BBC Television made its debut in Northern Ireland in May 1953. Northern Ireland Northern Ireland It relayed network programmes round the nearest available television Today, BBCNI broadcasts almost 740 Television news remains a vital link The first news magazine came on the air in Investigating, challenging, and getting under Historic, too, was the Pope’s journey the Group Theatre long before his Patrick Kielty has gone from a audiences, who have brought from a temporary transmitter set to watch. hours of locally produced programmes between the BBC and the community it 1959. Studio Eight was the name of the the skin of important issues have been at to Ireland in 1979. BBC Northern comedy was transferred to BBCNI stand-up comedy complaints about everything from installed in an old Nissen hut on It was a turning point.As one viewer each year in areas as diverse as drama, serves. studio and the programme itself. the core of Spotlight’s purpose. Ireland cameras brought his famous television in 1971. programme at The Empire to faulty washing machines to mobile a hillside just outside Belfast. recalled,‘the Royal Family were on current affairs, education, sport and And while politics and security issues have speech in Drogheda live into our nationwide fame. telephone masts. The first bulletin was broadcast in 1957 Other news programmes were to follow: But BBC Northern Ireland gave his television so therefore it was okay.’ entertainment. It also produces popular Six Five, Six Ten,Scene Around Six, Inside often dominated the wider agenda since homes. It was the single biggest The first viewers were thin on the and bore very little resemblance to the genius wider scope and a bigger And Shauna Lowry, now a familiar And think of the remarkable Home programmes for Network audiences. kind of coverage viewers expect today. Ulster,BBC Newsline.All have made their 1969, Spotlight has kept audiences outside broadcast operation ever ground.Television sets were Television had become acceptable. stage. face to Network audiences, began Truths documentaries which sought There was no film.Video had not even mark with the Northern Ireland audience. informed about other aspects of life in mounted by the region. expensive and the reception – black And it was here to stay. her television career with BBCNI’s to establish what really happened in In Northern Ireland, with its long been invented.A newsreader read a script Northern Ireland. It is a long time - but in many ways and white, of course - was far from So, too, the presenters. Names from the The moments leading up to the Youth Programmes Unit. the Curran murder case and led to history of division, objective and illustrated only by the occasional black past and present include: More recently, Hearts and Minds has a short step - from James Young to perfect. conclusion of the negotiations on the release of Iain Hay Gordon. The first programme made by informed journalism is vital. and white photograph. It was like radio, established itself as a uniquely engaging the Hole in the Wall Gang and Give The search goes on….. Might you be Malcolm Kellard, Larry McCoubrey, Barry Good Friday in 1998 gave us more A typical day that month shows a BBC Northern Ireland for local on television. political series. My Head Peace. the next big discovery? News and Current Affairs has been a Cowan, Sean Rafferty,Wendy Austin,Noel history in the making. Sport, in all its forms, is a big schedule that included cricket, a viewers was Ulster Mirror in 1954. core service over the past fifty years. Thompson, Rose Neill.All became familiar And Lets’s Talk has made a direct and In their work, his scathing wit and enthusiasm of local people. western, a variety gala and news. teatime guests in our homes. intimate connection with audiences on a And who can forget pictures of the Shown every fortnight, it was a MONITOR cultural caricature live on. We are committed to enriching There were long gaps in transmission range of topics, providing a valuable first visit by President Clinton in Television has brought its miscellany of items from around the BBCNI journalism has always been the lives of our viewers and to and programmes had concluded by platform for debate. November 1995. Many others were given their first excitements and spectacle into region. However, no facilities existed in characterised by authority and informed engaging them in what we do. every living room. 10.30pm. 24 hour television was still analysis – from correspondents such as chance with BBC Northern Ireland. Belfast for either editing, or local Making A Difference encouraged some years away. W.D. Flackes, Eric Waugh and Brian Walker Throughout the past fifty years, It was in the famous Billy plays that Hurling, hockey, rugby, racing and transmission, so all the material had to people to nominate the unsung to Stephen Grimason, Maggie Taggart, Brian BBC Northern Ireland has been young Kenneth Branagh’s talents football have all featured in the But on 10th June 1953, history was be flown to London and it was heroes who have had a beneficial Rowan, Dot Kirby. committed to finding and first reached a wider audience. BBCNI schedule, as have some of our made and people could watch it broadcast from there. effect on the lives of those around A host of distinguished broadcasters cut nurturing local talent. best loved personalities: George Best, happening. Hollywood star Liam Neeson made them and the BBC’s Children in But even that first tentative step into their journalistic teeth with BBC Northern Mary Peters, Barry McGuigan and The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II local programming demonstrated a Ireland – Nick Witchell,Jeremy Paxman, Some talent was already well his first television appearance in a Need provides year-round support to Tony McCoy. was broadcast from Westminster commitment by the BBC to connect Gavin Esler and many more. established, of course. BBCNI schools’ programme about young people throughout the region. the railways. Abbey. It was the first British with its audience and to reach into the And the news that they, and others, James Young was a huge success in Fair Play, our first television consumer Coronation ever seen live on heart of communities in towns, cities reported was the, often difficult, story of series, has struck a chord with television. It still is. and villages across Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland itself – Bloody Sunday, Throughout its history, BBC to live coverage of debates from All over the country, people gathered Bloody Friday, Enniskillen, Omagh, the Good Northern Ireland has shown a the Assembly Chamber at Friday Agreement. commitment to the big Stormont. Once again, keeping The television images of those events, occasion, and to capturing audiences informed has been, and captured by camera staff operating often in, and sharing events of remains, a priority. at times, grim and dangerous circumstances, significance. are seared into our consciousness.They are Since June 1953, there has been milestones in our troubled journey. Live election coverage has been a live coverage of visits to Northern major part of that.And BBC Ireland by the Queen and other Since 1973, Spotlight has been BBC Northern Ireland has been the members of the Royal Family. Northern Ireland’s flagship current only local broadcaster to commit affairs programme. 1954 – Ulster Mirror 1955 – Transmission starts from 1957 – Local news 1959 - First local 1962 – The first 1964 – Come 1968 – Scene 1969 – The 1971 – James 1974 – Ceefax 1975 – BBC 1976 – Major 1977 – Stewart 1979 – BBC 1953 becomes the first local Divis. Lord Brookeborough is bulletins begin.Television studio opens - Studio 1960 transatlantic transmission Dancing is televised Around Six begins. Troubles begin to 1970 Young’s Saturday begins.And the Radio Ulster extension to Parker’s Catchpenny Radio Foyle 1982 television programme.The interviewed from Stormont in the first for schools begins.The Eight.A late evening show via the Telstar satellite. from Belfast’s Plaza Also that year, Prime dominate the news. night show BBC celebrates begins. Broadcasting Twist is the Play For begins. Children BBC Television begins combined radio and live outside broadcast.Television is now Queen makes her first is named after it.And in The Half-Door Club ballroom. BBC2 Minister Terence Local colour All local programmes begins. 50 years of House is opened. Today on BBC1, the In Need is Too Late To Talk To in Northern Ireland. television licence is £3. available to 91% of people in the UK. Christmas broadcast. July, cameras televise the becomes the first goes on the air. O’Neill goes on television production are now in colour. broadcasting in first networked created Billy is shown on BBC1 Twelfth for the first time. Northern Ireland television to say that gets under way.And Northern Ireland. drama from to widespread acclaim. light entertainment Ulster is at the we watch Man Northern Ireland. programme. crossroads. landing on the moon..