what is archived in other countries

[gary jordan]

would it not be a good idea for non UK residents to post on this forum to give an indication as to what is out there regarding tv pop worldwide. I would imagine that other countries pop archives are in a better state than the BBC's. Perhaps then we could all share/ trade our stuff for the non UK stuff and Vice versa no rip off merchants though and only charge a nominal fee for the cost of putting a tape together. We should all share what we've got with each other. NO this is NOT wife swap!!!

[Sal Mohammed]

Swap tapes - All that great footage and your still using tapes.
Come on get yourself on the DVD train. If your source material is in good nick, then you won't loose a generation in quality every time it's copied.
Once the material is on DVD, it's so much easier to trade with other collectors and will always look good. The days of washy 5th generation colour will soon be over. Once you have quality material on DVD, you can make copies for other trades without losing a generation.
Who wants to pay for bulky tapes when you can mail a DVD for the same price as a letter!
How many other collectors out there are transferring material to DVD? Can anyone support me on this one?[/b]

[Kev]

I'm dipping my toe in the water re dvd swaps.

I can make vcd's using moviejack and my computer.

The task of transfering my video stuff to dvd seems Herculean though. Much easier and quicker to bung a few tapes in and let em roll!

I have Nero on my computer which can copy cd's but I think they gave me the pov version so it won't do dvd's.

Then there is this problem of compatibility.

I have a dvd that plays everything. Copies included.

My computer seems to be a plus whilst my recordable dvd is a minus. Are we talking a betamax/vhs battle here?

Got any advice on how to go about dvd swapping?

[Sal Mohammed]

If your pc has a recordable dvd drive, you should be able to copy dvd's using the "make an exact copy" mode.

[Kev]

Don't think it has one. Just a cd rw drive. I have a separate d drive I play the dvd's on.

[gary jordan]

now come on lads this thread was about archives in other countries not about who can afford the latest gear I may 1 day get round to putting mine on dvd when I get a dvd recorder

[Troy Walters]

Hi Gary. If you think the state of the British archives are bad, you should see the state of Australian TV archives, they are ten times worse and sadly even today a lot of them don't give two hoots and a rats arse about archive material and still destroying old programs . I've heard some sad stories from people that tapes and films have been put into engine rooms which get exposed to elements, and worse been stored in an underground basement which there has been stories of tapes floating in water !!!!! All they care about is money money money!!!

Only two archives I know are willing to preserve material (THESE DAYS) is ABC and Screensound in Canberra.

MANY of Aussie shows pre-dating the 1970s and even programs of the 80s have been bulk erased or left to rot.

In regards of music shows many of them are lost, even worse than Top Of The Pops. An example is Australia's best pop show "Countdown" which I'm on a mission to find long lost episodes of (see my website for more details 70scountdown.50megs.com/ ). over 90% of the episodes from 1974 to 1978 have been bulk erased and 50% from 1979 has been erased too. So most of the 70s shows (the best era of Countdown) is gone. No full shows from 1974 exist, 5 shows from 1975 exist (one in audio), 3 from 1976, 7 from 1977, 10 from 1978 (one a domestic recording) and 25 from 1979. Most of the 80s exist with maybe a couple missing from each year. Along with the full shows some clips from the 1974-79 era exist including two from the first episode 8th November 1974.

Other rock shows we had that have been erased are Flashez, Nightmoves, Soundz, Bandstand, GTK, Hitscene, 6 O'Clock Rock and much much more. They were either erased or only the kinescoped film recordings were kept.

Anyways I have to say British archives are a lot better at archiving than most Aussie archives.

Cheers
Troy