 Northern Sales Office: 132 Royal Exchange, Manchester 2
BLACKFRIARS 8575
ITA Channel Vision Sound Opening Date Population ITA Homes
Transmitter Frequency Frequency 000's 000's
Mc/s Mc/sMendlesham 11 204.74325 201.23 27th Oct 1959 2,550 460
Directors
The Marquess Townshend of Raynham (Chairman); A Buxton, MC, L Scott, J Woolf (Executive Directors); D Albery; Sir Robert Bignold DL, JP; WO Copeman CBE, JP; G Daniel; Sir Peter Greenwell, Bt; Miss A Richards CBE
Officers
M Norman (Chief Executive); AJ Gorard (Company Secretary/Chief Accountant); TAH Marshall (Technical Controller); A Clifford (Controller of Local Programmes); P Holmans (Controller of Programme Planning); J Margetson (Sales Controller)
Religious Advisers
Rev AR Freeman (Church of England); Rev AR Manley (Roman Catholic); Rev EF Jones (Free Church)
Education Advisers
Glyn Daniel MA, PhD, FSA; Miss Audrey Richards CBE, MA, PhD
School Liaison Officer
Paul Johnson MA
Staff
Anglia Television employs a staff of just under 340, with many more under contract for particular programmes.
Visits to Studios
A limited number of tickets are available for audiences at certain shows, the maximum capacity of Studio A being 200. Applications, enclosing stamped addressed envelopes, should be made to: “Audiences”, Public Relations Department, Anglia Television, Anglia House, Norwich, NOR 07A, Norfolk. No audiences are admitted to drama productions or to “About Anglia”.
Enquiries
General enquiries from the public should be made to the Public Relations Department in Norwich; enquiries by artistes’ agents to the Contracts Department, Norwich. Press enquiries should be made to the “Press Officer” at either the Norwich or London offices.
Submission of Scripts
Material required: 30-, 60- and 90-minute plays in script form. Outlines of ideas are not acceptable unless submitted by authors who have had previous experience in television writing. All submissins should be addressed to: The Drama Department, which is located at the London office.
Programme Journal
TV Times publishes a separate edition for the Anglia Television Area which gives details of the available programmes.
Studios
ANGLIA HOUSE, Norwich, Norfolk (Norwich 28366). Anglia Television headquarters are situated in the centre of the City of Norwich and include Anglia House (the production and administrative centre), Cereal House (Accounts Department) and Golden Ball Yard (Storage Facilities). These premises comprise a total floor area of 63,000 sq. ft.
Anglia House contains four production studios as follows: Studio A, 52′ × 62′ (3,224 sq. ft.); Studio B, 25′ × 41′ (1,031 sq. ft.); Studio C, 18′ × 13′ (231 sq. ft.); Studio D, 9′ × 6′ (54 sq. ft.). The two main production studios are equipped with Pye 4½-in. Mark V Camera Channels and comprehensive sound and lighting equipment.
Telecine
Four channels of Rank Cintel Flying Spot Telecine, each capable of handling 16-mm. or 35-mm. material with all classes of married and unmarried sound. Two channels are also capable of handling slides.
Outside Broadcasts
An Outside Broadcast Unit is available equipped with two Pye 4½-in. Mark V Camera Channels and an Ampex VTR machine.
Videotape Recording
In addition to the Mobile VTR machine, which is also operable in conjunction with studio facilities at Anglia House, a further static Ampex VTR machine is in Anglia House, Norwich.
Film Department
The Anglia Television Film Department consists of one Feature Sound Film unit, one Feature Silent Film Unit, one News Sound Film Unit and one News Silent Film Unit.
The Anglia Television Natural History Film Unit
The Unit, which is based in London, was formed in 1959 to concentrate exclusively on the production of natural history programmes. It has travelled extensively obtaining information for Survival productions and has been associated with two of the World Wildlife Fund’s most important rescue operations.
Programmes
In addition to a wide variety of local programmes designed to cater for the interests of the East Anglian community, Anglia drama and natural history productions are transmitted on the ITV network. Anglia productions include: News and News Magazines: Anglia News, About Anglia, Town and Country Review, Anglia Weather Service. Talks, Discussions and Documentaries: Look To Tomorrow, Arena, Now You’re Talking, Cambridge Union Debates, Tavern Talk. The Arts: What? Where? When? Science and Natural History: Survival, Countryman, Living With Animals. Farming: Farming Diary. Religion: Food For Thought, Church Services, Epilogue. Children: Afternoon Club, Just The Job, Top of the Class. Adult Education: Cambridge Lectures (Once A Kingdom). Plays and Drama: contributions to the Play of the Week and Television Playhouse series, Thirty Minute Theatre. Light Entertainment and Music: Music Match, I Packed My Bag. Sport: Match of the Week.
News Coverage
Two permanently attached film units consisting of approximately 100 correspondents, 25 free-lance cameramen, news room production staff and copy takers present news coverage every night of the week, and, in addition, a regular late-night local news summary. Weather forecasts by Anglia’s own meteorologists are broadcast every night.
The cast and production crew for a drama production in Studio 5
Associated-Rediffusion Limited is the company which, under agreement with the Independent Television Authority, provides the television programmes in London from Monday to Friday.
Television House, Kingsway, London W.C.2.
HOLborn 7888 Norfolk House, Smallbrook Ringway, Birmingham 5.
MIDLAND 9151/2 Peter House, Oxford Street, Manchester 1.
CENTRAL 9867/8
ITA Channel Vision Sound Opening Date Population ITA Homes
Transmitter Frequency Frequency 000's 000's
Mc/s Mc/sCroydon 9 194.75675 191.266 22nd Sep 1955 12,910 3,023
Directors
John Spencer Wills, M.Inst.T. (Chairman); Sir Edwin S Herbert, KBE (Deputy Chairman); P Adorian, FCGI, MIEE (Managing Director); The RT Hon The Viscount Colville of Culross; JB Rickatson-Hatt; Sir Bracewell Smith, Bt, KCVO, LL.D, BSc.
Management
General Manager: TM Brownrigg, CBE, DSO, RN (Rtd). principal officers: John McMillan (Controller of Programmes); Guy Paine (Controller of Advertisements); AW Groocock, FCIS (Secretary); CF Elms (Business Manager); Brian Begg (Publicity Controller); JT Davey, FCA (Chief Accountant); executives: Five Assistant Controllers of Programmes: Ray Dicks (Production and Programme Services); Cyril Francis (Planning); Guthrie Moir (Religious, Education, Features, Children); GCF Whitaker (Technical Operations); Milton Shulman (Film Acquisition, Special Assignments).
Religious Advisory Panel
Rev. Austen Williams; Father Michael Hollings Rev. Derrick Greeves.
Education Advisory Council
Chairman: Sir Ifor Evans, D.Lit., Provost, university College, London.
Schools Liaison Officer
John Mackay.
Submission of Scripts
Material required: 60- or 90-minute plays, written for the medium and suitable for “live” production, are in constant demand. Shorter plays, fantasy, costume pieces and plays with a sordid or distasteful theme are not required.
Completed dialogue scripts should be submitted and we cannot give consideration to synopses and/or treatments unless from writers whose work we already know. Requirements for series and serials, light entertainment material, children’s and feature programmes vary considerably from time to time and a preliminary letter is advised. There is little requirement for panel games and quizzes. Address drama scripts and related correspondence to the Head of Drama. Other material and correspondence to Script Services Section. Leaflet outlining requirements available on request.
Visits to Studios
A limited number of tickets are available to the public for admission to Light Entertainment and Quiz Shows performed at Wembley Studios. Application should be made in writing to the programme concerned, care of the Ticket Office. For example: “Take Your Pick”, Ticket Office, Associated-Rediffusion Limited, Television House, Kingsway, W.C.2. The minimum age is 15 years.
Enquiries
Enquiries about artistes and programmes should be addressed to Miss Eileen Sands at Television House.
Programme Journal
TV Times publishes a London edition giving weekly details of the available programmes.
Studios
WEMBLEY STUDIOS, Wembley Park, Middlesex (WEM 8811). Senior Engineer: George Sherman. Studio 1: 80′ × 55′ (4,400 sq. ft.); Studio 2: 80′ × 41′ (3,280 sq. ft.); Studio 4: 74′ × 42′ (3,108 sq. ft.); Studio 5: 140′ × 100′ (14,000 sq. ft.); Studio 5a: 100′ × 67′ (6,700 sq. ft.); Studio 5b 100′ × 67′ (6,700 sq. ft.). Technical Facilities 4,928 sq. ft.; Maintenance Workshops 12,152 sq. ft.; Restaurant 2,826 sq. ft.; Property Store 7,488 sq. ft.; Scenery Bay 6,912 sq. ft.; Dressing Room and Make-up 7,000 sq. ft.; Car Park 12,800 sq. ft.; VTR: 4 Ampex Machines; Telecine: 1 RCA Vidicon; 1 Cintel Flying Spot; 2 EMI Flying Spot.
TELEVISION HOUSE STUDIOS. Studio 7: 33′ × 24′ (702 sq. ft.); Studio 8: 38′ × 25′ (950 sq. ft.); Studio 9: 64′ × 40′ (2,416 sq. ft.); Studio 10: 26′ × 12′ (312 sq. ft.). Master Control 900 sq. ft.; Maintenance Workshop 1,150 sq. ft.; VTR 2 Ampex machines, 320 sq. ft.; T/C, 2 Cintel, 1 RCA Vidicon, 1 EMI Flying Spot, 1,150 sq. ft.; Six Rehearsal Rooms 7,500 sq. ft.; Three Projector Theatres; Fifteen Film Cutting Rooms; 1 Dubbing Theatre.
Outside Broadcasts
Associated-Rediffusion has three mobile control rooms each with four cameras.
Programmes
Drama: regular contributions to Television Playhouse and Play of the Week; No Hiding Place; Tales of Mystery; Boyd QC; It Happened Like This; Crane; Somerset Maugham Hour; When the Kissing Had to Stop; Electra. Features: This Week; Decision; Here and Now; Collector’s Piece; Challenge to the Editor; Looking Abroad With Brian Connell; Insight; Bridgehead; The ABC of Democracy; Birth; Watch on the Mekong; Article 237; and the Intertel exchange programmes. Light Entertainment: Dickie Henderson Show; Double Your Money; Take Your Pick; Close Up; Hippodrome; Kingsley Amis Goes Pop; Dan Farson Meets… Schools: The World Around Us; Notre Ville; Story Box; Romeo and Juliet; Science and Understanding; Theatres and Temples (The Greeks). Children: Tuesday Rendezvous; Small Time; Badger’s Bend; Animal Care; and several plays and light musical programmes in the Summer. Religion: Epilogues; Laudes Evangelii; Black Nativity. Sport: horse-racing, football, tennis, boxing, swimming, etc. Entertainment Films: many feature films and filmed television series.
Intertel
The company was a founder member of Intertel, the International Television Federation, whose other members are the Australian Broadcasting Commission; the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; National Educational Television and Radio Center, USA; and Westinghouse Broadcasting Co. Inc., USA. A first series of twelve television documentaries has been completed and a further series is planned. Available programmes include The Quiet War, The Heartbeat of France, Postscript to Empire, Living with a Giant, America Abroad, 40 Million Shoes, Unfinished Revolution.
ATV is a public company which, under agreement with the Independent Television Authority, provides the television programmes in London on Saturdays and Sundays and in the Midlands from Monday to Friday.
ATV House, 17 Great Cumberland Place, London W.1.
AMBassador 8040 ATV House, 150 Edmund Street, Birmingham.
BIRMINGHAM CENTRAL 5191
Area ITA Channel Vision Sound Opening Date Population ITA Homes
Transmitter Frequency Frequency 000's 000's
Mc/s Mc/sLondon Croydon 9 194.75675 191.266 22nd Sep 1955 12,910 3,023
weekendsMidlands Lichfield 8 189.75 186.25 17th Feb 1956 8,850 1,765
weekdays
Directors
Sir Robert Renwick, Bt, KBE (Chairman); Norman Collins (Deputy Chairman); Lew Grade (Managing Director); Edward J Roth (Deputy Managing Director); JAL Drummond (Finance); The Earl of Bessborough; Ellis S Birk; Hugh Cudlipp, OBE; RPT Gibson; Prince Littler, CBE; Val Parnell; Charles Orr Stanley, CBE, Ll.D
Officers
JM Barham, FCA (Secretary); B Bibby (Production Facilities Controller); P Dorté, OBE (Midlands Controller); JF Gill, FCA (Group Accountant and Treasurer); M Gumpel (Director of Business Affairs); PJ Henry (Sales Director); L Lewis (Administration Controller); TC Macnamara (Technical Controller); S Mitchell (Chief Press Officer); K Rogers (Operations Controller); W Ward (Productions Controller).
Religious Advisers
The Rev. John Bebb (Roman Catholic); The Rev. Stephan Hopkinson (Anglican); The Rev. Caryl Micklem (Free Church).
Education
Sir John Materman (Chairman, Education Advisory Committee); James Cochrane Wykes (Senior Education Officer); W Hemingway (Schools Liaison Officer).
Staff
Total members of staff 1,379 (excluding ATV’s subsidiary companies). Production 622, Administration 289, Engineering 213, Sales and Research 83, Operations (presentation and films) 89, Accounts 62, Press and Public Relations 21. In addition, ATV employs some 3,300 artistes each year, as well as musicians and scriptwriters.
Visits to Studios
A limited number of tickets are available for audience shows. Applications, enclosing stamped addressed envelopes, should be made to the Ticket Office Supervisor, ATV Studios, Elstree, Borehamwood, Herts. The minimum age is sixteen.
Enquiries
Enquiries about artistes and programmes should be addressed to Viewer’s Correspondence, at ATV’s London or Midlands offices.
Submission of Scripts
Material required: 60-minute plays. These should be complete dialogue script of first form. Six- or seven-part children’s serials: completed dialogue script of first episode and detailed synopses of the remainder must be submitted. Unless Associated TeleVision has knowledge or experience of the writer’s work, no other form of submission will be considered. 30-minute situation and domestic comedies and documentaries are also in demand. There is very little demand for short plays, musicals, quiz games, panel shows, short stories and talks. All submissions should be addressed to The Script Editor.
Programme Journal
TV Times publishes separate editions for the London and Midlands areas giving details of the available programmes.
Studios
ELSTREE STUDIO CENTRE, Borehamwood, Herts (Elstree 6100). This 340,000 sq. ft. development is one of the most up-to-date centres of television production, studio and technical facilities. The working floor area of the studios total 31,680 sq. ft. as follows: Studio A, 80′ × 80′; Studio B, 84′ × 80′; Studio C, 116′ × 80′; Studio D 116′ × 80′. The technical facilities directly associated with these four studios total 26,736 sq. ft. Other premises include Studio Facilities (75,790 sq. ft.), Technical Facilities (20,043 sq. ft.), Transport and Workshop Facilities (40,951 sq. ft.), Administration and Rehearsal Rooms (81,500 sq. ft.) and Restaurant (16,500 sq. ft.).
WOOD GREEN TELEVISION STUDIO, Wood Green Empire, N.22. Working floor area some 4,250 sq. ft. Particularly suitable for large-audience shows with seating for 600.
FOLEY STREET (Britallian House) London W.1, containing ATV’s Master Control centre and a small studio of 814 sq. ft. used for presentation and some discussion programmes.
ALPHA TELEVISION STUDIOS, Aston, Birmingham, are owned jointly by ATV and ABC Television Ltd. There are three studios of 3,000 sq. ft., 1,200 sq. ft. and 380 sq. ft.
Technical Development
A great deal of the equipment installed in ATV’s Studios is fully transistorised. This includes pulse and vision distributing equipment employing semi-conductors throughout, and fully transistorised sound equipment. The studios are equipped for 405, 525, and 625 line standards.
Outside Broadcasts
ATV has four mobile control rooms, each with four cameras, and an additional two-camera unit. One of these control rooms is used in conjunction with a video-recording vehicle to form the International Mobile Recording Unit.
Programmes
ATV Productions include: News and News Magazines: Midlands News; Midland Montage; On the Braden Beat. Talks, Discussions and Documentaries: The Warning Voice; Dinner Party; Midland Farming; Midland Profile; special documentaries; Meeting of Minds; Forum; Look Around the Midlands. The Arts: Sir Kenneth Clark series. Science and Natural History: Threshold; It Can Happen Tomorrow; The Wonder of Man. Religion: About Religion; Church Services; Epilogues; A Box of Birds (for children). Children: drama serials; Seeing Sport; I Am Going To Be… Schools: French from France, Ici la France, Summing It Up, Auf deutsch, Chemistry for Sixth Forms. Adult Education: Mesdames, Messieurs… Plays and Drama Series: Drama ’63; regular contributions to the Play of the Week and Television Playhouse series; Emergency Ward 10; Harpers West One; Deadline Midnight; The Plane Makers. Variety, Light Entertainment and Music: Sunday Night at the London Palladium; Bruce’s Show; Startime; Arthur Haynes Show; Hancock; The Morecambe and Wise Show; Tommy Steele Show; Roy Castle Show; A Golden Hour. Entertainment Films: many TV film series produced by or in collaboration with ATV. Sport: wide sports coverage, especially on Saturday afternoons.
Border Television Limited is a public company which, under agreement with the Independent Television Authority, provides the television programmes for the whole week, serving Southern Scotland, Cumberland, Westmorland, the Isle of Man and North Northumberland, including Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Television Centre, Carlisle.
CARLISLE 25101 14 Curzon Street, London W.C.1.
GROSVENOR 7541
ITA Channel Vision Sound Opening Date Population ITA Homes
Transmitter Frequency Frequency 000's 000's
Mc/s Mc/sCaldbeck 11 204.75 201.25 1st Sept 1961 }
} 476 114
Selkirk 13 214.723 211.223 1st Dec 1961 }
Directors
John L Burgess, OBE TD, DL, JP (Chairman); Robin D Gill MA (Managing Director); Sir Michael Balcon; NH Leyland, MA; GLS Lightfoot, OBE; The Earl of Lonsdale; GS Marr; Sir John Muirhead, DSO, MC, TD, DL, MA, LL.D; Major-General J Scott Elliot, CB, CBE, DSO; JIM Smail, MC, TD; Colonel The Earl of Stair, MBE, JP; WS Trimble; JC Wade, OBE, JP
Officers
PF Campbell (Controller of Programmes); P Frances, MA (Marketing Controller); RH Watts, ACIS ACWA (Company Secretary/Chief Accountant); M Lindsay (Production Controller); HJC Gower MIEE (Chief Engineer).
Religious Advisers
Rev. RS Ebbitt (Church of England); Rev. E Hardy (Methodist); Rev. AW Sawyer (Church of Scotland); Rt. Rev. Monsignor RL Smith (Roman Catholic).
Staff
Total members of staff 129. This total comprises: Production 18; Presentation 26; Engineering 29; Sales and Research 23; Administration 24; Accounts 7; Public Relations 2.
Visits to Studios
Official visits for limited numbers are arranged by application to the Public Relations Manager.
Script Requirements
Most scripts are provided from the Company’s staff. Occasionally, scripts are commissioned for special programmes from outside sources. The company is, however, constantly searching for new writers, particularly those with Border associations. Writers are always welcome to submit ideas for programmes, more particularly those to be produced in television studios rather than on film. There is at present no demand for drama scripts, but the company is prepared to discuss with writers their ideas for short plays with unusual themes and small casts. Ideas for light entertainment shows that can be produced in a small studio will also be welcomed. Writers should in no circumstances submit written work, apart from notes, before their ideas have been fully discussed. Suggestions and applications for interviews should be addressed to the Production Controller in Carlisle.
Programme Journal
A special Border edition of the TV Times is published giving full details of all the programmes broadcast by Border Television.
Studios
THE TELEVISION CENTRE, CARLISLE. The Border studio centre forms a specially designed, modern and compact self-contained production unit of some 20,600 sq. ft. (1,920 sq. m.). The working areas comprise two studios of 1,050 sq. ft. (98 sq. m.) and 343 sq. ft. (32 sq. m.) which cope with both production and presentation requirements. Associated with these are technical areas (studio control, master control, central apparatus, telecine, maintenance and stores) totalling 1,458 sq. ft. (135 sq. mm), scene construction and storage areas of 2,090 sq. ft. (193 sq. m.) and a dressing and make-up suite of 451 sq. ft. (42 sq. m.). The total area occupied by the technical operation is 5,392 sq. ft. (500 sq. m.), the remainder of the building being occupied by Film Department – 1,000 sq. ft. (93 sq. m.) – and administration, cafeteria, kitchen, garage and house services covering 14,203 sq. ft. (1,327 sq. m.).
TECHNICAL INSTALLATION. Simplicity and reliability are the keynotes of the technical installation, which has to undertake most of the functions of larger centres. Transistorized equipment has been used where available in a proved and reliable form. The studio lighting system is interesting, forming a compromise between the basic direct switching and the sophisticated console-controlled/dimmer bank system. Telecine machines may be controlled from any desired control room. The whole station, including the vision links into the national network, is suitable for either 405 or 625 line operation, an overnight change-over being possible. For live transmissions, the studios use vidicon-type cameras, which have proved reliable and capable of producing pictures of excellent quality. The use of identical cameras on telecine machines provides a high degree of flexibility.
Film Department
The entire film operation is based at Carlisle. Filming, processing and editing facilities are maintained, and more than 1,000 films of local news and documentary interest are produced annually. Special programmes highlighting topics of outstanding interest in the Borders and the Isle of Man are a regular feature.
Programmes
Border Television produce in their own studios the following local programmes: News and News Magazines: Border News and Border News Summary (daily, Monday to Friday); Border Diary (Wednesdays); extended reports on Royal visits and other notable events (periodically); Talks, Discussions, Documentaries: Focus – a topical magazine (Tuesdays and Thursdays); First Day of the Week – selected readings (Sundays); Focus About the Home – a programme about home interests (Fridays); Borderline – interviews with nationally famous persons exploring alternative courses they might have taken to achieve eminence (monthly); Editorial – a review of local newspapers (weekly); Take a Look at… – documentary reviews of Border towns (periodically); What Say They? – a panel of well-known Borderers discuss topics of the day (periodically); Time Was – long-lived Border characters look back over the years (periodically); Farming: Farming Prices (daily, Monday to Friday); For Border Farmers – a weekly magazine prepared in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture (Sundays); Sport: Time out of Doors (Mondays); Sportscast (Fridays); Sportlight – interviews with national sporting personalities (periodically); Gardening: Summer Garden (weekly during summer); Light Entertainment: Beat in the Border (Wednesdays); Religion: musical feature programmes marking the principle festivals of the Christian Year (periodically); Programmes for Children: Let’s See and Many Happy Returns (both weekly).
Channel Television is the trading name of Channel Islands Communications (Television) Limited, which is a limited liability company registered in Jersey and is the programme contractor appointed by the Independent Television Authority for the Channel Islands.
Channel Television Centre, Rouge Bouillon, St. Helier, Jersey C.I.
CENTRAL 23451 Smith Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey C.I.
CENTRAL 3408 Mercury House, Knightsbridge, London S.W.7.
KNIghtsbridge 3761
ITA Channel Vision Sound Opening Date Population ITA Homes
Transmitter Frequency Frequency 000's 000's
Mc/s Mc/sFremont Point 9 194.75 191.25 1st Sept 1962 100 25
Directors
WH Krichefski, OBE (Chairman); Mrs George Troy; Deputy EH Bodman; C Forbes Cockell; Conseiller ED Collas; Harold Fielding; AG Harrison; G le G Peek; WN Rumball; Advocate K Hooper Valpy.
Officers
Kenneth A Killip (General Manager); Edwin F Baker (Secretary); Brian Turner (Operations Manager); Ron Blundell (Sales Controller); John Peplow (Local Sales Manager); Ward J Rutherford (Head of News and Features).
Staff
The total staff of the station is 65. This includes a staff of five at the Guernsey office and 14 at the London office.
Visits to Studios
Channel Television does not, in general, originate programmes in which there is audience participation. Applications to visit the studios may, however, be made to Miss Betty Fearon, Channel Television Centre, Rouge Bouillon, Jersey, by groups of up to ten people wishing to see them.
Religious Advisory Committee
Canon AS Giles, Dean of Jersey (representing Anglican Church, Jersey); Canon AV Olney (Roman Catholic, Jersey); Rev. WNC Wooldridge (Free Churches, Jersey); Rev. KC Cadman (Anglican Church, Guernsey); Rev. C Bozeat (Free Church, Guernsey); Father L Targett (Roman Catholic Church, Guernsey).
Agricultural Advisory Committee
EJ de Garis (Guernsey); GC Sowells (Guernsey); HP Martel (Guernsey); EA Wheadon (Guernsey); PJ Le Masurier (Jersey); Deputy Mrs Phyllis Green (Jersey); L du Feu (Jersey).
Enquiries
Enquiries about artistes and programmes should be addressed either to the Editor, The Channel Viewer, Smith Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, or Viewers’ Correspondence, Channel Television Centre, Rouge Bouillon, Jersey.
Submission of Script
By its nature, Channel Television’s script requirements are limited and would only be of interest if they were of a strictly local nature. The Head of News and Features, however, welcomes ideas for items of a local nature, and these should be addressed to him.
Programme Journal
The Channel Viewer is published by Channel Islands Communications (Television) Limited, and its editorial address is Smith Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey.
Studios
Studio One at the Television Centre, area 1,000 sq. ft., has facilities for Channel local origination, measures 40′ × 25′. Equipped with two Vidicon cameras. The Studio has been designed with room for expansion as the station grows. Room for expansion has also been allowed for in the technical area and in the administrative block by the addition of another storey. The station also has a small presentation studio, equipped with a Vidicon type camera.
Other technical facilities: two telecine machines, capable of taking 35-mm. (optical track) or slides. One is additionally equipped to take 16-mm. optical or magnetic track film.
Film Facilities
The station has two film units equipped with Bach-Auricon 16-mm, Pro 600 Special sound or silent cameras. One is permanently stationed in Guernsey, and the other in Jersey. The station is equipped with an automatic processor and uses reversal stock, transmitting positive.
Technical Development
The station has experimented successfully with 8-mm. film transmission, and has one telecine equipped to take an 8-mm. projector when necessary. This has added greatly to the versatility of a small station by making it possible to use film shot by amateurs or film already existing on 8-mm. stock.
Programmes
Channel News, a local newscast and newsreel, is transmitted every day. Channel News Summary, a daily late-night summary of local news, transmitted each day, including Saturdays and Sundays. Channel Sports Round-up, a weekly rundown on Channel Islands sports activities, transmitted on Thursdays. Studio Tuesday and Studio Friday, two weekly magazine/topicality type programmes, interpreting the local news and events and bringing Island personalities to the screen. The Church in View, a monthly religious forum, in which Church leaders from all the islands participate, and face viewers’ questions. The Day is Ended, a nightly religious talk by Island Church figures. The News in French, a nightly programme, echoing the British viewpoint on the news and international events, transmitted in French. Island Farmer, a weekly programme of the Islands’ agricultural and horticultural life. Serenade, an occasional musical programme, in which local entertainers are presented. Island Forum, an irregular programme, in which local topics are presented, e.g., housing, the effects on the Channel Islands of Britain joining the Common Market. Visitors’ Book, an irregular programme, in which eminent people visiting the Channel Islands are introduced to Channel viewers. Weather, a daily forecast for the Islands, coming direct from the Meteorological Department of the States of Jersey Airport.
Grampian Television is the company which, under agreement with the Independent Television Authority, provides the television programmes in North-East Scotland during the whole week.
ITA Channel Vision Sound Opening Date Population ITA Homes
Transmitter Frequency Frequency 000's 000's
Mc/s Mc/sDurris 9 194.75675 191.266 30th Sept 1961 }
} 1,416 145
Mounteagle 12 209.75 206.25 30th Sept 1961 }
Directors
Sir Alexander B King, CBE, LL.D, DL, JP (Chairman); Captain Iain M Tennant, DL, JP (Deputy Chairman); GE Ward Thomas, DFC (Managing); The Dowager Viscountess Colville of Culross, OBE; The Lord Forbes, KBE, DL, JP; Rt Hon Thomas Johnston, PC, CH, LL.D, FEIS; John N Milne, MA, LL.B, B.COM, LL.D; Edward O’Donnell, BL; Hon Angus Ogilvy, MA (Oxon); Neil Paterson, MA; Major Michael Crichton Stuart, MC, DL, JP; David L Urquhart, CA JP; Robert Wotherspoon, JP.
Officers
James Buchan (Production Controller); Alex Mair (Company Secretary); Brian Davies (Chief Engineer); RM Edie (Scottish Sales Manager); K Bellini (Head of Presentation); Iain Macdonald (Press and Public Relations Officer); HC Hemus (London Sales Manager).
Religious Adviser
George TH Reid, MC, BD.
School Liaison Officer
Iain Macdonald.
Staff
Total members of staff: 142 (Aberdeen 117; London 25).
Studio Visits
A limited number of visits to the Aberdeen studios can be arranged for individuals and parties not exceeding 30 in number. Applications should be made to The Public Relations Officer, Grampian Television, Queen’s Cross, Aberdeen.
Enquiries
Enquiries about artistes and programmes should be made to The Public Relations Officer, Grampian Television, Queen’s Cross, Aberdeen.
Programme Journal
TV Times publishes a special edition for the Grampian viewing-area and has a local correspondent based at the Aberdeen studios.
Awards made by the Company
Silver cuach (cup) for competition at annual National Gaelic Mod (Gaelic Festival); silver Shinty trophy to be competed for in special Highland championship series; “Top Town” silver trophy – to be competed for by amateur music and drama groups in Grampian’s area; motoring trophy to be competed for by the Highland Car and Motor Cycle Club; Grampian Golf Trophy to be competed for annually by amateur golfers throughout the Gramian area. Special awards in connection with National Productivity Year (1963) to outstanding industrial apprentices and management trainees in the Grampian area.
Studios
Grampian’s Aberdeen studios occupy an area of 40,599 sq. ft.; they were the first to be built in Scotland specially for television and are regarded as the finest of their size in Britain. The building combines traditional Aberdeen granite construction with ultra-modern functional design. There are two main studios in the building, one of 1,100 sq. ft. and another of 600 sq. ft. These are divided by a “sound lock” which can be adjusted so that both studios can be used simultaneously for the same production. The control-rooms incorporate three Vidicon camera channels and comprehensive sound-mixing facilities. The building also houses extensive administrative offices, workshops, dressing-rooms, a restaurant and covered-in car park.
Videotape Recording
A multi-standard videotape recorder is used to record most locally produced programmes.
Programmes
Grampian’s programming caters for an audience which – although exclusively Scottish – divides into several distinct economic, ethnic and cultural groups with vividly contrasting tastes and traditions. The main division is that between the Lowland (Nordic) and Highland (Gaelic). In addition to presenting the best of the networked items, Grampian produce in their own studios the following programmes: News and News Magazines: Grampian News (nightly, Monday to Friday), a local newscast and news-reel; Grampian Week (weekly), a topical news-magazine covering the entire Grampian area; Country Focus (weekly), a special news-magazine for the farming and rural community; Sportscope (weekly), a local and topical sports magazine. Discussions: Points North (weekly), general and specialised subjects discussed by selected panels; Scotland ’63 (monthly), investigations into various aspects of the Scottish economy by teams of specialists; View-Finder (weekly), interviews with famous people, especially Scots. Light Entertainment: Calum’s Ceilidh (weekly), a musical series featuring the songs and dances of the Scottish Highlands and starring the well-known Gaelic singer Calum Kennedy; Bothy Nichts and Ingle Neuk (weekly), “fireside” series featuring the traditional music and folklore of the Nor’-East Lowlands; Pick o’ the North (weekly), a contest series aimed at discovering and presenting the best of local talent; Top Team (weekly), presenting prize-winning music and drama groups from the Grampian area; Come Aboard! (weekly), a series based on sailors’ songs and dances; Sounds New (weekly), a programme of novel musical arrangements; A’ the Airts (weekly), a quiz-programme (cash prizes up to £500) based on contestants’ knowledge of Scottish history, geography, art and traditions. Religious: Evening Worship (nightly); Studio Service (fortnightly).
Granada TV Network Limited is the company which, under agreement with the Independent Television Authority, provides the television programmes in the North of England from Monday to Friday.
Granada TV Centre, Quay Street, Manchester 3.
DEANSGATE 7211 36 Golden Square, London W.1.
REGent 8080
ITA Channel Vision Sound Opening Date Population ITA Homes
Transmitter Frequency Frequency 000's 000's
Mc/s Mc/sWinter Hill 9 194.75 191.25 3rd May 1956 }
} 12,452 3,282
Emley Moor 10 199.7372 196.2605 3rd Nov 1956 }
Directors
Sidney L Bernstein*; Cecil G Bernstein*; Denis Forman*; Maurice King; Victor Peers*; John Todd; Joseph Warton*; Richard Willder.
* Executive Directors
Officers
Alex Anson (Sales and Advertising); Sir Gerald Barry (Schools and Education); Patrick Crookshank (Overseas Sales); RH Hammans (Director of Engineering); William Nugent (Chief Engineer).
Programme Committee
The Executive Directors and Harry Elton, Tim Hewat, Philip Mackie. Secretary: Kenneth Brierley.
Art and Science
Granada has endowed a Television Research Fellowship at Leeds University, a chair of Drama at Manchester University, a Chair of Communication at Keele University, and an Annual Arts Fellowship at the University of York. The Company has also made grants to repertory theatres in the North.
The Granada Guildhall Lectures
Each year Granada, with the British Association for the Advancement of Science, arranges a series of three lectures on the subject of Communication in the Modern World, with international speakers lecturing in London’s Guildhall. Television versions of the lectures are transmitted.
Research
Granada has commissioned special audience research surveys – Granada Viewership Surveys (three editions) and What Children Watch.
Overseas
Granada has interests in television stations in Canada and Nigeria.
Programme Journal
TV Times publishes a special edition for the North of England giving details of the available programmes.
Studios
THE TV CENTRE, MANCHESTER 3. Deansgate 7211. Granada’s five-acre site is an important feature on Manchester’s city development, on the City Centre ring road, near the new Courts of Justice and Government offices. In 1956, when Phase I of the TV Centre was completed, it was the first building in Britain originally designed for television. Today Phase V of the TV Centre development plan has been finished. There are six studios, floor-space totalling 23,860 sq. ft. Granada also has an audience studio at Chelsea, London.
Outside Broadcasts
Granada has 16 outside broadcast vehicles, including mobile Ampex videotape recording units.
Videotape Recording
Granada has ten Ampex videotape machines at the TV Centre, in its mobile videotape recording vehicle and at its London studios. The TV Centre has a 16-mm. Dubbing Suite for putting sound on film.
Technical Developments
Granada was the first to use a standards conversion unit to “translate” videotape recordings from European to United States line standards. In 1958 the Granada unit converted Eurovision pictures of the Coronation of Pope John to the American System, so that videotape recordings could be flown to New York for immediate transmission. Granada uses mobile videotape equipment for covering news events and recording inserts for programmes. All television facilities at the Manchester TV Centre have been planned, designed and commissioned solely by Granada Planning Engineers. The recently-completed Studio 12 is one of the most up-to-date television studios in the country. The vision mixer system, designed for the most complex operations, is controlled by one third of the buttons and switches normally needed. Half the vision is transistorised and incorporates equipment designed by Granada Design and Development. Granada studios have developed a unique system of lighting grids.
Programmes
Granada programmes include: News and News Magazines: Northern Newscast, Scene at 6.30, a daily news magazine. Talks, Discussions, Current Affairs: What the Papers Say, I Believe…, Appointment With…, election and political party conference coverage, World in Action – special reports from Granada units overseas. Past programmes have covered South Africa, India, Cuba, France and Britain. Natural History: Breakthrough, Animal Parade, Another World, A to Zoo. Schools (for sixth-formers): Discovery, Inquiry, Design, The Art of Music, Art in the Making, Patterns of Power, Word and Image. Plays and Drama Series: regular contributions to the Play of the Week and Television Playhouse series, including works of Jean Anouilh, Elizabeth Baker, Alexander Baron, Harold Brighouse, Friedrich Duerrenmatt, Clive Exton, Lillian Hellman, Stanley Houghton, Donald Howarth, Carson McCullers, Arthur Miller, Allan Monkhouse, Peter Nichols, JB Priestley, William Saroyan, Bernard Shaw, Thornton Wilder; Younger Generation series, 11 plays by new writers, performed by a repertory group of actors; the Saki series, dramatised short stories by HH Munro; de Maupassant dramatised short story series; The Victorians, plays by Victorian writers; The Verdict is Yours; Coronation Street. Light Entertainment: West End, Chelsea at Nine, Bootsie and Snudge. Music: Rosalyn Tureck playing the Bach preludes and fugues; recitals by Oistrakh, Rostropovich, the Borodin String Quartet; concerts by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra; Orpheus in the Underworld, by Sadler’s Wells Opera Company; Cinderella by the Royal Ballet Company; Josh White Sings.
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ASSOCIATED-REDIFFUSION Ltd.
ASSOCIATED TELEVISION Ltd.
BORDER TELEVISION Ltd.
CHANNEL TELEVISION Ltd.
GRAMPIAN TELEVISION Ltd.
GRANADA TV NETWORK Ltd.
SCOTTISH TELEVISION Ltd.
SOUTHERN TELEVISION Ltd.
T W W Ltd.
TYNE TEES TELEVISION Ltd.
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WALES (West & North) TELEVISION Ltd.
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