4th October 2025
- Channels
- 1997 BBC One launches its balloon-based channel identity. The change coincides with the introduction of a new BBC logo.
EXTERNAL LINK: BBC One start-up (4th October 1997). - 1997 The BBC One on-screen presentation package first seen on 16th February 1991 bows out just before 3am.
EXTERNAL LINK: BBC One closedown (4th October 1997). - 1997 BBC Two closes down for the night just before 2.30am, using the 1991 - 1997 on-screen presentation package for the final time.
EXTERNAL LINK: BBC Two closedown (4th October 1997). - 1997 BBC Two comes on air at 7.20am with an updated on-screen identity. Many of the channel's idents from the 1991 - 1997 period survived the change, albeit now slightly zoomed and incorporating the new BBC logo. Three new idents were added: Ariel, Paint-Pot and Zapper.
EXTERNAL LINK: BBC Two start-up (4th October 1997). - Miscellaneous
- 1997 A new BBC logo officially launches on air. The logo was designed by the Lambie-Nairn agency.
EXTERNAL LINK: Martin Lambie-Nairn talks about re-branding the BBC. - Programmes
- 1956 The first episode of Whacko O! airs on BBC TV.
- 1962 The first episode of The Saint airs on ITV, with Roger Moore in the title role.
- 1964 The first episode of Stingray airs on ITV.
- 1965 The first episode of United! airs on BBC One.
- 1965 The first episode of Out of the Unknown airs on BBC Two.
- 1965 The first edition of 24 Hours airs on BBC One.
- 1966 The first edition of Europa airs on BBC Two.
- 1967 The first edition of The Nixon Line airs on BBC One.
- 1968 The first edition of The Pinky and Perky Show airs on ITV.
- 1973 The 500th edition of Top of the Pops airs on BBC One. Includes a rare studio performance by The Who.
- 1974 The first episode of No, Honestly airs on ITV.
- 1976 The final episode of Cilla's World of Comedy airs on ITV.
- 1983 The first episode of SuperTed airs on BBC One.
- 1983 The first episode of The Adventures of Portland Bill airs on ITV.
- 1985 The final episode of Murder of a Moderate Man airs on BBC One.
- 1989 The first edition of Taking the Plunge airs on ITV.
- 1999 The first edition of Newsnight Scotland airs on BBC Two Scotland.
- 2002 The first edition of Fame Academy airs on BBC One.
- 2003 The final edition of Fame Academy airs on BBC One.
- 2012 The first episode of Hunted airs on BBC One.
- 2015 The final episode of This Is England '90 airs on Channel 4.
- Test Card/Teletext In-Vision Music
- 1968 BBC One tape Rosetti Symphony in C airs for the final time.
- 1983 BBC One Ceefax AM tape Capability Brown airs for the first time.
- 1989 BBC Two tape Jumpin' Jupiter airs for the final time.
- 2003 BBC Two tape Sunny Morning airs for the first time.
More anniversaries
There are more On This Day anniversaries on our other sub-sites:
- SHOWREEL: presenters, announcers.
- STUDIO A: broadcast buildings, studios, outside broadcast facilities.
- TX: transmitters.
Acknowledgements
Research for On This Day in TV History is by Paul R. Jackson.
Details about test card/teletext in-vision music and BBC trade test films are available as a result of decades of research and logging by members of the Test Card Circle.
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