This will be one of my shorter Sunday Blogs. Vote.
If you did not already vote (I did) then you should vote on November 5th.
Born in 1960, I remember when we only had three major TV channels. I remember when the broadcast would 'end' sometime after midnight, and they would play the National Anthem, and then you would get a test pattern.
Test Patterns were primarily used in television broadcasting to help with various technical aspects of signal quality and calibration. They served several purposes:Calibration: Test patterns allowed technicians to adjust and calibrate the broadcast equipment, ensuring proper color balance, contrast, and brightness.
Signal Quality: They helped in assessing the quality of the television signal. By using standardized patterns, technicians could identify issues like distortion, interference, or incorrect aspect ratios.
Equipment Testing: Broadcasters used test patterns to evaluate the performance of cameras, monitors, and other equipment during setup and maintenance.
Color Accuracy: Patterns with different colors helped ensure that televisions displayed accurate colors and that the transmission process preserved those colors.
Overall, test patterns were essential for maintaining the technical standards of television broadcasting.
The combination of the national anthem and test patterns was a common sight on television, especially during the early days of broadcasting. When broadcasts ended for the day or during maintenance, stations would display a test pattern alongside the playing of the national anthem.This served several addition purposes:
Signaling Downtime: It indicated to viewers that the broadcast day was ending or that the station was temporarily off the air.
Cultural Significance: Playing the national anthem fostered a sense of patriotism and connected viewers to their country.
Visual and Audio Standard: The test pattern provided a visual and audio reference for the technical aspects of the broadcast, ensuring that equipment was functioning properly.
These practices (Test Pattern AND the National Anthem) have largely faded with the advent of 24-hour broadcasting, but they remain a nostalgic part of television history.
The practice of playing the national anthem on television at night began to decline in the 1980s and 1990s. Many stations transitioned to 24-hour broadcasting, eliminating the need for a sign-off period. By the early 2000s, it had become rare for broadcast networks in the U.S. to air the national anthem at night. While some local stations might still have done it, it was no longer a widespread practice. This change reflected broader shifts in media consumption habits, as audiences increasingly expected constant access to programming.It's 2024. News is different. TV is different. Mass Media (and now Social Media) is very different. The world of Politics is very different as well. When I was growing up in the 60s and 70s if by some chance you were still up to see the TV Test Pattern, if you were still up to watch and listen to the National Anthem being played, you would know that in the morning - when you woke up - the TV would be back online, the world would restart, and everything was going to be 'OK' in your home, in your neighborhood.
You felt safe, you felt protected. Your country was saying 'Good Night, sleep tight, we'll see you in the morning.' ALL OF US were to sleep well. The UNITED STATES of AMERICA.
Vote On Tuesday. I'll see you in the morning on Wednesday.