IBA Engineering Announcements: The Full Story | An AMTV Documentary

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Between 1970 and 1990, there was one programme that existed outside of television schedules. It was publicised or advertised, and yet, the IBA's ENGINEERING ANNOUNCEMENTS gathered a cult following, one that remained loyal throughout its two decades on the air.
In this AMTV documentary, we look at the history of the Engineering Announcements, what they were set up for, how they evolved, how they were able to survive changing channels, and much more! It's one of the most fascinating aspects of British television history!
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23 май 2023

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Комментарии : 100

@krisstarring Год назад

RIP to Francis Monkman, who passed away earlier this month on May 11. In addition to being a founding member of prog rock band Curved Air, Monkman was the composer to "Current Affairs," the 1979 Bruton Music library track used as the "theme" to Engineering Announcements from 1983-1990.

@loftlegacy Год назад

Also did the theme to “Granada Kick Off” which is one of those classic prog rock tv themes.

@loftlegacy Год назад

Off school sick viewing memories!

@Musichead1968 Год назад

He was also a founding member of Sky.

@zetametallic Год назад

Oh no. I never knew he passed away; I loved his work.

@MichaelPKelly-hg5jo Год назад

Sorry to hear that. I recently heard a bit of prog-funk background music for an early-1980s US on-screen scrolling TV schedule I saw in an Oddity Archive episode and loved it, and it turned out to be Francis Monkman's "Risk Runner."

@cazharris5581 Год назад

As a child of the seventies, I was always petrified of the announcements about interference due to high pressure weather. It just had a picture of an aerial but I found it very scary…

@zetametallic Год назад

I loved engineering announcements as my dad is a retired TV engineer. Even my mum would be watching it on Tuesday at 12:15 on Channel 4; I'd come home from primary school for lunch that day and on Fridays when i watched 'The Raggy Dolls'. Good times!

@johnking5174 Год назад

Hi Adam. When these engineering announcements first started, they were a handy way for the broadcasters to increase their broadcasting day. As before 1972, television hours were controlled and limited by the government. In 1970 for example, BBC 1, BBC 2 and ITV were allowed only 7.5 hours per day for general entertainment programming. This was later increased to 8 hours per day in 1971. Anything outside of this had to be got from "exempted programming" which engineering announcements were part of, alongside adult education, schools, state occasions, weather forecasts, religious programming and Welsh language programming - or "Outside Broadcasts" which were 99% of the time sporting events. So engineering information could be used by ITV to get eyes watching if they aired them say before the start of the first main afternoon programme of the day around 4pm, as ITV knew people turned on their TV sets around 10 to 15 minutes before the "real" programmes started. Handy wasn't it. The limits were all abolished by the Heath government in January 1972, which led to the full daytime service launching on ITV in October 1972, and BBC 1 increasing their daytime schedules.

@krisstarring Год назад

The BBC's "Transmitter Information" and the IBA's "Engineering Announcements" largely came about due to the major impact the transition to color - and from 405 to 625 line service had. It was a public service to TV dealers and those within the broadcasting industry themselves to fine tune to the adjustment, however their popularity within the trade led them to continue to run well past the switch from B&W to color. I remember thinking the transition to digital would have presented a similar demand, but in a way, the multichannel universe we have today would be way too complex to present in a 15 minute bulletin. Besides, as Adam said, the technical information for the TV trade is readily available on the Internet if one wanted to find it, so no need for such a program in the digital age anyways. Even the IBA and NTL continued to update transmitter information to an Oracle page for a while after "Engineering Announcements" stopped running as an actual on air program.

@christopherwilliams2093 10 месяцев назад

There was an occasion in January 1989 when Engineering Announcements were actually billed in TVTimes...

@timg5tm941 Год назад

Excellent overview of what was and remains a quintessentially British programme. From the late 70s I remember watching this as a child on a Tuesday morning. Very well presented Adam and thank you.

@AdamMartyn Год назад

Thank you for tuning in!

@GeoNeilUK Год назад

I do love watching the Engineering Announcements on RU-vid, they're so informative and actually really nice to watch! I think my favourite was their understated excitement regarding MAC (as in D2-MAC) the format that had so much potential but was too ahead of its time, by the time it became relevant to the normal viewer, DVB had come along to do its job better. Another thing that I love about RU-vid, Tim Hunkin of The Secret Life Of Machines has his own channel with all of the original 1990s Secret Life episodes!

@j0hnf_uk Год назад

I always liked to catch this programme, as well as the BBCs version, whenever I was on school holidays. Much like listening to the test card music that was plentiful at the time, it felt kind of special in that it was something that you really weren't supposed to be watching! I would often try to comprehend what was being said about various topics on the show, but a lot of it was over my head. Any segments about developments within television were always of interest, though. The theme tunes were also well remembered. The Francis Monkman one, Current Affairs, being that which was remembered fondly. Yeoman of the Guard was another, with the BBC version using Walk and Talk by Syd Dale and later on Swirley by Roger Limb.

@PhilReynoldsLondonGeek Год назад

I encountered both this and the BBC's "Service Information" in the early 1980s - before Channel 4 existed - quite by chance, but became a frequent viewer of the IBA's programme. I would have considered working for the Authority if it had not been disbanded. I still want to see, if any turn up, a pre-IBA edition of the programme. I would also like to see the editions from 14 August to 23 October 1979.

@marktubeie07 Год назад

As a continuity director in Australia Adam (coordinator in Aussie lingo) in the late 70s/80s, the equivalent to these 'ghost programmes' as you call them were short info programmes airing for the advertising trade industry. I remember being rostered in hours earlier than I needed to be just to air one of these shorts. At that time here in Australia TV started around 9 or 10 am, so these 'ghosts' aired around 7 or 8am. Made for a shorter day though, shift wise😉 Also, is that Harry Secombe at 08:30 😂😂😂😂😂😂

@Z0idberg78 Год назад

As someone who loves cultural oddities, this is a goldmine. Excellent stuff

@AdamMartyn Год назад

Thank you very much!

@darryllharden9141 8 месяцев назад

R.I.P. IBA Engineering Annoucements.Monday 23rd November 1970/Tuesday 31st July 1990.

@CB394 Год назад

I started school in August 1987! I very clearly remember going up to the TV room in the school to watch ITV Schools. I moved school before the end of primary 2 and we didn't have a television room anymore. We had a VCR at home from 1988 until 1993 and then from 1995 until 2008

@simonharrisson2837 6 месяцев назад

I used to tune in specifically to watch this !

@AndrewSvonja Год назад

nice touch the last show actually had all the presenters having a goodbye party

@dw7920 Год назад

Fascinating stuff - as a yoof who then went into the broadcast industry, I was addicted to the IBA announcements at the time. 'Where IS this mystical Crawley Court?' I used to wonder to myself on school sick days..

@darryllharden9141 Год назад

In Winchester, Hampshire.

@dw7920 Год назад

@@darryllharden9141 Indeed!

@kalbright3275 Год назад

@@dw7920 With the postcode "SO21 2QA".

@childofnature4402 Год назад

The music used in the intro to these announcements is an absolute banger.

@coolasmud 11 месяцев назад

I loved the music played before the programme started. The Yeoman of The Guard Overture by Gilbert and Sullivan.

@nicolamartin4666 Год назад

I loved regional itv. Quality of programmes was far better, than the crap we get today. I also remember the test card which is now history.

@farringtonmccready9994 Год назад

Unexpected, but incredibly interesting Adam

@AdamMartyn Год назад

Thank you!

@vworpnz Год назад

I came for ITV schools on 4, I stayed for the engineering announcements...

@ianwilliams8100 Год назад

Happy days ! I remember tuning into the announcements during the school holidays, when it moved over to S4C, I find it interesting watching your videos, in particular the ones about Channel 4 Idents, never saw them when they went out originally as S4C was (and is) the fourth channel in Cymru ! Keep up the good work and I look forward to your next vid !

@MrBillmcminn Год назад

Having a fascination with the inner workings of radio and television since I young, and during family vacations in Britain in 1986 and 1988 I was particularly interested in the differences in television between Britain and Canada. Now I find myself binge watching Engineering Announcements on RU-vid for hours.

@scottpeacock5492 11 месяцев назад

I use to love watching the IBA Engineering Announcement on Channel 4 during my School Holidays as i would have the tv tune onto Channel 4 during down time listening to the syth music as i had interest new tv techonolgy and to keep upto date with transmitter news, but what baffle me is if the IBA Engineer Announcement couldn't had continue on ITV after TV-AM after May 1983, why didn't the IBA Slot this in during ITV down time during the early hours of Tuesday morning say 5:35 or 5:45 am as most people and tv dealers had video recorders then.

@MichaelPKelly-hg5jo Год назад

Technical and relaxing short segment on morning TV. That description reminds me of AM Weather on PBS here in the US in the '80s and '90s. Fifteen minutes directed at air pilots, judging from the aviation-industry funders.

@rogerdarthwell5393 Год назад

This is an absolute delight! You have made my day Adam!

@AdamMartyn Год назад

Glad to hear it Roger!

@rogerdarthwell5393 Год назад

@@AdamMartyn No worries!

@kalbright3275 Год назад

@@rogerdarthwell5393 For sure.

@thatleeburton Год назад

Engineering Announcements could have lived on for around another decade if it had been put onto Teletext.

@simplyjustwindy08 Год назад

Wow... Now this makes me wonder what would happen if we had that in the early days of television here in the States... also, keep up the work!

@krisstarring Год назад

It would have been challenging if not impossible to produce a program similar to "Engineering Announcements" here in the United States because the US TV system is much more decentralized than that of the UK. There was no formal system in place to make sure every (or that most) TV markets had full network service of ABC, CBS, and NBC like British TV regions having access to BBC1, BBC2, ITV, and (later) Channel 4. Back in the 1950's, it seems the FCC ideally intended to give each major and mid size market at least 3 or 4 VHF channel allocations as at the time there were four networks (i.e. ABC, CBS, NBC, and DuMont), but this in practice this rarely happened. Some of these VHF allocations were less than desirable due to interference and were later shifted for public television use. DuMont struggled to get on many fourth channel allocations which was part of its downfall in the mid 50's. Also, consider geography. The United States is much larger in area and population that it would be hard to cover the entire commercial television landscape within a 15 minute segment. ;-)

@brucedanton3669 Год назад

Thank you for this of course. It is indeed somewhat odd that these Announcements on ITV or later Channel 4 were not listed in the TV Times or anywhere else then-I wonder why not? Equally so, as others have said about too, that the Service Information that used to be on BBC2-not BBC1 I guess-were not then at the time listed in the Radio Times either. Odd really, but I guess that they were not meant really to be seen then at the time I wonder so too? Well done though too!

@brucedanton3669 Год назад

Thank you there for that highlight too of course!

@wisteela Год назад

Fantastic. I find stuff like this fascinating. I will be watching all these.

@darryllharden9141 8 месяцев назад

This is an informative and enjoyable mini doc watch as much as the Engineering Announcements themselves you did the nation of TV Fans proud once again,Adam.

@philipmurphy2 Год назад

Great video Adam.

@AdamMartyn Год назад

Thank you Philip!

@anngulliver5964 Месяц назад

I remember Rt used to close down their channel regularly for scheduled maintenance over night. They used to play creepy music during this as well

@kennedyhopkins19 Год назад

Awesome video adam

@AdamMartyn Год назад

Thank you!

@titanictotired Год назад

An unexpected upload, but I really appreciate this topic!

@AdamMartyn Год назад

Thanks pal!

@jacamo1993 2 месяца назад

Adam your documentaries are fantastic.

@AdamMartyn 2 месяца назад

Thank you!

@hayleywaalen2612 Год назад

The jingle for the IBA sounded cool

@kalbright3275 Год назад

I agree, too. It seems totally dedicated!

@hogshouse Год назад

I loved the Engineering Announcements. I lived in the shadow of Sandy Heath Transmitter and always had a fascination of antennas and equipment. I was heavily into CB/HAM radio and other scanner tech at the time as well. Great video as always. Big thanks to you.

@AdamMartyn Год назад

Thank you for tuning in!

@fusionsub Год назад

Wasn't expecting this

@jamo62 Год назад

they do be announcing engineering info for the radio and television trade tho

@Robbiewa-bg4lu 6 дней назад

Excellent documentary Adam. Have you any episodes of Engineering Announcements broadcast during the 1979 strike?

@hm.tv_ Год назад

Amazing video as always on a progam I deemed as amazing. I wonder if you will do a video on the 1991 ITV Franchise changes and the controversy surronding it. I would love to see a video like that.

@AdamMartyn Год назад

I'd like to cover it at some point in the future!

@dw7920 Год назад

@@AdamMartyn As someone directly impacted by the fr*nch*s* unpleasantness (Thames staffer at the time) that's a spot I'd be up for watching. They say time is a great healer, but I'm not convinced..

@stickytapenrust6869 Год назад

@@dw7920If you do, just remember that Thatcher had it in for Thames for ages before Death On The Rock. She didn’t like how their managers would capitulate to union activity and didn’t like an edition of This Week which alleged that the BBC re-edited the footage of the Battle of Orgreave to make it look like the miners attacked the police first. Speaking of Death on the Rock, that wasn’t the catalyst for change in ITV, breaking up the IBA was in the Tory manifesto for the 1987 election as part of Thatcher wanting to break the broadcasting trade unions from being the last bastions of restrictive practices, free up commercial broadcasting from having to be licensed by the IBA and there was a Weekend World special on the future of ITV in February 1988, two months before Death On The Rock.

@augustusgreen7881 Год назад

Can you do a video of the history of the longest running Australian children's program Play School?

@5340robert 11 месяцев назад

Brilliant. In terms of tv oddities i would love to see a perspective on jobfinder from itv night time and also maby itv nightscreen.

@kalbright3275 Год назад

That's another good question at 14:03. For me, it would probably be so, and I mean "certainly". I would hate to see the Independent Broadcasting Authority go at such a young age...we already realize that this is so sad... On the bright side, I'm very impressed on the United Kingdom to get color television as the most popular mode to use just when the 1970's began! ☺

@johnking5174 Год назад

Hi Adam, would you consider doing a video about the era of when television hours was restricted? I know that many people have no idea the control the government had over the amount of television we could watch per day back in the pre 1972 era. I have researched a bit of this, and it's fascinating to read the restrictions imposed back then. Very draconian in some places. And the ways BBC but especially ITV had to use to increase their broadcasting day whilst remaining within the rules.

@cazharris5581 Год назад

I do recall that C4 only broadcast in the afternoon and evenings when they started, which seems strange for 1982 when the other channels were starting to broadcast during the day more. It would make a great video.

@johnking5174 Год назад

@@cazharris5581 Channel 4 would have loved to be able to broadcast all day from when they started but there was two big problems - their funding method and a financial recession in the advertising industry. Channel 4 from 1982 to 1992 were funded by the ITV companies. Each one had to pay a "subscription" to Channel 4, based on their annual revenue. This gave Channel 4 a bedrock for their budget, a stability to produce minority programming. In return the ITV companies sold the ad slots in their regions on Channel 4 and took the profits. With the ad recession which lasted until the end of 1984, there was no budget to be on air all day. 4.45pm was the original start time, but by 1983 it moved to 5pm, and sometimes 5.30pm as there was simply not enough cash around. By 1984 they eventually moved to a 2.30pm start time, and gradually increased their schedules until they launched their breakfast service The Channel 4 Daily in 1989. Their funding model changed in 1993, when they could sell their own advertising and sponsorships, but lost the financial input from the ITV companies.

@christopherwilliams2093 3 месяца назад

It was in 1986 that at weekends Channel 4 began at 9.25am and then, with schools programming moving to Channel 4 the start time was at 9.30am.@@johnking5174

@kalbright3275 Год назад

At 9:35, that's a good question...it was mainly because the BBC and ITV are two different regional television services working under the same country. What's good for ITV would not afford to benefit with what the British Broadcasting Corporation had to offer from back in those days. In the end of all that, the Independent Broadcasting Authority gave itself up for crying out loud. I assume it gave its life to form "TRANSCOM" and to be brought to the Independent Television Committee as I already figured out in this video presentation, but now it is all known as just Ofcom starting from 2003. It's just the way I see it, seriously.

@1701Wren Год назад

I think you've got muddled slightly ITV & C4 wasn't given a slot by the channels but the IBA then controlled their transmitters so it used the downtime of the ITV companies to broadcast Engineering information - which I believe was recorded on Mondays & Transmitted on Tuesdays, possibly from the transmitters themselves as initially IBA couldn't switch the transmitters automatically from TVAM to, for example, Border TV (not itv Border then). So they needed the 15 mins to switch over, that's why I believe it was transmitted from the transmitters themselves & not from TVAM or an ITV company. When all transmitters were upgraded to remote switching thanks to BT (I remember it was said it was BT but I don't remember where), IBA Engineering Information moved to 05:45 in the ITV Network & repeated later that day on C4 then when the ITV wanted 24 hours the IBA canceled its programme on the ITV network to accommodate them. When the IBA was closed down C4 showed 4-Tel on view (its pages on Teletext), which possibly included engineering information text pages

@poker_cat Год назад

If theres ever an update to the channel name it engenering anoucement

@kalbright3275 Год назад

Don't forget about the American rebirth for the original RU-vid community.

@seancooke4506 Год назад

This is deeply niche and for spanners only... I used to watch this and made myself late for school in the process.

@garysanders544 7 месяцев назад

"A loyal following amongst tradespeople and professionals" - and don't forget us anoraks!!

@Sheffield_Steve Год назад

I thought the fact that TV-am had started earlier than was planned by the IBA or BT, so the links weren't installed to make TX switching automatically, so the ten minutes were required are able to back the regional franchisee's? That's why on some of those clips you'll see a quick fade to similar programming back at 9:25 as been put up by the regional station but looks a little different sometimes.

@williammackie4816 Год назад

Hi Adam can you brodcast the history of BBC 2 trade test colour films and service information on bbc2

@MrDannyDetail Год назад

Is that who I think it is in the group of people with Nick Owen by the piano at 6:31?

@steelbrotherhoodof2359 Год назад

Versa viza. , retroperspective as in , oposite as, preasumption or anticepating. Or forecast.

@BINGOTECH-lt8lt 3 месяца назад

17:11 I Wonder if that Mr Morris was Mike Morris? But then I think Mike Morris was still associated with YTV's Calendar News at that time?

@TheGerkuman Год назад

Penetrate the parts C4 can't reach? Was the lady making a reference to a beer slogan? :0

@kalbright3275 Год назад

Not exactly...

@mbvideoselection Год назад

@@kalbright3275 I think she was...

@ashyofficial23 Год назад

I wonder why engineering announcements were stopped in 1990, when the iba stopped, if they could just hand them over to the itc just like it had happened with the ita becoming the iba in the 70s. Unless it was an urgent situation in which they could not be able to show the program anymore, it would have been more appropriate.

@FuzionBoy 17 дней назад

Even if say IBA Engineering Announcements got rebranded to "ITV Engineering Announcements" and became only on Ceefax [within a "secret" number], it would still be shutdown in 2012 as part of the Digital Switchover And also isn't it a coincidence that there were 3 channels as colo(u)r TV was first being unveiled in british television, cause R G B and stuff like that.

@harryelliott4310 Год назад

Announcement 📢

@MixedStudiosOfficial Год назад

Suggesting: how about the CBBC idents from 2002 (cause you said the bugs era was the best) so yeh and CBeebies 2002 idents with there Bugbies so how about that

@richardbutler4488 Год назад

Very informative yet Cheesy Television 📺 😅

@Sheffield_Steve Год назад

17:10 I think viewers & press at the time were watching TV-am thinking you'd get more viewers to the Engineering Announcements or the testcard than the breakfast channel's initial offerings! 🤣