Southern Television archive

[Simon Winters]

I have always assumed that Southern Star International hold all of the Southern Televison entertainment archive, with the news/documentary collection held at ITV Meridian's archive (now held for them by ITV at Leeds).

I just emailed Southern Star to ask about this, and have received a reply stating that they in fact hold only a very small amount of Southern TV material - just the 'internationally marketed colour shows', they tell me. Nothing else at all.

According to the email, they do not hold any b/w programmes whatsoever, and have never done so!

They confirmed that Meridian archive at Leeds do in fact hold all news and documentary material, plus some "unidentified 16mm material", as the reply puts it.

I know that the BFI hold a limited amount of b/w Southern material (you can see the list on their website), but where is the rest of it?

Anyone have more information?

[LanceM]

This deffinitely sounds like it needs looking into. I would hope that the major institutions such as ITV or the BFI would have such information as this. The unidentified 16mm film material sounds intriguing. Might anyone have any further information they would like to share about this issue. Many Thanks.

Lance.

[Christopher Perry]

Hi people

I know exactly where everything is, and what it is. However, I am bound by contract not to say where it is, for reasons I cannot go into.

So don't panic, and don't think I'm trying to be mysterious because I am not, I just can't go into details for legal reasons. Suffice to say, it is safe from future wiping.

c

[hartley967]

Hi Chris.
First all I think its very brave of you to make this statement as I am sure you have left yourself open to more and more questions.
I have only one -
was

lostshows.com

compiled before you found out this (with respect to Southern) or is the posse still on look out for stuff like Mystery Hall and Bright's Boffins ?

Once again thanks Chris.
I hope people understand that you need not have told the board this and obviously you have been trusted with the flame.

but lets hope we can all get to see it before OUR leaders run off the spool eh ?

[Deleted]

As always, the politics of archiving spoils things for everyone who just wants the stuff properly preserved (and just to see it again), as I do. Southern isn't the only library to fall fowl of this kind of thing. I hope it gets resolved before yet more material is lost permanently. In light of such situations continuing though, it makes a joke of the whole idea of official "treasure hunts" etc!

[charlesghose]

On May 27, 2022, I contacted Talking Pictures TV regarding the Southern Television news archive to inquire if they indeed possess it. Here is what the Managing Director informed me: "Thank you for your email. I’m afraid Renown/TPTV only owns the DRAMA library; nothing factual, I’m afraid. Those rights are with Banajay." It seems that Banajay might have the Southern Television archive.