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Obvs depends on your age and whether or not you grew up in an era of just four channels, or are more of the Netflix generation. But, these were the days…… my word
The period of mass-TV ownership but before the audience fragmented into multiple channels and oligarch ownership. Probably a period from the mid-70s to the early-90s. And obviously the bit when we were all younger.
But also, once UK TV became a graduate job full of people who could afford to "gain experience" without earning money it lost the perspectives of multiple parts of the country. The same probably went for presenters too, there was a clip on Twitter a few years back of Jim Bowen on Bullseye in the mid-80s and the empathy for working-class, northern Britain's in towns with high unemployment was a world away from the cynical portrayal of the same people in the 2000s.
I have read two good FT articles on TV today, one the obituary of Ted Turner who, in addition to rolling news, also orchestrated some of the trashier trends in the US which made their way here.
And just now, a tribute to David Attenborough as he turns 100. Not only is he one of the last people making golden age TV shows but he also commissioned both Monty Python and Civilisation as BBC2 controller and saw snooker as the perfect thing for newly emerging colour TV.
When was the Golden Age of TV? on 17:30 - May 7 by Steve_M
The period of mass-TV ownership but before the audience fragmented into multiple channels and oligarch ownership. Probably a period from the mid-70s to the early-90s. And obviously the bit when we were all younger.
But also, once UK TV became a graduate job full of people who could afford to "gain experience" without earning money it lost the perspectives of multiple parts of the country. The same probably went for presenters too, there was a clip on Twitter a few years back of Jim Bowen on Bullseye in the mid-80s and the empathy for working-class, northern Britain's in towns with high unemployment was a world away from the cynical portrayal of the same people in the 2000s.
I have read two good FT articles on TV today, one the obituary of Ted Turner who, in addition to rolling news, also orchestrated some of the trashier trends in the US which made their way here.
And just now, a tribute to David Attenborough as he turns 100. Not only is he one of the last people making golden age TV shows but he also commissioned both Monty Python and Civilisation as BBC2 controller and saw snooker as the perfect thing for newly emerging colour TV.
Also lost is that collective “did you see that last night?” discussions at work the next day at school or work. Good TV is no longer a communal event. Not the best example, but vividly remember at high school and the uproar and disbelief (and yes, piss taking) the day after John’s Not Mad, Tourette’s show had aired.
Now I can binge watch The Wire in a long weekend, and that’s good too. And people can with a subscription and a couple clicks also enjoy the best show ever and not have to wait 9 months to see the repeat. So, we’ve gained and not just lost.
Maybe it’s left to sports to be the great unifier. But even that’s being eroded.
When was the Golden Age of TV? on 18:03 - May 7 by Zx1988
It all started going to pot once ITV binned off the regions in favour of homogenous national content.
Some of the regions produced some iconic and cracking content:
Anglia - Knightmare Yorkshire - The Indoor League LWT - Gladiators Granada - The Krypton Factor
I recall as a kid being bored out of my mind watching Farming Diary on a Sunday lunchtime on Anglia TV, but it’s important those local voices are seen and heard.
Yorkshire’s Indoor League… blokes playing pub games wasn’t it? Marvelous stuff.
When was the Golden Age of TV? on 18:14 - May 7 by Illinoisblue
I recall as a kid being bored out of my mind watching Farming Diary on a Sunday lunchtime on Anglia TV, but it’s important those local voices are seen and heard.
Yorkshire’s Indoor League… blokes playing pub games wasn’t it? Marvelous stuff.
Indeed:
You can't beat a bit of televised shove-ha'penny. I understand that it was the genesis of televised darts, as well.
I guess it depends what you mean by "the Golden Age of TV". There is an argument that we are living in it now, with far higher production values and Hollywood A-Listers taking TV jobs when they never would in the past.
However what is lost is certainly 'event TV' which has, sadly, died along with linear TV.
All that being said, I still hold that this is the greatest shot on TV of all time:
Ashton out
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When was the Golden Age of TV? on 19:43 - May 7 with 813 views
I come from the age when watching the telly as a child wasn’t really a thing we would be out playing all day. I do remember watching Dads Army with my parents,and of course there was always Trumpton and the like. My parents were reasonably religious and would be singing along to Songs Of Praise on a Sunday evening. But I’d say the best times for me were the 1970s and the 1980s. Now we have so many choices with Netflix etc we have so much choice it’s confusing at times.
Shows like The Sopranos and 24 had already challenged the medium of TV and shown what was possible. DVDs and streaming services allowed binge watching, meaning TV shows could be more serialised and less "monster of the week." It also meant American shows could make fewer episodes of higher quality. Shows like True Detective showed that Hollywood A-Listers would consider parts in TV shows.
During the 2010s, we had: Breaking Bad Game of Thones House of Cards Mad Men Orange is the New Black Stranger Things Succession
The Golden Age of TV probably peaked around Covid, when everyone was trapped inside and bored, meaning shows like Tiger King errupted in popularity.
The after effects of Covid, the 2023 Writers' Strike, and the proliferation and unprofitability of streaming services seem to have taken the shine off TV more recently. There seem to be fewer new shows than ever, and the ones we do get are spin-offs of existing franchises. Do we really need another Game of Thrones show or another Marvel or Star Wars show?
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When was the Golden Age of TV? on 07:41 - May 8 with 474 views
When was the Golden Age of TV? on 04:38 - May 8 by Benters
I come from the age when watching the telly as a child wasn’t really a thing we would be out playing all day. I do remember watching Dads Army with my parents,and of course there was always Trumpton and the like. My parents were reasonably religious and would be singing along to Songs Of Praise on a Sunday evening. But I’d say the best times for me were the 1970s and the 1980s. Now we have so many choices with Netflix etc we have so much choice it’s confusing at times.
Kind of agree with you - now, if I have the telly to myself I find that I spend a lot of time surfing through Netflix or Prime etc and not having a clue what to watch. And in the end I either watch an old favourite or just watch whatever match is on.
It’s like going into Sainsburys and simply wanting to buy a packet of Wheetabix. Now there’s strawberry flavoured, extra fibre, chocolate flavoured etc etc to search through just to get a very simple product.
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When was the Golden Age of TV? on 07:43 - May 8 with 475 views
When was the Golden Age of TV? on 18:33 - May 7 by TheMoralMajority
I guess it depends what you mean by "the Golden Age of TV". There is an argument that we are living in it now, with far higher production values and Hollywood A-Listers taking TV jobs when they never would in the past.
However what is lost is certainly 'event TV' which has, sadly, died along with linear TV.
All that being said, I still hold that this is the greatest shot on TV of all time:
That is indeed a great piece of footage, the timing is incredible. Knowing this was filmed for a TV drama (Piece of Cake) blows my mind. Imagine the risk assessment today!
It's 106 miles to Portman Road, we've got a full tank of gas, half a round of Port Salut, it's dark... and we're wearing blue tinted sunglasses.
I Claudius Fawlty Towers M.A.S.H. Rumpole of the Bailey The Muppett Shpw The Tommy Cooper Hour The Sweeney Minder Leeds - United All Creatures Great and Small
When was the Golden Age of TV? on 09:50 - May 8 by Ryorry
The 1970s, no contest -
I Claudius Fawlty Towers M.A.S.H. Rumpole of the Bailey The Muppett Shpw The Tommy Cooper Hour The Sweeney Minder Leeds - United All Creatures Great and Small
Anyone can reproduce a list highlighting the great shows of each decade.
I’m not sure that there is a golden age of telly in terms of content - in terms of audience figures the 70s and 80s are well above other decades but that’s due to no streaming devices being available as well as limited tv channels.
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When was the Golden Age of TV? on 12:52 - May 8 with 327 views
When was the Golden Age of TV? on 09:50 - May 8 by Ryorry
The 1970s, no contest -
I Claudius Fawlty Towers M.A.S.H. Rumpole of the Bailey The Muppett Shpw The Tommy Cooper Hour The Sweeney Minder Leeds - United All Creatures Great and Small
Starsky and Hutch The Professionals The Big Match
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When was the Golden Age of TV? on 16:48 - May 8 with 234 views
When was the Golden Age of TV? on 13:57 - May 8 by Overtheborderblue
Following my comment in the Happy 48 years ago thread how do you describe Or even explain ‘It a knockout ‘ to anybody below the age of 50.
Erm...
A child abuser hosted a show where teams representing towns and cities went up against each other in a series of zany games. The Royal Family decided it was so popular, that they did their own version in an attempt to increase the 'streed cred' of Brand Windsor.
Would have been early 2000’s I used to smash the weekend in the pub, then allow myself Sunday evenings off to veg. Channel 4 had something like Robot Wars, Scrapheap Challenge then the unmatchable Band of Brothers.
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