- Channels
- 1986 BBC Two's new on-screen clock aired for the first time at 1.05am on 31st March 1986, at closedown. Announcer David Wheal was on duty: "Well there's the first look at our new clock here on 2, which completes the brand new image which I hope you like. If you do, then why not join us all again at some point tomorrow..."
EXTERNAL LINK: BBC Two closedown (31st March 1986). - 2000 UK Arena is replaced by UK Drama. UK Arena launched on 1st November 1997, specialising in arts programming. The channel was part of the UKTV network of channels. UKTV was a joint venture between the BBC and Flextech. Poor ratings resulted in a shift of focus to drama and a rebranding to UK Drama. It would be rebranded again: first in March 2004 to UKTV Drama and again in October 2008, to Alibi, from which point the channel's focus was crime dramas.
- 2003 The subscription channel, Carlton Cinema ceased broadcasting.
- Programmes
- 1958 The final episode of Starr and Company airs on BBC TV.
- 1965 The first edition of Going for a Song airs on BBC One.
- 1969 The first episode of French series The Flashing Blade airs on BBC One.
- 1972 The final episode of Mr Benn airs on BBC One.
- 1975 Further Up Pompeii! airs on BBC Two.
- 1975 Futtock's End airs on BBC Two. Starring Ronnie Barker.
- 1981 The final episode of Robin's Nest airs on ITV.
- 1985 The 100th edition of Top Gear airs on BBC Two.
- 1985 The first edition of Play School...Hallo Again airs on BBC One. This Sunday edition of the programme would feature material taken from the previous week's programmes.
- 1987 The final edition of Newsnight Afternoon airs on BBC Two.
- 1988 The final edition of Out of Court airs on BBC Two.
- 1989 The final edition of Night Network airs on ITV.
- 1990 The first edition of Paramount City airs on BBC One.
- 1995 The first edition of Monkhouse's Memory Masters airs on BBC One.
- 1997 The first episode of Teletubbies airs on BBC One.
- 1997 The first edition of Blockbusters (latest incarnation) airs on BBC One.
- 1999 The final episode of London Bridge airs on ITV (Carlton London). Regional programme (drama).
- 2007 The first edition of Any Dream Will Do airs on BBC One. Talent show hosted by Graham Norton.
- 2012 The final edition of The Weakest Link airs on BBC One.
- 2014 The final episode of Silk airs on BBC One.
- 2018 The final live edition of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway to be based at The London Studios airs on ITV. Presented by Declan Donnelly (as Anthony McPartlin was in rehab).
- Test Card/Teletext In-Vision Music
- 1962 BBC TV tape New York City airs for the first time.
- 2001 BBC Two tape Magic Dancer airs for the first time.
- Transmitters
- 1930 30-line television pictures and sound were transmitted as an experiment, from Brookmans Park, after the radio service closed down.
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.
Contribute to this page
If you know of an event that would be worthy of inclusion on this page, please drop us a line using our Contact Form. Items of interest include:
- Programme launches and finales;
- Programme relaunches (including new title sequences and set changes);
- Channel launches and closures;
- Channel presentation changes;
- Transmitter commissioning/decommissioning;
- Trade test film first and final airings;
- Test card/teletext in-vision music tape first and final airings;
- Teletext service launches/relaunches/closures.
If you believe any of the information on this page is inaccurate, please let us know.