Associated Companies in over 175 towns in Great Britain and in Barbados, Bermuda. Canada, Ceylon, Guyana,
Hong Kong, Jamaica, Malaya, Malta, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and West Africa etc.
Hong Kong, Jamaica, Malaya, Malta, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and West Africa etc.
The Early Years
When investigating the possibility of starting a Rediffusion Service in the island of Jersey there were, naturally, many difficulties to overcome. It was not until September, 1950, that wiring work could commence but, from that time, progress had been very rapid.
A small shop adjoining the Royal Square was used as the first office and showroom.
Engineers conducted a very large number of experiments to find the best possible way to receive programmes from the mainland. There was a very high noise level in Jersey, especially in the town area, and at first it was extremely difficult to cut this out and at the
same time receive clear signals.
A caravan workshop was installed at Les Platons, the highest point of the island, on the North coast 454 ft. above sea level, and eventually the conclusion was reached that Adcock and B.T. loop aerials were the types most suitable to provide good signals.
It was decided to go ahead with the erection of a permanent receiving station and five 80-foot wooden masts were erected.
The control equipment for the programme distribution was housed in the States' Airport Receiving Station and underground
cables fed the signals to three A50 amplifiers accommodated at Colomberie Close, St. Helier.
The Rediffusion Service was switched on on Christmas Eve, 1950 and by November 1st, 1951, there were a total of 1,158 Rediffusion subscribers.
When investigating the possibility of starting a Rediffusion Service in the island of Jersey there were, naturally, many difficulties to overcome. It was not until September, 1950, that wiring work could commence but, from that time, progress had been very rapid.
A small shop adjoining the Royal Square was used as the first office and showroom.
Engineers conducted a very large number of experiments to find the best possible way to receive programmes from the mainland. There was a very high noise level in Jersey, especially in the town area, and at first it was extremely difficult to cut this out and at the
same time receive clear signals.
A caravan workshop was installed at Les Platons, the highest point of the island, on the North coast 454 ft. above sea level, and eventually the conclusion was reached that Adcock and B.T. loop aerials were the types most suitable to provide good signals.
It was decided to go ahead with the erection of a permanent receiving station and five 80-foot wooden masts were erected.
The control equipment for the programme distribution was housed in the States' Airport Receiving Station and underground
cables fed the signals to three A50 amplifiers accommodated at Colomberie Close, St. Helier.
The Rediffusion Service was switched on on Christmas Eve, 1950 and by November 1st, 1951, there were a total of 1,158 Rediffusion subscribers.
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REDIFFUSION JERSEY LIMITED
La Pouquelaye, St Helier
Jersey CI Tel. 0534 30321
Jersey CI Tel. 0534 30321
There was also another Rediffusion company in Jersey called Television Research Ltd.
This company had four main responsibilities:
1. To undertake television reception experiments for the purpose of providing a satisfactory signal which can be fed over cable for a relay system of television in Jersey.
2. To investigate the possibility of distributing Rediffusion programmes to subscribers in the
rural areas of Jersey by means of H.F. Carriers over the existing telephone network.
3. To be responsible for the satisfactory reception of the radio sound programmes at Les Platons for distribution over the Rediffusion network.
4. To provide information to the whole group of Broadcast Relay Companies on the distribution of television signals over cable.
The television reception tests were undertaken at the Les Platons site and, in addition to various multi-rod arrays and a bank of tilted wire aerials supported between the 80-foot wooden masts. Underground cables fed the amplified television signals to the main distribution station at Colomberie Close for distribution to Rediffusion subscribers.
A permanent concrete building was constructed and on November 7 1951, His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, Lt.-Gen. Sir Edward Grasett, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.G., M.C., and Lady Grasett, accompanied by Cdr. E. H. Chavasse, A.D.C., paid an informal visit to Les Piatons to inspect both the sound and television receiving stations.
An inspection was also made of the architect's plans and the foundations of the new concrete building and, to mark the occasion
of his visit, the Lieut.-Governor laid a concrete block to the first course of the building.
During 1951 there were two very interesting outside broadcasts. The first was the inter-island Cup Final played that year in Guernsey. John Arlott acted as commentator and outside loudspeakers were erected in St. Helier over which a crowd of several thousand people followed the match.
The other occasion was the revived Jersey Battle of Flowers. At least 60,000 people watched this event and 168 loudspeakers were installed along the route with paging systems in three separate collecting areas.
This company had four main responsibilities:
1. To undertake television reception experiments for the purpose of providing a satisfactory signal which can be fed over cable for a relay system of television in Jersey.
2. To investigate the possibility of distributing Rediffusion programmes to subscribers in the
rural areas of Jersey by means of H.F. Carriers over the existing telephone network.
3. To be responsible for the satisfactory reception of the radio sound programmes at Les Platons for distribution over the Rediffusion network.
4. To provide information to the whole group of Broadcast Relay Companies on the distribution of television signals over cable.
The television reception tests were undertaken at the Les Platons site and, in addition to various multi-rod arrays and a bank of tilted wire aerials supported between the 80-foot wooden masts. Underground cables fed the amplified television signals to the main distribution station at Colomberie Close for distribution to Rediffusion subscribers.
A permanent concrete building was constructed and on November 7 1951, His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, Lt.-Gen. Sir Edward Grasett, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.G., M.C., and Lady Grasett, accompanied by Cdr. E. H. Chavasse, A.D.C., paid an informal visit to Les Piatons to inspect both the sound and television receiving stations.
An inspection was also made of the architect's plans and the foundations of the new concrete building and, to mark the occasion
of his visit, the Lieut.-Governor laid a concrete block to the first course of the building.
During 1951 there were two very interesting outside broadcasts. The first was the inter-island Cup Final played that year in Guernsey. John Arlott acted as commentator and outside loudspeakers were erected in St. Helier over which a crowd of several thousand people followed the match.
The other occasion was the revived Jersey Battle of Flowers. At least 60,000 people watched this event and 168 loudspeakers were installed along the route with paging systems in three separate collecting areas.
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