Southern Television was essentially on its deathbed in the early 1980s, as its license was bought in the 1980 franchise round by South and South-East Communications, Ltd. (trading as Television South with on-screen branding of TVS). 31 December 1981 would come to be known as "The Day The Star Set", but none of its customers realized it by the time the network came on the air that day at 0930 GMT with the usual "Southern Rhapsody" music piece that had greeted audiences since the network first signed on in 1958. The first hint that Southern's reign would be ending came during its teatime news program, _Day By Day_ (retitled to _Day By Yesterday_ for its final airing). Every continuity link that was broadcast afterward featured that night's announcer Chris Robbie in front of a circular motif that read SOUTHERN TELEVISION 1958-1981. That's when everyone realized that this would truly be the end for Southern. At 2345 GMT, the network strolled into its finale program, entitled _And It's Goodbye From Us_ , showcasing clips from Southern's archives. However, these were mostly from Southern's one-off prestige programs, although its most beloved program, _Out of Town_ , did receive a special mention from longtime announcer Jack Hargreaves. Midnight loomed just a mere 15 minutes away, and if anyone was expecting a jolly welcome into the new year, they were in for a shock, because it was anything but jolly. At exactly 0000 GMT, Chris Robbie popped open the champagne to welcome in 1982, wishing everyone who was watching a happy new year while stating that "it would be nice to think it would be a prosperous year as well". After an archive clip featuring Cleo Laine performing a rendition of the classic New Year's song Auld Lang Syne, Chris would be back, but not before he told TVS execs "Not yet!" and that "the Southern star hadn't quite set yet". At 0043 GMT, it was time for _the_ moment. Chris Robbie faced the audience, and told them: "Goodbye songs from Lillian Watson, because... it's goodbye time. We said at the start that we'd come to celebrate, and I think we have. We've enjoyed remembering, and I'm sure you won't forget. So, with a final farewell smile from those Southern people who've become to many of you, true friends... it's Goodbye From Us." Mr. Robbie then took his place among both on-air personnel and company executives alike, as the camera panned around and their names were displayed while the "Southern Rhapsody" musical piece played in the background. At the music's climax, the lights on the set began to gradually fade to black, starting with the main set itself. Then the lights on the circular motifs behind everyone slowly faded to black, and finally, the screen faded to the SOUTHERN COLOUR PRODUCTION endcap (with a copyright of 1981). As Southern began to gasp its last breaths, the blue screen and the text faded away to reveal a starry night sky. The Southern Star stayed motionless on screen for about 5 seconds, then it began to spin, gradually picking up speed and zooming away into the sky while the signature acoustic guitar jingle played for the final time, this time with a deep echo. After that, the screen slowly and silently faded to black and stayed that way for close to a minute. There were no suggestions to turn off the TV set, no _Epilogue_ broadcast, not even the customary rendition of God Save The Queen. At 0045 GMT on 1 January 1982, Southern's transmitters were turned off for the final time, putting an end to its dominion over southern and southeast England after 24 continuous years of operation. (I wasted 45 minutes of my life typing this, so please don't hate on it.)
@BruceDanton-xw6eg
4 ай бұрын
Far from it you have it very well done too of course thank you too.
@kevintheskullanderson2879
2 жыл бұрын
The two best final sign-offs in television history.
@LOLMAN9538
11 ай бұрын
Agreed
@anthonyperkins7556
11 ай бұрын
A lot of the presenters weren't all smiling,, many upset at the loss of the Southern Television franchise, and Southern deliberately ran the programme late past midnight by 45 minutes to take a final parting shot at the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), in a so called 'show of defiance' if you like. You'd have thought the IBA would've pulled the plug on the transmitters at midnight mid-sentence (the official end of the Southern Television franchise period), but they didnt and Southern deliberately overran midnight into the new year by 45 minutes. Unlike Southern, TVS went out more gracefully and civil mannered, unlike Southern's angry departure.
@brucedanton3669
Жыл бұрын
The Southern television send off has to be one of the most dramatic-if that is the word-pieces of television there have ever been in some ways of course. Southern then of course, were bitter that TVS-Television South-had won the then new ITV contract for their area. The IBA had decided this well before their end, but Southern somehow did not want it to be so. There was nothing really I guess that they could do about it, so this was their last show on air, being really bitter about it too somehow. Thank you of course anyway!!
@VistaLivesIncAgain
8 ай бұрын
My favorites!
@jadsi
3 жыл бұрын
Where did you get that capture in the beginning?
@kennedyhopkins142
3 жыл бұрын
The first video is from the end of southern final show back In 1981 and last chip is from the end of tvs last show back in 1992
@jadsi
3 жыл бұрын
Kennedy Hopkins i know the program, but WHERE did you get it in high quality?
@kennedyhopkins142
3 жыл бұрын
Both are from tvark
@jadsi
3 жыл бұрын
@@kennedyhopkins142 i know the second one is, but not the first one.
@victoriafernandez7039
3 жыл бұрын
@@jadsi Southern TV Is The Former TV from ITV Meridian And TVS
@christopherhulse8385
Жыл бұрын
I know other people have probably said this but imagine Southern had won the franchise back for another 10 years, do you think it would have modernised? or just more of the same?
@LOLMAN9538
11 ай бұрын
Probably more of the same.
@gavinreid8937
5 ай бұрын
You notice Talking pictures TV has tons of Southern stuff. Runaround, Out of town, Tell me another,Worzel gummidge, Someday they,ll come across Houseparty!
@VermyScrubs
2 ай бұрын
The IBA listed the reason for denying Southern another decade was that it’s plans were too scaled down and too stuck in the past compared to the Fresh and Modern TVS which offered a more acceptable public standard. It’s safe to say that if Southern lasted until the next franchise round at least, the South of England would still be seeing 70s TV into 1991. It was just hopelessly stuffy. Actually imagine what would happen to ITV’s viewership if Southern were to remain co-broadcasting with a 90s BBC1/2 and something they never got to experience…Channel 4.
@eenbudiarto2498
3 жыл бұрын
Rip South region television Don't worry their has meridian 😀 Edit: Meridian is television in the south
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