UTV (also known and formerly traded as Ulster Television), is a television and production company, who holds the Channel 3 franchise licence for Northern Ireland. Until 2016, it operated indipendantly as its own company, until it was bought by ITV. UTV now operate on a smaller scale, and have lost all on screen identity. The logo was changed to look more like ITV, and even then their own logo is only used on regional programming. UTV was the first Channel 3 service for Northern Ireland, and notably, has remained the only on to hold the franchise in NI since it gained the licence.
Launch[]
Ulster Television was launched on the 31st October 1959 (Halloween Night) at 4PM, after it gained the Channel 3 Franchise for Northern Ireland. Initially, UTV could only be picked up by viewers who were in range of the Black Mountain Television Transmitter. Meaning viewers in the North, West, and South of Northern Ireland could barely pick up the channel, most not at all. Although on the first night of transmissions, UTV recieved telephone calls from Dublin (over 100 miles away), complaining of poor reception! As per the ITA's request, the station would try to provide at least 20 minutes of regional programming per day. The station was located at Havelock House, on the Ormeau Road in Belfast. Coincidentaly only around the corner from BBC Northern Ireland.
Early days (1959-1968)[]
UTV's first logo, as seen here in it's original ident. Used from 1959-1969
UTV's programming on it's first night on air consisted of The Adventures of Robin Hood and 77 Sunset Strip, two news bulletins from ITN and the 1949 feature film Task Force. The continuity announcer was Adrienne McGuill.
UTV continued to grow from strength to strength, with the number of televisions in NI taking a growth spurt since the launch of the channel. In 1960, Coronation Street was born. UTV took the series from the very start, while Tyne Tees Television and ATV, refused. UTV raitings grew even further, as popularity for Coronation Street grew. Coronation Street became a flagship program for UTV, and quickly became very popular with the Northern Irish population. It is still very popular in Northern Ireland today, and UTV still show the program. UTV gained a bit of fame from Coronation Street with thanks to Julian Simmons. (you will see later).
UTV logo used from 1959-1969.
In 1962, UTV opened a second TV Studio at its headquarters, Havelock House.
In February 1963, Ulster Television opened a Television Transmitter in Strabane. This meant that UTV coverage now spread to Western Areas of Northern Ireland, and may even be picked up in Eastern Donegal and Northern Co. Mayo.
In 1964, Ulster Television were given a 3 year extension to its franchise licence. This was later given an addition extension of further year. Again in 1967, UTV's licence was extended for another 7 years. The future was looking bright for UTV.
Until 14th September 1968, Ulster Television had its own Television Guide Magazine, called TV Post. When this ended, Ulster was given its own edition of TV Times, and listings for Ulster were printed there.
Settled in and well established (1969-1975)[]
UTV's second logo, which would remain largly unchanged, only altered slightly, until 1993.
On the 14th September 1970, Ulster Television launched their UHF 625 line PAL Colour Transmission service. This was initially avalible only through the Black Mountain Transmitter, But UTV quickly became mostly colour, with the change becoming complete by 1978. (delayed as the Brougher Mountain Transmitter covering Fermanagh and Tyrone became the last to catch up).
In 1970, to mark the occasion of the launch of their colour service, UTV replaced their logo of 10 years, with a redesigned version of the original. The zig-zag lines were now more even, and shown inside a box (impersonating static/radiowaves of television, inside a TV screen).
A blue version, with text "Ulster Television", below.