In the 1970′s the BBC’s VT department produced an annual tape of out-takes and specially recorded items by the stars of the day. It was intended exclusively for BBC staff at the time. But now, inevitably, a number of them have got out onto YouTube.

Warning: strong language!

Christmas Eve On BBC One

Legs & Co. do a full musical number (1979)

Shirley Bassey, Pan’s People, Noel Edmonds/Jukebox Jury with Pan’s People

Swap Shop out-takes

News and Weather clips 1979

On 30th November 1956 the first video recording was broadcast from CBS Television City, in Hollywood.

It was a tape of Douglas Edwards reading the news and was recorded and played on an Ampex Mark IV Video Tape Recorder.

Quality content and creativity are valuable things. If you need proof, just look at the millions of pounds that businesses earn from back catalogues of music, films, TV shows and news footage.

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Reporters and presenters from Channel 4 News have launched their Newsroom Blog.

My favourite TV news… (BBC Newsnight comes a close second).