From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia List of BBC test cards
List of BBC test cards
The following is a list of test cards used by the BBC at var-
ious points in broadcasting.
Test Card C
Test Card C is a BBC television test card first broadcast
in 1948. It was the first test card to resemble the famous
Tuning Signals Test Card F.[2]
The first test card "Tuning Signals" was broadcast by the
BBC in 1934. It was a simple line and circle broadcast us-
ing Baird’s 30 line system, and was used to synchronise
the mechanical scanning system.[1]
Test Card D
Test Card D was a BBC television test card first broadcast
in 1964. This was the first test card to be based on a speci-
fication. Later, a "Reduced Power" Test Card D was intro-
Test Card A duced.[2]
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.[2]
Test Card E
Test Card E (shown on left) was a television test card de-
Test Card B signed in 1964 and made to accommodate the 625-line
system on BBC2, as opposed to the 405-line system of Test
Test Card B was an early BBC television test card. It was Card D. However, it only lasted one day on television, and
very similar to Test Card A but was never broadcast. The was soon replaced by a modified version of Test Card C
original card has since gone missing. The only difference (shown on right). This lasted until 1967 when the colour
was it had an extra greyscale stripe below the circle. The Test Card F was introduced.[2]
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.[2]
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia List of BBC test cards
Test Card H
Main article: 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.[3]
Test Card J
Main article: Test Card J
Test Card J is an enhanced revision of Test Card F.[2]
Test Card W
Test Card F Main article: Test Card W
Test Card W is a widescreen update of Test Card F. The
Main article: Test Card F Test Card was designed for the 16:9 (widescreen) ratio.[2]
Test Card F was the BBC’s longest-running and most fa-
mous test card, featuring Carole Hersee and Bubbles the
Clown. There have been many different Test Card F vari- Test Card X
ations. [2] Main article: Test Card X
The High Definition version of Test Card W is visually
similar but officially lacks a designation letter. This ver-
sion is often referred to as Test Card X, but this is not
a designation which the BBC recognises.[4] It is designed
for use on High Definition TV services, and has been in-
cluded a part of BBC HD’s preview loop since November
2008 (though has been in use internally at the BBC since
several years earlier).
Test Card G
Test Card G was a television test card broadcast occasion- Sky’s HD Test Card made to
ally by the BBC. It was the first electronically generated
test card to be broadcast, and was a variant of the Philips
look like Test Card F
PM5544 test pattern. The testcard also use on RTM since This is Sky’s attempt to make a Sky HD test card that
1979. [2] looks like Test Card F. Myleene Klass replaces Carole
Hersee.[5]
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.[2]
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 Zone both transmissions
were accompanied by a 4-tone test tone, ranging from
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia List of BBC test cards
extremely low frequency to a very high shrill. It is un- [3] "Test Card J". Barney-wol.net. 29 Mar 2000.
known if this Test Card has a name.[2] Archived from the original on 2007-07-01.
http://web.archive.org/web/20070701213757/
http://www.barney-wol.net/video/testcardj/
testcardj.html. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
[4] Quested, Andy (17 December 2008). "A Christmas
Present from the HD Channel!". BBC.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2008/
12/a_christmas_present_from_the_h.html.
Retrieved 14 August 2009.
Un-Transmitted test cards [5] "Revamped testcard gets a touch of Klass". Daily
Mail. 22 May 2007. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
There has been a number of Un-Transmitted Test Cards. tvshowbiz/article-456720/Revamped-testcard-
They would most likely be for internal use inside the BBC. gets-touch-Klass.html. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
Most of them are adapted from Test Card F.[2]
External links
Comic Relief test card
• The Test Card Circle Details of the UK’s Trade Test
A Comic Relief Testcard was broadcast BBC1 on 18 March Transmissions including the history of the BBC and
1993 as part of Comic Relief.[2] ITA Test Cards, a look at the music used and full
details about the Trade Test Colour Films shown
References from the late fifties to 1973.
• BBC Test Card Video
[1] "BBC Tuning Signals". Meldrum. 29 Mar 2000.
• BBC The Television Test Card
http://www.meldrum.co.uk/mhp/testcard/
• BBC Test Cards from meldrum.co.uk
bbc_tune.html. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
• A Very Concise History of Test Cards by Frank
[2] ^ "BBC Test Cards". Meldrum. 29 Mar 2000.
Mitchell
http://www.meldrum.co.uk/mhp/testcard/
bbc_test.html. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_BBC_test_cards&oldid=446045567"
Categories:
• BBC test cards
• BBC-related lists
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