Greenwich Cablevision
Paul asks:
I found an intriguing reference last night in a book called “I Never Knew that About London” by Christopher Winn to the fact (apparently) that Greenwich was the subject of the first pay TV channel, Greenwich Cablevision. Apparently it began broadcasting from a studio in Plumstead on 3 July 1972 and its first programme was about everday life in Greenwich at the time. I would love to see the programme. Ever heard of it? Seen it? Any ideas on sourcing it? If not, I may go to Mr Winn’s publishers to ask.
The Phantom is flummoxed.
Blimey – I’d never even heard of it. But it sounds intriguing indeed. Wow – I’d like to see that too.
I would say your best bet for a first-stop would be the Heritage Centre or the Borough Museum at Plumstead – they may have it – though of course it could be on some long-lost tape format and unwatchable now. Your enquiry might prompt them to digitise it while it’s still available (though actually still in copyright so there might be some iffy implications.) Sadly I don’t think there’s a TV equivalent of the British Library – where you have to legally deposit a copy of broadcast material.
Perhaps the BFI could help though?
Do keep me posted on this intriguing Greenwich first…
I worked on it!
I remember it well. At the time I was working in the University College London AV Centre and volunteered to help.
The studio was in the basement of the shop in Plumstead and it was HOT!
Locals had access to airtime and all sorts of programmes were produced. It was black and white of course and we used Link 101 cameras with IVC 1" recorders. These were obviously not up to the quality of quadruplex VTRs but certainly good enough to master and edit on. I can't remember the chief Producer's surname but his first name was Luke.
One Christmas there was a super musical show produced – faetur9ng many local people but we used the studios of Ravensbourne School of Film and Television in Wharton Road, Bromley, which was broadcast quality. Bob Butler was the guiding light at the College and his Ravensbourne students did a superb job of directing and editing the final show.
There MAY be a tape of this languishing somewhere in Ravensbourne which, I understand is currently moving from Sidcup to near the Dome in Greenwhich. That would be quite a find if it still exists. I remember a set of the front door of a house and the hall inside which was superb – Carol singers and stage snow!
Steve Bell.
Ar I remember it well.
I was one of Bob Butlers students, the TV show would have been shot around 1971. I lit the section we shot in Wrens chapel at the Royal Navel College. The only tape format at the time the college had was 2″ Quad which wouldn’t have lent it self to a college OB. I belive we shot it on 16mm film and then transfered to tape, using telecine machines back at the college. After editing, I believe as film,it was transfered to Shibaden (not sure of the spelling) which was an early non-broadcast format (1″ tape I think)that I believe Greenwich cable Vision were using. The shop was on a parade of shops, just as you exit Plumstead heading to Abbey Wood and opposite the turn off to Welling.
As for me I went on to become a Technical Manager at the BBC untill I was made redundent in the 1990’s, then I got into design and consultancy for studios, command centres and secured communications,and with the goverment cutbacks about to be redundent again.
There is some footage of this within a Thames Television doco called; TV Eye: Do You Want More Television? 1982.
They show a clip of Greenwich Cablevision’s studio at work.