National Film and Television Archive

[Laurence Piper]

Well, it's all very easy to nominate someone to head something like this and then back off themselves when asked for help. I also have other commitments and a life outside of these websites - but I am still prepared to be part of anything that can be set up. If you have a passion for the subject, then you'll find at least a little time somewhere. I think this is where we get to separate those that are all words from those who are prepared to act too

[Gareth R]

Guest-Laurence said:

Well, it's all very easy to nominate someone to head something like this and then back off themselves when asked for help

You clearly didn't read my post properly, Laurence. I offered whatever help I could on a practical level (bar money, because I don't have any).

If you have a passion for the subject, then you'll find at least a little time somewhere

Ah, I see that I misinterpreted what you said. I took the implication of your words to be that *I* should head whatever new organisation may arise from this situation. I certainly don't have time for that (hence my comment "Not a chance in hell"), but I *can* commit to "a little time somewhere".

I've got a good handle on likely costs, I'm pretty well plugged in to the post-production and transmission community and for good or ill I'm an experienced blagger (for the Play School event at the NFT I was able to get £3500-worth of telecine work done for free), so I'm sure I can bring *something* to the party!

As I say, if it's a dedicated archive channel you want to work towards, we *are* talking millions of pounds for startup costs, but the money's out there for the taking if you're willing to work for it... what it needs is a convincing business plan, someone with a bit of business credibility and entrepreneurial flair to present said plan to the people with the money, and no small amount of luck. It'll be hard and time-consuming, but it's definitely potentially do-able.

So, what's the first step to take?

[Laurence Piper]

Well a meeting of a few like minds to thrash out an initial plan, as has been said already, i'd have thought.

[Andrew Doherty]

One of the aspects of 'Wider Television Access' was that the person running this was responsible for a television production company.

This meant that the WTVA group had a head start when it came to knowing how to achieve its aims.

Whatever the case, any successful venture would require the involvement of the National Film and Television Archive, Broadcasting Organizations and other (private?) copyright holders.

Also, other television archive interested groups may prove to be of value.

Programmes, which have never been seen since first broadcast could provide that extra dimension.

Someone I know said if there were a time machine in existence he would gladly pay a million pounds (if he possessed that kind of wealth) for the privilege of revisiting his favourite decades, the 1950s and the 1960s. Someone else replied"why so little".

Well, there is the next best thing. It is a dedicated archive channel (via the airwaves and, possibly the internet) covering all the decades to the end of the 1980s.

This would be the aim in theory.

The initial approach must be one of exploration after which it is a matter of "one step at a time".

Whether such a venture would be successful is pure guesswork.

In the last analysis, it is whatever takes the public's imagination.



Yours sincerely,

[celestial]

Sorry if this is slightly off topic, but this thread got me thinking of Sky TV and new tv channels for some reason.

Maybe money could be raised for such a dedicated tv channel. Maybe stand alone subscription based or part of one of the Sky tv subscription packages, which although not everyone's cup of tea would at least bring in some money for ongoing running costs and archiving further. Of course initial opening/operating investment needs to be found first.

Doesn't even have to be a profit making business to succeed, it's our heritage, our culture, so perhaps it could be government funded or perhaps a joint BBC/ITV venture or part private/part government sponsored (i.e. one could approach the Ministry of arts & Culture with the idea for possible funding?, who knows? pie in the sky?)

National lottery money could also be sought. It is afterall given to such things as the theatre, orchestras and the arts etc, then why not our tv heritage, which afterall is also art. Money needed to help search for then clean and then digitize our national treasures before they are lost for good.
Just a thought...................

Great forum btw

[Laurence Piper]

I agree. What I was thinking of wasn't nessesarily a profit only thing; as you say, it's / arts heritage too.

I do like to know who i'm talking to though, Celestial...

[Celestial Gary Marshall]

Sorry Laurence. My name is Gary Marshall.

There is a channel on Sky which shows very little, just the odd programme during the day. It's called Open Access TV on Sky Digital Channel number 687. Not quite sure how it works, but maybe a cheapish way to get some archived recordings on the air. Possibly and if allowed.
Here is a link to a thread about this particular channel on the digitalspy tv forums.
forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=39520&highlight=open+access
It seems they allow the public/organisations/clubs to air tapes/programmes. Obviously copyrights/royalties and BBC/ITV clearance would need to be obtained before any TV archive could air. That would be a cheap way of airing archived material I suppose, if Open Access was able and wanting to do it, but running a tv channel specifically is megabucks I'm afraid. Unless of course there is government/BBC/ITV or lottery help.

[Gareth R]

Guest-Celestial said:

There is a channel on Sky which shows very little, just the odd programme during the day. It's called Open Access TV on Sky Digital Channel number 687. Not quite sure how it works, but maybe a cheapish way to get some archived recordings on the air

Hmmm... interesting!

If they'd be prepared to show archive material, then that would obviously bring the costs down significantly... for a decent clutch of programming we'd be talking high ten thousands or low hundred thousands rather than millions.

Can't find any contact details for them, but I've put out feelers.

[Gary Marshall]

Gareth. It appears from a search in google that Open Access is something to do with a company called 'Definition Consultants Ltd' who also seem to have something to do with 'Classic FM TV'

I searched the contact name 'James Jegede' in google, who is the guy that posted in the digitalspy forum link, which I gave in the earlier post above. It comes up with a result on the ofcom website. This link provides contact numbers and address etc of Open Access TV.
The link below is only a google cached page, as it looks like there is a problem with the ofcom site at the moment;

66.102.11.104/search?q=cache:Z2ILEHFbfkIJ:www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing_numbering/tv/licensees_register/cable_sat/sat_company/Definition_Consultants_Ltd%3Fa%3D87101+James+Jegede&hl=en

If they allow it then great, but still the problem of funding. Also the other downside is it's channel number, which is 687, not a good number at all, so how many people would actually see any programming on this channel?!? It's quite a bit out of the way isn't it? Now if it was in the 100+ or 200+ positions then great! ;D