JISC

Access to high quality information to research the early decades of television in the UK has always been a challenge; broadcast schedules have often been viewed as ephemera, consequently complete runs of the Radio Times or the TVTimes are hard to find. Until the Broadcast Act of 1990, these magazines were the only publishers of comprehensive listings for UK television, so the lack of access to the complete runs of TVTimes and Radio Times has been a significant barrier to scholarly research in the area. 

Earlier this year a new database was released which will change this situation for independent television, making the first three decades of programme schedule data for ITV as easy to access as current programme listings.

TVTiP is an online database of the programmes listed in the TVTimes from its inception in September 1955 to March 1985. The database is the result of work by Bournemouth University, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The project involved the retyping of the programme listings from the London TVTimes from 1955 to 1985. This equates to more than a quarter of a million records. Each record includes date, time and channel of transmission and programme title. Many of the records also include a programme description, production credits and cast lists.

 The British Universities Film & Video Council (funded by JISC) was invited to collaborate with Bournemouth University to design and build the online system to deliver the programme data. BUFVC continues to manage the database on behalf of Bournemouth.

 The feedback from TVTiP users has been overwhelmingly positive thus far. For example, researcher Rob Turnock says: “The TV Times database is an excellent resource for those engaged in media and cultural history. It is also a valuable resource for those working in the television industry…the database is not just a source of useful information, it represents a major step forward in archival research which should shape future methodologies and paradigms in broadcasting history.”

Certain research, which would formerly have taken many hours to carry out when using copies of the magazine in printed format or on microfilm, takes mere seconds using TVTiP. Looking at all programmes in a particular series or charting a particular performer’s career are just two examples of such searches. Users who wish to consider daily schedules can view these online or can even download data, to analyse using their preferred spreadsheet or database.

 Access to TVTiP is free of charge and managed by Athens authentication. Every educational institution in the UK registered with Athens has had TVTiP added to its list of resources. TVTiP is also available to BUFVC members.