Channel 4's Opening Day. - TV Programmes

port671 · 16-03-2006, 15:33

Whose Spoke The First Words On C4?

Radio Informer · 16-03-2006, 15:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by port671

Whose Spoke The First Words On C4?

Don't know who spoke but countdown was the first programme to air.

AngiBear · 16-03-2006, 15:36

It was continuity announcer Paul Coia who said Good afternoon. It's a pleasure to be able to say to you: Welcome to Channel Four", before heading into a montage of clips from its programmes"

russellelly · 16-03-2006, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio Informer

Don't know who spoke but countdown was the first programme to air.

Richard Whitely was the first face, not sure whether he had the first words, imagine he would have.

port671 · 16-03-2006, 15:37

The First Voice To Be Heard On C4 Was Paul Coia.

russellelly · 16-03-2006, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by port671

The First Voice To Be Heard On C4 Was Paul Coia.

Did you just ask the question and give the answer?!

jimmy7bellies · 16-03-2006, 15:38

Carol Vorderman probably butted in.

yorkie98 · 16-03-2006, 20:19

I beleive the first face, live on camera was also Paul Coia as he presented the opening showcase program, "This Is Channel 4". Countdown followed.
Does anyone remember what the first ever commercial was?? I do but I want to see if anyone else does too... I was 11 yrs old at the time BTW...

jimboc · 16-03-2006, 20:25

Look here

http://www.tv-ark.org.uk/channel4/channel4cont.html

hear it for yourselves...

yorkie98 · 16-03-2006, 20:56

Well that shows how my memory has faded. Maybe it was the program after Countdown. I remember a program, with Paul Coia sat down, explaining and previewing what kind of programs will be on the channel and talking to the program director etc...anyone remember this?

Anyone thought of that first commecial??

Also..... a peice of trivia..... My high school maths teacher was one of the East Bergholt Bell Ringers who featured in the first ever episode of Treasure Hunt. The solution to the final clue was to get the bells to ring. She had thje certificate from Chatsworth Television hung on the classroom wall for years.

Lochie177 · 16-03-2006, 20:57

I seem to remember Max Boyce meets the Dallas Cowboys was screened that night.... I maybe wrong

god_of_biscuits · 16-03-2006, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkie98

I beleive the first face, live on camera was also Paul Coia as he presented the opening showcase program, "This Is Channel 4". Countdown followed.
Does anyone remember what the first ever commercial was?? I do but I want to see if anyone else does too... I was 11 yrs old at the time BTW...

Was it for Walkers Crisps? Shot in the dark, but I could be right. What's the prize?

paulquinn1989 · 16-03-2006, 21:36

What about channel 5

Fizzbin · 16-03-2006, 22:48

The first C4 commercial was for TNT couriers. A very dull ad featuring the late actor Philip Latham (President Barosa in Doctor Who).

verybigfoot · 17-03-2006, 00:07

The first advert would have varied depending which ITV region you were watching in (initally ITV sold the adverts).

According to C4's website (so presumably London region) the 1st ad was for Vauxhall cars.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes_faq.html

yorkiegal · 17-03-2006, 00:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulquinn1989

What about channel 5

don't know who's voice was first but i think the first program was a dramatisation of the estate agent who was kidnapped (stephanie slater?)

girojim · 17-03-2006, 00:40

I could have swore the advert was for Shackleton's high seat chairs.
Also I'm sure ITV and Channel 4 used to advertise each others programmes like BBC1 and BBC2 do.

MH1 · 17-03-2006, 07:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkiegal

don't know who's voice was first but i think the first program was a dramatisation of the estate agent who was kidnapped (stephanie slater?)

it would have been one of the spice girls who sung an song to welcome five in. Julie Bradbury and some guy who presented quite an interesting quiz on five presented an preview to five program

NorthDown2 · 17-03-2006, 08:19

When Channel 4 started there were very few adverts. We used to get a caption with some music during the ad breaks. It took some months before the ad breaks started to populate, and even then sometimes you would get three adss and then return to the caption. This went on for a while, with the caption making frequent appearances in the early hours of the morning.

trash80 · 17-03-2006, 08:23

i remember C4 starting well, i was doing my homework while i was waiting lol

PhilipM · 17-03-2006, 09:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by girojim

Also I'm sure ITV and Channel 4 used to advertise each others programmes like BBC1 and BBC2 do.

Yes! I thought I remembered this too! They would say "and over on Channel 4 now...". The only people I've mentioned this to couldn't remember. Why such a friendly relationship then, and why hasn't it carried on?

Frood · 17-03-2006, 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lochie177

I seem to remember Max Boyce meets the Dallas Cowboys was screened that night.... I maybe wrong

You are correct.

I remember him having a go as a running back and running lines that you see in rugby which are very different to those in American Football. It confused and amused them.

I recall him getting on very well with the 'boys legendary defensive lineman Ed "Too Tall" Jones (he was 6ft 9, very tall for the position).

After a while Boyce announced "I've got a song for you."

It went

"I'll tell you the tail of "Too Tall" Jones who loves the sound of cracking bones.
But I'll be the Cowboys' 1st draft choice and go by the name of "Too Small Boyce."

C4's 1st night also had "The Paul Hogan Show" - dreadful

god_of_biscuits · 17-03-2006, 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilipM

Yes! I thought I remembered this too! They would say "and over on Channel 4 now...". The only people I've mentioned this to couldn't remember. Why such a friendly relationship then, and why hasn't it carried on?

As I remember, there was a contract between C4 and itv regarding advertising and cross-promotion. Financially, it benefitted itv much more. This link was severed years ago now, leaving C4 totally independant. It may have been to pave the way for digital spin-offs, which may not have been viable had itv still been involved, but that may be me remembering something different.

I had friends who insisted it was a different channel C4 advertised and must have been on Sky or something. You see, in those days 'Yorkshire Television' made no mention of itv, so when C4 did they assumed it was somethign different. Silly buggers!

tomvoxx · 17-03-2006, 11:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frood

C4's 1st night also had "The Paul Hogan Show" - dreadful

Oh well - and I remember it as the funniest thing on TV at the time

I'd love to see this repeated.

Colebox · 17-03-2006, 11:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngiBear

It was continuity announcer Paul Coia who said Good afternoon. It's a pleasure to be able to say to you: Welcome to Channel Four", before heading into a montage of clips from its programmes"

Is that strictly true? I seem to recall that Ch4 were broadcasting a montage of clips, every so often, in the few weeks leading up to its proper launch.

My main memory of Ch4's first night (IIRC) was the first episode of Brookside, where one of the houses had been vandalised. The characters were talking in one of the ruined rooms where behind them, in big red letters, was the word "b*ll*cks!"

16-03-2006, 15:33	#1
port671 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 65	Channel 4's Opening Day. Whose Spoke The First Words On C4?

16-03-2006, 15:36	#3
AngiBear Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 524	It was continuity announcer Paul Coia who said Good afternoon. It's a pleasure to be able to say to you: Welcome to Channel Four", before heading into a montage of clips from its programmes"

16-03-2006, 15:37	#5
port671 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 65	The First Voice To Be Heard On C4 Was Paul Coia.

16-03-2006, 15:38	#7
jimmy7bellies Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,153	Carol Vorderman probably butted in.

16-03-2006, 20:19	#8
yorkie98 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 70	I beleive the first face, live on camera was also Paul Coia as he presented the opening showcase program, "This Is Channel 4". Countdown followed. Does anyone remember what the first ever commercial was?? I do but I want to see if anyone else does too... I was 11 yrs old at the time BTW...

16-03-2006, 20:25	#9
jimboc Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Brighton Services: Freeview: Toppy & Thomson DTI 2300 Posts: 870	Look here http://www.tv-ark.org.uk/channel4/channel4cont.html hear it for yourselves...

16-03-2006, 20:56	#10
yorkie98 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 70	Well that shows how my memory has faded. Maybe it was the program after Countdown. I remember a program, with Paul Coia sat down, explaining and previewing what kind of programs will be on the channel and talking to the program director etc...anyone remember this? Anyone thought of that first commecial?? Also..... a peice of trivia..... My high school maths teacher was one of the East Bergholt Bell Ringers who featured in the first ever episode of Treasure Hunt. The solution to the final clue was to get the bells to ring. She had thje certificate from Chatsworth Television hung on the classroom wall for years.

16-03-2006, 20:57	#11
Lochie177 Banned User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 868	I seem to remember Max Boyce meets the Dallas Cowboys was screened that night.... I maybe wrong

16-03-2006, 21:36	#13
paulquinn1989 Banned User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Services: Telewest Posts: 1,510	What about channel 5

16-03-2006, 22:48	#14
Fizzbin Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: East London Posts: 14,804	The first C4 commercial was for TNT couriers. A very dull ad featuring the late actor Philip Latham (President Barosa in Doctor Who).

17-03-2006, 00:07	#15
verybigfoot Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London Services: Digifusion DTT PVR, Sky + (Pace v2), A&A ISP ADSL 8meg, SIPGATE VOIP Posts: 59	The first advert would have varied depending which ITV region you were watching in (initally ITV sold the adverts). According to C4's website (so presumably London region) the 1st ad was for Vauxhall cars. http://www.channel4.com/programmes_faq.html

17-03-2006, 00:40	#17
girojim Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 812	I could have swore the advert was for Shackleton's high seat chairs. Also I'm sure ITV and Channel 4 used to advertise each others programmes like BBC1 and BBC2 do.

17-03-2006, 08:19	#19
NorthDown2 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bangor NI Services: Analogue BBC NI, BBC Scot, RTE, Freeview Posts: 240	When Channel 4 started there were very few adverts. We used to get a caption with some music during the ad breaks. It took some months before the ad breaks started to populate, and even then sometimes you would get three adss and then return to the caption. This went on for a while, with the caption making frequent appearances in the early hours of the morning.

17-03-2006, 08:23	#20
trash80 Banned User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: B'ham / Metro Manila Services: Telewest TV, Phone & BB, DAB Posts: 20,752	i remember C4 starting well, i was doing my homework while i was waiting lol