ITV disposing of 2" 24-track audio masters

[markboulton]

I was a little perturbed to see this on e-Bay:

cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ampex-2-inch-24-Track-Reel-To-Reel-Tape_W0QQitemZ160308313198QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Consumer_Professional_RL?hash=item160308313198&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Someone has a number of 2", 24-track audio spools which are said to come from "ITV Studios". They are reported to "have only been used once as a master".

Could these be recordings of title music for well-known programmes? What if the one in this auction could be, for example, Christopher Gunning's original recording of the "Poirot" theme, for instance? I assume they must be from the late 80s or earlier (with cheaper, digital-based production methods being used for producing TV music).

Obviously it's no use buying these to offer them back to ITV, as clearly they have already decided they don't want them!

[cperry]

I have contacted ITV. It is not official policy to sell on ebay, this is something they will investigate. They say that all master material is retained but older formats will be junked as material is stored digitally nowadays.

Hope that helps.

c

[markboulton]

The seller sent me this message today:

Hello

We have about 80 to a 100 of these 2 inch 24 track ampex tapes from ITV Studios

A few are new but most are master copies, they date back to mid 70's to late 80's all boxed and in perfect mint condition

We do not know whats on them as we do not have a 2inch player, but there could be all sorts of intresting archive sound recordings from ITV

They have come from ITV studios cardif wales, these tape new are about £250 each !!

we will let the lot go for only £10 each, but they must all go as 1 lot i.e. together

if you are intrested please let me know

regards

john

So they're from HTV. I hope they have been digitally transferred before disposal (in multitrack form).