Ulster TV
- Channel 9
Some early local UTV programmes
First UTV Board of Directors 1959
UTV first Outside Broadcast - May 1960
TAM ratings for Ulster TV
Ulster TV schedules
An Ulster TV play
Production Manager- Hubert R Wilmot. General Manager- RB Henderson. Programme controller- SE Reynolds, an experienced TV producer and impresario. He left after a year. His last contribution was the panel game Out of the Hat, not exactly groundbreaking, as he had previously, when with BBC Radio, devised the format in 1939!
Rival bidders for the franchise had been Northern Ireland Television Ltd, headed by the Duke of Abercorn who joined the UTV Board in 1960.
Initially temporary headquarters were in Donegall Street Belfast. Their permanent headquarters in Havelock House Ormeau Road were ready in July 1959.
Broadcasts were on Channel 9 from UTV's Black Mountain site, with an aerial 1,687 above sea level.
Test transmission began on August 24th 1959, with the first message heard being recorded by Group Theatre actor Maurice O'Callaghan. Opening Night was on 31st October 1959. Originally ABC was to have been the main programme supplier.
Finnacial results exceeded expectations in the first year. A trading profit of £50,903 was announced after six months on air, after depreciation etc the taxable profit was £36,306.
Midnight Oil
UTV's late night series of 42 programmes of lectures, mostly by Queen's University of Belfast staff on subjects varying from music, law, medicine, history etc. It commenced on Monday July 2nd 1962 at 10.40pm with Why a University? In this, Vice Chancellor Dr Michael Grant was interviewed by UTV's managing director RB Henderson about the purpose of the university in modern society. Subsequent programmes ran each weekday through July and August
Main Menu
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
UTV Directors 1959Chairman: Earl of Antrim
Deputy Chairman: Sir Francis Evans
The Countess of Antrim
Mr HAC Catherwood
Commander Oscar Henderson
Captain OWJ Henderson
Mr JP Herdman
Major GB Mackean
Mrs JA Mackie
Professor JL Montrose
Mr James J Morton
Miss Betty Box
Mr William Baird MacQuitty
Sir Laurence Olivier.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ulster Television Outside Broadcast
UTV's first ever outside broadcast was something of an impromptu novelty affair.
On Saturday May 21st 1960, even though the company then had no OB unit, a snap decision was taken to film the Lord Mayor's Show as it passed by UTV headquarters. The idea was simple. Cameraman Alan Hailes was ordered to wheel out a studio camera on to the pavement, where it was erected on a temporary platform.
UTV's sportscaster Ernest Strathdee commentated on the 45 minute procession of eighty decorated floats for the Let's Go broadcast.
The crowds apparently "hindered Strathdee in his descriptions," not surprising as the programme was planned at the last minute, so not everyone was aware of the "opportunist experimental nature of the venture."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
UTV's local news magazine was titled Roundabout.It contained interviews and features on local and visiting personalities including starting on January 28th 1960 with a weekly visit to prominent towns. "We hope to mirror the life of each town we visit," explained Spencer Reynolds, UTV Programme Controller. "We believe that such programmes in such a tightly knit community as Ulster will be of interest to a large number of viewers." The first programme went to Portadown, with mayor WH Wolsey.
Among personalities making special appearances on Roundabout were: December 7th 1959: Wilfred McNeilly, whose comments were in verse. December 15th 1959: Russ Conway, "far too brief," said critic Trevor Hanna. January 1960: Ottilie Patterson, some viewers complained of her mimed performance. Feb 25th 1960 Sally McNally, sister of Eileen Donaghy. Mar 24th 1961 Valerie Hobson, talking of her connection with Lorne County Antrim.
One anonymous critic, no fan of Roundabout, declared of its early offerings, "it frequently creaks and groans, a lot of its interviewing is amateurish and sometimes protracted out of all proportion to its value or interest, some of the musical items should not have got past the audition room, too much is being asked of the hosts, Ivor Mills and Anne Gregg."
Lessons for Father (December 22nd 1959) was UTV's first major programme they made, after Roundabout. Ivor Mills was shown how to carve a turkey by chef Samuel James Young, after Miss Dorothy Lytle demonstrated how to cook it.
A Bit O' Crack (Thursday March 17th 1960)- The title was an Ulster colloquialism for A Cosy Chat. This was UTV's first celebration for St Patrick's Day. Introduced by Belfast actor and author Charles Witherspoon, this was described as "a fireside stew of music, dancing and storytelling."
Out of the Hat (Friday August 5th 1960)- Chairman: James Boyce. Two teams of four speakers each speak on subjects drawn out of the hat. The chairman decided which group talked "with the keenest humour and the best sense," inviting them to return to compete in the following week's programme
Preview (1961-2) was UTV's cinema preview show. On and from Monday June 26th 1961 it was screened in the peak viewing slot of 8pm and host Robert McLernon was joined periodically by Jimmy Greene to encompass theatre productions. Interviews with British film stars included Dave King, Charlie Drake, Cliff Richard, Robert Morley, and Dennis Price. A spokesman added, "it is also hoped to bring more stars of the Big Screen to Belfast specially to appear on the programme"
Teatime With Tommy (weekdays from April 30th 1962, 6.06-6.20pm) - with Tommy James. His guests included Ruby Murray, James Johnston, Foster Davidson, Nita Norry, Eileen Donaghy and Tommy Moran.
In the summer of 1966, seven weeks were devoted to sixty local performers, new to tv, in effect it was Ulster's version of a talent show. Screened at 6.15pm, each week night, an established local singer was included every week, the first being regular Eileen Donaghy. Music was supplied by the Tommy Jones Quartet. Each programme featured two newcomers to tv, discovered by Tommy during a two month tour of the province.
UTV were pioneers in introducing the first university of the air. Midnight Oil (1962) was a series of 42 university lectures. One programme on Tues Nov 27th was on Greek drama, explaining the principles was Professor George Huxley of Queen's University Belfast, this anticipated A-R's broadcast of Electra the following day. However the series was not deemed a success, and a second adult education series in 1963 was titled The Inquiring Mind, this achieved better TAM ratings.
Parade began on April 6th 1964, a 45 minute miscellaney of local interest. A special item was promised each evening, as well as an "on tour musical spot," Tommy James Trio providing backing. A spot for 'new' personalities was also on offer. Compere was Jimmy Green, aided by Paddy Scott, Brian Waddell, and Ernest Strathdee. Directors were John Scholz-Conway- for the music spot, Mike 'Teatime with Tommy' Kent, and Derek 'Midnight Oil' Bailey.
The Orange and The Green - a documentary written and narrated by Brian Connell. Shown on UTV April 6th 1966 and networked to Border, Westward, Channel, and Tyne Tees. It was shown on Apr 8th by TWW, Apr 12th by Rediffusion and Anglia, and Apr 15th by STV.
Ulster TV's eighth birthday was celebrated in October 1967 with a specially commissioned one hour play Boatman Do Not Tarry by John D Stewart. It starred Ronald Adam, Elizabeth Begley and JG Devlin. It was eventually networked in July the following year. Another special was a programme celebrating Dean Smith, Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin.
Using Swift's own words, it was only revealed at the end that these were written 300 years ago, "terribly relevant to our modern situation."
Perhaps Ulster's most ambitious plan was their announcement "to rival Granada's Coronation Street," planning to introduce their own serial with a tentative launch date of autumn 1968. Did it ever happen?
Trivia: Val Doonican made his tv debut on UTV in 1961. Jane Rossington (Jill in Crossroads) was Ulster TV's guest announcer during March 1965.
To UTV start
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ulster TV Programmes for Monday November 23rd 1959
2.43 Schools
4.45 Small Time
5 Seeing Sport
5.25 Fury
5.55 News
6.06 Roundabout
6.28 Weather
6.30 Robin Hood
7.00 I Love Lucy
7.30 Double Your Money
8.00 Dial 999
8.30 Wagon Train
9.25 News
9.35 Film: Rembrandt
11.30 Epilogue
Ulster TV Programmes for Monday July 4th 1960
4.45 Small Time
5 Out With The Services
5.25 Your Turn
5.55 News
6.06 Roundabout
6.28 Weather
6.30 White Hunter
7.00 Dial 999
7.30 Criss Cross Quiz
8.00 The Love of Mike
8.30 Wagon Train
9.25 News
9.35 Deadline Midnight
10.35 In My Opinion
11.05 Mark Saber
11.35 Close
Ulster TV Programmes for Monday August 14th 1961
5 Seeing Sport
5.25 Fury
5.55 News
6.06 Adventures of Aggie
6.35 Roundabout
7.00 Criss Cross Quiz
7.30 Coronation St
8.00 Preview (magazine)
8.30 Wagon Train
9.25 News
9.35 Harpers W1
10.30 Look Here (discussion)
11 Lawman
Epilogue
Ulster TV Programmes for Tuesday Nov 27th 1962
2.35 Schools
4.40 Ulster News
4.45 Small Time
5 Tuesday Rendezvous
5.54 Weather
5.55 News; Ulster News
6.08 Tea-Time with Tommy
6.25 Newsview
7.00 University Challenge
7.30 Ward Ten
8.00 No Hiding Place
9.00 News
9.15 Play of the Week: Haven in Sunset
10.45 Midnight Oil: Greek drama
11.15 Decoy
End the Day
Ulster TV Programmes for Monday Dec 23rd 1963
4.40 Ulster News Headlines
4.45 Small Time
5 Seeing Sport
5.25 Ivanhoe
5.55 News
6.06 Tea-Time with Tommy
6.20 Ulster News
6.30 All Our Yesterdays
7.00 Discs a Gogo with Billy Fury
7.30 Coronation Street
8.00 No Hiding Place
8.55 News
9.10 Naked City
10.05 World In Action
10.34 News Headlines
10.36 Celtic Challenge- with George Woodcock
11.05 End the Day
Ulster TV programmes
Friday May 29th 1964
2.35 Schools
4.45 Small Time
5.00 Five O'Clock Club
5.25 Supercar; Weather
5.55 ITN News; Ulster News
6.15 Parade; 6.58 Ulster News
7.00 Take Your Pick
7.30 Ward 10
8.00 Bus Stop
8.55 ITN News
9.10 The Odd Man
10.10 Putting On The Donegan
10.40 Ready Steady Go!
11.25 News
11.27 Loretta Young Show
End the Day; Close
Ulster TV Programmes for Saturday May 1st 1965
12.45 News
12.50 World of Sport: FA Cup Final; Wrestling
5.15 Mr Piper
5.45 News
5.50 Thank your Lucky Stars
6.35 Francie and Josie
7.05 Bonanza
8.00 No Time for Sergeants
8.25 Mainly Millicent
9.00 News
9.10 Gideon's Way
10.10 Public Eye
11.05 On the Braden Beat
11.30 Weather; End the Day
Ulster TV programmes Mon June 27th 1966
1.40 Wimbledon
4.36 News
4.40 Romper Room
5.00 Littlest Hobo
5.25 Action
5.55 ITN News
6.06 Toon Time
6.10 News; Weather; Roundabout
6.35 Crossroads
7.00 All Our Yesterdays
7.30 Coronation Street
8.00 Love Story
8.55 ITN News
9.10 Peyton Place
9.40 Seven Deadly Sins
10.40 Farming Ulster
11.13 News
11.15 Dateline
11.25 End the Day
11.30 Weather; Close
Ulster TV programmes Thurs July 27th 1967
4.45 News
5.00 Disney Wonderland
5.25 Danger Island
5.55 ITN News
6.06 Lost In Space
6.20 Ulster Today
6.35 Crossroads; Weather
7.00 Peyton Place
7.30 The Saint
8.30 This Week
9.00 Love Story
10.00 News at Ten
10.30 The Avengers
11.30 End the Day
11.35 Weather and Close
Ulster TV Programmes for Wednesday July 17th 1968
4.40 Sean the Leprechaun
4.55 Ulster News Headlines
5.00 Robin Hood
5.25 Sexton Blake
5.55 News
6.09 Crossroads
6.30 My Name's McGooley, What's Yours
6.57 Ulster News
7.00 With Bird, Will Travel
7.30 Coronation Street
8.00 Love Story
9.00 Half Hour Story
9.30 Cinema
10.00 News at Ten
10.30 Gideon's Way
11.25 Weather
.
.
.
.
.
.
.