Southern Television

This article is about the TV idents. For the production logos, see Southern Television Productions.

Background

Southern Television
Founded:	30 August, 1958 (66 years ago)
Fate:	Dissolved
Location:	England
Parent:	ITV

Southern Television started broadcasting to the South and South East of England on 30 August 1958 by a consortium of Associated Newspapers, The Rank Organisation, and Amalgamated Press (they dropped out before the station went on air and were replaced with D.C. Thomson and Co.). Southern was known for their local programming and shows like Day By Day, Worzel Gummidge, and others. They were replaced by TVS due to them having bolder ideas then Southern which caused them to lose the 1980 franchise round. Their final programme called And It's Goodbye From Us aired on 31 December 1981 and ceased broadcasting at 12:45 am, abruptly shutting down their transmitters and ending their 24 year legacy. Their shows were sold to Southern Star Group before (with the exception of Worzel Gummidge, with the show currently owned by Banijay as of 2023) later being sold to Renown Pictures.

1st Logo (August 30, 1958-1960)

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Visuals: On a gray cloudy background, there is an eight-pointed star which resembles a compass. The screen zooms into the star and the southern point descends downward. "SOUTHERN" and "TELEVISION" appear letter by letter on the left and right sides of the southern point, respectively. "PRESENTS" appears alongside the point as well.

Technique: Camera-controlled animation.

Audio: None.

2nd Logo (1960-1964)

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Visuals: On a black background, there is a long white diamond shape appear on the screen. The diamond turns to reveal that it is a model of an 8-pointed star with the southern point extended (in a more simplified design than the previous logo). It is revealed that it is actually two 8-pointed stars that are perpendicular with each other. It keeps turning to the right as "SOUTHERN TELEVISION PRESENTS" in white appears letter by letter like in the previous logo. The star keeps turning until it fades to black.

Technique: Live action.

Audio: Just a soft drum roll while it's fading in, or silence.

3rd ID (1964-1969)

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Note: The fanfare, as described below, can be heard here.

Visuals: On a black background is "INDEPENDENT TELEVISION" in a white, bold font. "INDEPENDENT" and "TELEVISION" disappear off the top and bottom of the screen respectively, leaving the screen as an 8-pointed star (more simplified than the previous one), with the southern point extended slightly, which zooms in to the center of the screen. The word "SOUTHERN" in the Venus Bold Extended font, appears below the star.

Technique: Camera-controlled animation.

Audio: A dramatic horn and flute fanfare, composed by Steve Race, who was the musical director at Associated-Rediffusion. There are two arrangements. The first one has louder and shriller brass with the flutes staccatoing their notes (except their last one). The second one has quieter brass and the flutes slur their notes.

4th ID (1964-January 1, 1982)

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for the eighth video

Visuals: Against a blue background, a white circle enlarges in the center of the screen, followed by an "X" whose lines are enclosed within the circle, and a cross shape whose lines protrude from the circle with the bottom line slightly extended, forming the Southern logo. The word "SOUTHERN" in the same font as before appears below the star.

Variants:

• This logo originated in black-and-white, with the background in black.
• There would also be a version with "INDEPENDENT TELEVISION" at the beginning just like before, but in a different font.
• Sometimes, after the logo finishes, it cuts to a blank screen, and a circle wipes in the words: THE STATION
  THAT SERVES
  THE SOUTH
• The startup featured the still version of the logo with a white tube on the left side of the space under the text, with the text "IBA" inside and "INDEPENDENT BROADCASTING AUTHORITY" next to it. After a few minutes, it fades into a different Southern logo, same as before, except the star would be replaced with an analogue clock at 21:29 or 9:29pm. The clock keeps ticking and then the screen fades to black after the clock is at 21:31.
• Sometimes, the circle would fade in and enlarge linearly, with the lines' animation being less fluid.

Technique: Cel animation.

Audio: A somber nine-note Greek-style guitar jingle. Again, there are two arrangements. The first one is more amateurish and has a more complex chord on the third note. The second one is more elegant and somber.

Audio Variant: In the early years, a crumhorn fanfare with timpani drums would play, which would sometimes be abridged.

Availability: Can be found on the rare Screen Legends UK VHS release of Beethoven's Fidelio.

Final Note

On the same day, Southern Television was replaced by Television South.

External Links

• Southern Television on TVARK