TV-am 1983

TV-am’s started promoting its new station via numerous TV averts and newspapers

TV-am Launch – 1st February 1983

The first day of broadcasting included an hour of news in Daybreak, a short film and an interview with Norman Tebbit about the current level of unemployment, a live comic strip called The World of Melanie Parker, and Through the Keyhole. The title sequence Good Morning Britain was designed by Ethan Ames. The sequence features 4 shots – “Good” a daring shot involving 2 sky divers and a banner, with a dramatc sunrise in the background (a feature of the tv-am logo) “Morning” Letter forms were laid out to form the word in Trafalgar Square,. When the letters completly covered by pigeons, they were disturbed so they would fly off, the shot was then reveresed. “Britain” HMS Hermes and her crew were used. The crew formed the word, and then it’s crew threw off their hats. “GOOD MORNING BRITAIN” formed the last shot. Over 6,000 people were filmed forming the title, shot in Bristol.

Some images from the first day of broadcasting

TV-am February – April 1983

Within two weeks of the launch the ratings dropped sharply. A month later, the ratings fell again to just under 300,000. The company’s weekend show presented by Michael Parkinson initially became the only success for the station, largely because the BBC did not broadcast on weekend mornings.