Sign-Offs

[oldiesfan6479]

I'm a bit confused--why is it different during DST than during standard time?AL and both zones in FL observe DST, so everything is on at the same "clocktime" year-round. Oh, and don't call me Shirley 

Ha ha    Anyway,  when Daylight Savings Time takes affect in the fall, you lose an hour,  when it takes affect in the spring, you gain hour.  To put it more simply you set your clocks to 1 AM (when its fall) when its 2 AM or set it to 3 AM (when its spring) when its 2 AM.   Although you don't have to set your clocks at 2 AM it can be before.  I hope that answers your question.  If not, I don't know.

Oh, so do you mean on the one day when DST ends in October,where there are two 0100 hours?  The station must be signing off for theequivalent of the extra hour, later in the overnight period--on that one day,not every day during DST.

[FreddyE1977]

WQEX-TV , the former secondary PBS station in Pittsburgh, used to have a really cool sign-off.They did it in the form of a comedy routine...some drunks trying to make it home from the bar at2AM, accompanied by Monty Python's "Look on the Bright Side of Life".  This would be accompaniedby some gag credits.   Eventually, they formed something called the "QEX Sign-Off Society", andfor a donation you could get your name (or someone else's) inserted into the gag sign-off credits.Unfortunately, that station is now LMA and carries Home Shopping that never, ever signs off!

[jc]

Oh, so do you mean on the one day when DST ends in October,where there are two 0100 hours?  The station must be signing off for theequivalent of the extra hour, later in the overnight period--on that one day,not every day during DST.

I think thats what I mean

[azumanga]

WQEX-TV ... used to have a really cool sign-off.They did it in the form of a comedy routine...some drunks trying to make it home from the bar at2AM, accompanied by Monty Python's "Look on the Bright Side of Life".  This would be accompaniedby some gag credits.   

Out of curiosity, did WQEX do anything out of the ordinary for sign-on? Or is it just the usual, plain announcements?

[FreddyE1977]

I don't think I was ever at home watching when they did their sign-on.I doubt it was as elaborate as their sign-off in any case.   They had aunique format...a live continuity announcer-host in a studio (80'sMTV style).  Lots of Britcoms, etc.  Was a unique station.  Shame theycould not cut it financially.

[FreddyE1977]

Another interesting thing about WQEX - I believe they may have been the last US Televsion station to transmit exclusively in black-and-white. Channel 16 started out as WENS-TV in the early 1950's.  Former Pittsburgh Pirate announcer Bob Prince was partof the ownership group.  Pirate Baseball games comprised a large part of their schedule.  This was unfortunatelybefore sets were required to have a UHF tuner, and the station failed financially.  The 16 frequency was acquired byWQED, already broadcasting on 13, as a secondary channel for educational/instructional programs.  They boughtan ancient and used transmitter from a station in Scranton, PA, which was black-and-white only.  This remained inservice until they finally upgraded in 1985 or 86.   Towards the end, the transmitter tended to go down a lot, andthe signal usually had a noticeable lack of focus and resolution.  I remember watching a 1984 Presidential Debatein black-and-white on WQEX.

[Stanislav]

Another interesting thing about WQEX - I believe they may have been the last US Televsion station to transmit exclusively in black-and-white.

They bought an ancient and used transmitter from a station in Scranton, PA, which was black-and-white only.  This remained in service until they finally upgraded in 1985 or 86. Towards the end, the transmitter tended to go down a lot, and
the signal usually had a noticeable lack of focus and resolution.  I remember watching a 1984 Presidential Debate in black-and-white on WQEX.

Dang....you stole my idea for a new thread..... 

[FreddyE1977]

It may still be a worthwhile thread.   Someone else out there might have been allB/W at a later date....though by the mid-80's, I kind of doubt it.