Background[]
TestTV was a short-lived television channel that operated from May 1, 2013, to October 19, 2014. Its primary purpose was to provide a service for testing and calibrating television sets. The channel was envisioned as a no-frills utility for consumers and technicians alike, offering a variety of test patterns, color bars, and audio signals to ensure optimal picture and sound quality. It was owned and operated by "Signal Solutions Media," a small independent broadcasting company based in Denver, Colorado.
The concept for TestTV arose from a perceived gap in the market. With the increasing adoption of HD and later 4K televisions, the need for accessible and reliable testing tools became apparent. While some DVDs and streaming services offered rudimentary test patterns, TestTV aimed to provide a dedicated 24/7 broadcast for this purpose.
The channel's website, test-tv.com (now defunct and archived), was registered on April 24, 2013, signaling the imminent launch of the service. The initial broadcast schedule consisted primarily of standard SMPTE color bars, grayscale ramps, resolution charts, and various audio frequency sweeps. Interspersed between these test signals, the channel occasionally aired public domain footage and, reportedly, random videos sourced from YouTube. This practice was implemented to add variety to the otherwise monotonous programming and potentially attract a broader audience.
Production[]
TestTV was a low-budget operation. The channel's programming was largely automated, with minimal human intervention. The test patterns and audio signals were generated using industry-standard software and hardware. The broadcast signal was transmitted via satellite and cable providers, although its reach was limited to a few select markets in the United States. According to a former employee, Mark Olsen, the channel operated out of a small studio with only a handful of staff members.
On February 2, 2014, TestTV underwent a minor refresh, updating its on-screen bumpers and incorporating a slightly more modern aesthetic. Some of these updated bumpers reportedly remained in use until the channel's closure. These bumpers are described as featuring simple geometric shapes and minimalist typography, accompanied by a synthesized music track.
The decision to replace TestTV with AngelicTV, a broadcasting channel, was announced on October 5, 2014. The reasons for this decision remain unclear, although speculation suggests that TestTV failed to attract a sufficient audience or generate enough revenue to sustain its operations. On October 19, 2014, TestTV ceased broadcasting, and AngelicTV took its place.
Availability[]
One known recording of TestTV's programming and IDs have surfaced. The master tapes, if they ever existed, are presumed to have been either erased or lost during the transition to AngelicTV. Attempts to contact former employees of Signal Solutions Media have been largely unsuccessful. Mark Olsen, the former employee, vaguely remembers some old hard drives being wiped, but couldn't remember if it contained the TestTV archives.
Given the channel's obscure nature and limited reach, the likelihood of recovering any significant footage is considered low. The random YouTube videos that were occasionally aired are likely untraceable, as the channel did not maintain a log of these broadcasts.
Gallery[]
Recovery Efforts:
- Online forums dedicated to lost media have occasionally featured discussions about TestTV, but these discussions have yielded no concrete leads.
- The Wayback Machine has archived snapshots of the TestTV website, but these snapshots provide only limited information about the channel's programming.
- A user on Reddit claimed to have a recording of a TestTV bumper from 2014 but later admitted that it was a hoax.
References[]
- Archived snapshots of test-tv.com via Wayback Machine.
- "Remembering TestTV: An Obscure Experiment in Television." Broadcast Engineering Monthly, November 2014.
- Olsen, Mark. (2023). Personal Communication regarding his time at Signal Solutions Media.