Test Cards
The Test Card or Test Pattern is something hardly ever seen on Australian TV these days. Not so long ago it was transmitted when there were no programmes scheduled. In the days before Colour, most stations broadcast a test pattern early in the morning before switching to a photograph for a few minutes before opening. With colour the test cards and photos both became coloured and changed from a card in front of the camera to an electronic source, but their hours of transmission had already suffered erosion.
In the early post colour era ABC-TV used the local station's callsign on the test pattern on Saturday mornings. At other times we saw ABC Television or A.B.C. National TV. Seeing the latter in Victoria meant the feed was coming from Sydney, this was normally the case before and between schools programmes. Most commercial stations had the callsign or a name like BCV - TV.
The Testcards
ABC-TV/ABC National TV
Showing a bit more on the local IDs, here's ABNS1 from Robert, note the b&w TV has a typical field linearity fault.
Sorry about the colour, this photo was not the best, but ABN2 shows us the arrival of colour.
From a videotape from Robert, this is the first Testcard on ABV 2 Melbourne, the content of the tape is some 15 mins of silent film of the card. It was seen from ABV2's beginning in 1956 until the early 60s.
From the early 60's ABV 2 changed to this card which
was the same throughout the ABC network. It lasted until
Colour hit us in 1975.
Just one more eh? Thanks Robert, I often used to see ABRV3, and could listen to the sound
all the time on an FM radio from Melbourne. The sound
frequency was 91.75Mhz.
More of that ABC local identification, it was a great pleasure to DX in those days, but after colour we only saw local callsigns on Saturday morning....
From Wollongong NSW, many ABC stations displayed their callsigns quite regularly before colour.
SBS (Special Broadcasting Service)
Originally identifying as "Network 0/28" due to it's use of channels 0 and 28 in Melbourne and Sydney in the first few years. SBS finally branded itself as SBS TV well after the shutdown of the channel 0 transmitters.
Two slightly different SBS
Testcards, from the late 80s SBS would often advertise the music
being played for sale on crawlers across the testcard. In the
nineties it was replaced by a satellite weather photo.
Commercials.
Although a slide of some local feature was not uncommon, there were quite a few testcards. As most city stations started programmes at 6am even in the 60s, we didn't have quite as much opportunity as in the UK. A slide would often be used shortly before transmission, often with a voiceover welcoming you to the day's programming.
This 1964 B/W test pattern is from ATV 0 Melbourne.
Possibly the more unique of electronic colour test patterns is this one from ATV 0 Melbourne. Photo from the collection of the late George Palmer.
From a videotape in Robert's collection, this is CWN 6 around the time it first came to air in the mid 60's. CWN6 was owned by 'Television 689' later known as "Midstate 6,8,9" one slogan was "The Viewing's Fine on 6,8,9". The other stations were CBN 8, and MTN 9.
BTV 6 Ballarat in the mid 80s, this FubK pattern comes from the PC-TV408 generator made by Fernseh in Germany. Photo from Robert's videotape
Australia's federal Capital had a somewhat unique test card, CTC 7 sent Robert a photograph of the actual card!
When ATN 7 Sydney first came to air, this was the testcard viewers saw a lot of, a US style "Target" pattern.
Maybe HSV 7 Melbourne were trying to outdo CTC's efforts, they sent Robert the actual card! The card is approximately A4 sized and is the Marconi Resolution Chart No1.
TNQ 7 provided Robert with a photo of their Toolcraft-Goodwood pattern, quite unmodified except for the large ident.
Right across in Perth, TVW7 used this US "target" based card. TVW photographed the actual card when Robert requested a photo.
CBN 8 Orange NSW, original mono test card, photographed locally by Robert's dad in June 1966.
From the late George Palmer is RTN8's somewhat modified "Toolcraft-Goodwood" pattern.
GLV 8 Traralgon's PM5544 (also know as as BBC Testcard G) shows how many translators the two stations have.
SES 8, Mt Gambier, SA used the "Telefunken" card, and sent Robert a photo of the card.
Mt Gambier is on the border of SA and Victoria, this was captured from a videotape in Robert's collection.
Another one of those slightly unique testcards, NWS 9 in Adelaide sent Robert a photostat of their card. Note the side parts resemble those in Testcard C..
TEN 10 let Robert have a video print of their PM5544.
All logos, testcards, clocks, are copyright their respective owners and are presented here for interest purposes only.