List of BBC test cards
Encyclopedia
The following is a list of test card
s used by the BBC
at various points in broadcasting
.
30 line system, and was used to synchronise the mechanical scanning system.
television test card
. It was very similar to Test Card A but was never broadcast. The original card has since gone missing. The only difference was it had an extra greyscale stripe below the circle. The letter box in Test Card A was moved to the top of the card. This card was never broadcast, possibly used for by BBC engineers for internal use. Below is a reconstruction of Test Card B using a studio picture of a partial Test Card B.
television test card
first broadcast in 1948. It was the first test card to resemble the famous Test Card F.
television test card
first broadcast in 1964. This was the first test card to be based on a specification. Later, a "Reduced Power" Test Card D was introduced.
designed in 1964 and made to accommodate the 625-line system on BBC2
, as opposed to the 405-line system of Test Card D. However, it only lasted one day on television, and was soon replaced by a modified version of Test Card C (shown on right). This lasted until 1967 when the colour Test Card F was introduced.
and Bubbles the Clown. There have been many different Test Card F variations.
broadcast occasionally by the BBC
. It was the first electronically generated test card to be broadcast, and was a variant of the Philips PM5544
test pattern. The testcard also use on RTM
since 1979.
Another Test Card G, unrelated, was developed by Pye as a variant on Test Card C. It was used in other countries that use 625-line PAL
, but probably not in Britain.
. The Test Card was designed for the 16:9 (widescreen) ratio.
TV services, and has been included a part of BBC HD
's preview loop since November 2008 (though has been in use internally at the BBC since several years earlier).
replaces Carole Hersee
.
both transmissions were accompanied by a 4-tone test tone, ranging from extremely low frequency to a very high shrill. It is unknown if this Test Card has a name.
Test card
A test card, also known as a test pattern in North America and Australia, is a television test signal, typically broadcast at times when the transmitter is active but no program is being broadcast...
s used by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
at various points in broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
.
Tuning Signals
The first test card "Tuning Signals" was broadcast by the BBC in 1934. It was a simple line and circle broadcast using Baird'sJohn Logie Baird
John Logie Baird FRSE was a Scottish engineer and inventor of the world's first practical, publicly demonstrated television system, and also the world's first fully electronic colour television tube...
30 line system, and was used to synchronise the mechanical scanning system.
Test Card A
Test Card A made its debut in the late 1940s. However, it and Test Card B were soon replaced by the more useful Test Card C.Test Card B
Test Card B was an early BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television test card
Test card
A test card, also known as a test pattern in North America and Australia, is a television test signal, typically broadcast at times when the transmitter is active but no program is being broadcast...
. It was very similar to Test Card A but was never broadcast. The original card has since gone missing. The only difference was it had an extra greyscale stripe below the circle. The letter box in Test Card A was moved to the top of the card. This card was never broadcast, possibly used for by BBC engineers for internal use. Below is a reconstruction of Test Card B using a studio picture of a partial Test Card B.
Test Card C
Test Card C is a BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television test card
Test card
A test card, also known as a test pattern in North America and Australia, is a television test signal, typically broadcast at times when the transmitter is active but no program is being broadcast...
first broadcast in 1948. It was the first test card to resemble the famous Test Card F.
Test Card D
Test Card D was a BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television test card
Test card
A test card, also known as a test pattern in North America and Australia, is a television test signal, typically broadcast at times when the transmitter is active but no program is being broadcast...
first broadcast in 1964. This was the first test card to be based on a specification. Later, a "Reduced Power" Test Card D was introduced.
Test Card E
Test Card E (shown on left) was a television test cardTest card
A test card, also known as a test pattern in North America and Australia, is a television test signal, typically broadcast at times when the transmitter is active but no program is being broadcast...
designed in 1964 and made to accommodate the 625-line system on BBC2
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, as opposed to the 405-line system of Test Card D. However, it only lasted one day on television, and was soon replaced by a modified version of Test Card C (shown on right). This lasted until 1967 when the colour Test Card F was introduced.
Test Card F
Test Card F was the BBC's longest-running and most famous test card, featuring Carole HerseeCarole Hersee
Carole Hersee is a costume designer who is best known for appearing in the centrepiece of the iconic United Kingdom television Test Card F, which aired on BBC Television from 1967 to 1998 and was revived in 2009...
and Bubbles the Clown. There have been many different Test Card F variations.
Test Card G
Test Card G was a television test cardTest card
A test card, also known as a test pattern in North America and Australia, is a television test signal, typically broadcast at times when the transmitter is active but no program is being broadcast...
broadcast occasionally by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. It was the first electronically generated test card to be broadcast, and was a variant of the Philips PM5544
Philips PM5544
The Philips PM5544 is a television pattern generator, most commonly used to provide a television station with a complex test card commonly referred to as a Philips Pattern or PTV Circle. The content and layout of the pattern was designed in the Philips TV laboratory in Copenhagen by chief engineer...
test pattern. The testcard also use on RTM
RTM
- Computing :* Release to manufacturing - a term used when software is ready for release- Marketing :* Return to manufacturer - of faulty goods* Registered Trademark - Radio and TV :...
since 1979.
Another Test Card G, unrelated, was developed by Pye as a variant on Test Card C. It was used in other countries that use 625-line PAL
PAL
PAL, short for Phase Alternating Line, is an analogue television colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems in many countries. Other common analogue television systems are NTSC and SECAM. This page primarily discusses the PAL colour encoding system...
, but probably not in Britain.
Test Card H
Test Card H abandoned in development - it was never broadcast. The "H" designation was also used for a studio line-up card, so it was not allocated to a Test Card to avoid ambiguity.Test Card W
Test Card W is a widescreen update of Test Card FTest Card F
Test Card F is a test card that was created by the BBC and used on television in the United Kingdom and in countries elsewhere in the world for more than four decades...
. The Test Card was designed for the 16:9 (widescreen) ratio.
Test Card X
The High Definition version of Test Card W is visually similar but officially lacks a designation letter. This version is often referred to as Test Card X, but this is not a designation which the BBC recognises. It is designed for use on High DefinitionHigh-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
TV services, and has been included a part of BBC HD
BBC HD
BBC HD is a high-definition television network provided by the BBC. The service was initially run as a trial from 15 May 2006 until becoming a full service on 1 December 2007...
's preview loop since November 2008 (though has been in use internally at the BBC since several years earlier).
Sky's HD Test Card made to look like Test Card F
This is Sky's attempt to make a Sky HD test card that looks like Test Card F. Myleene KlassMyleene Klass
Myleene Angela Quinn is an English singer, pianist, media personality and occasional model. She was formerly a member of the defunct British pop band Hear'Say.-Early life:...
replaces Carole Hersee
Carole Hersee
Carole Hersee is a costume designer who is best known for appearing in the centrepiece of the iconic United Kingdom television Test Card F, which aired on BBC Television from 1967 to 1998 and was revived in 2009...
.
Unidentified test card
An electronically generated image was first broadcast on 21 June 1997 on BBC2 between 3am and 4am. The test card was then seen again 17 April 2007 between 4am - 5am during the BBC Learning ZoneBBC Learning Zone
The BBC Learning Zone is an educational strand run by the BBC as an overnight service on BBC Two. It shows programming aimed at students in Primary, Secondary and Higher Education and to adult learners...
both transmissions were accompanied by a 4-tone test tone, ranging from extremely low frequency to a very high shrill. It is unknown if this Test Card has a name.
Un-Transmitted test cards
There has been a number of Un-Transmitted Test Cards. They would most likely be for internal use inside the BBC. Most of them are adapted from Test Card F.Comic Relief test card
A Comic Relief Testcard was broadcast BBC1 on 18 March 1993 as part of Comic Relief.External links
- The Test Card Circle Details of the UK's Trade Test Transmissions including the history of the BBC and ITA Test Cards, a look at the music used and full details about the Trade Test Colour Films shown from the late fifties to 1973.
- BBC Test Card Video
- BBC The Television Test Card
- BBC Test Cards from meldrum.co.uk
- A Very Concise History of Test Cards by Frank Mitchell