3rd April UPDATE

RedTV has now ceased broadcasting to the local community..

2nd April UPDATE

REDTV IS STILL BROADCASTING TO HARLOW!

That's right, RedTV is still available in Harlow, even though it was due to be switched off on Good Friday. However, the channel is no longer broadcasting to Cambrideshire.

We featured in a headline article in the Harlow Herald Newspaper, Thursday March 28th 2002. Text here is copyright of Community Media Ltd 2002 and is included here for information purposes only.

"TOWN TV STATION BAILS OUT AFTER SIX YEARS"

A Community TV station will cease broadcasting tomorrow, Friday, after being told its licence will not be renewed. RedTV, a non-profit station that broadcasts to Harlow and Bishop's Stortford has been axed because the NTL network it is shown on is closing its analogue cable service due to a move towards digital services.

Run by more than 250 volunteers, the channel has shown Harlow related programmes including live music from The Square and community events [such as] Make A Difference Day. All Harlow programmes have been produced by Top Banana Productions which is based in the town.

...

Top Banana Productions was set up by university students in 1999 and were based at The Square in Harlow. Receiving no financial backing they used computer software at home and at music venue, The Square, to produce programmes for RedTV. Dave Hynes from the group said "We got involved because we were all interested in the subject. It was really quite enjoyable and it is a shame it is going to end' 'It has been a a good experience though, for what we want to do with our careers. RedTV was the only local channel around this area, so it's a great shame for people like us'.

RedTV was set up and first broadcast in Cambridgeshire in 1996 on channel 8 of NTLs cable network and began transmitting to Harlow and Bishop's Stortford in Autumn 199. The station will look for other means of broadcasting in Cambridgeshire, but have no plans to return a service to Harlow or Bishop's Stortford"

Harlow Herald Newspaper, Thursday March 28th 2002. Text here is copyright of Community Media Ltd 2002.
Note: no infringement of copyright is intended by including the above section of article on this website. Harlow Herald do not currently have a website, and therefore it wasn't possible to link.

Our sincere thanks to the Harlow Herald - the only local newspaper that has consistently featured articles about our programming and support over the past few years

LOCAL TV CHANNEL TO CEASE BROADCASTING  

A Joint Press Release from Harlow’s Top Banana Productions & Cambridge RedTV

The management behind the Cambridge-based local community TV station, RedTV, has confirmed that its broadcast license on NTL’s Analogue cable service expires at the end of March and will not be renewed. RedTV will cease broadcasting to Harlow on Channel 8 on Friday 29^th March

RedTV has been broadcasting to Harlow since the autumn of 1999 and has shown over 130 Harlow related programmes, made by Top Banana Productions since then, including music from The Square in On_A_Friday, local websites in Web_Browser and other community events such as Make a Difference Day in In_2_Focus.

Since this news was broken to the volunteers from the broadcast area, totaling 250 plus, work has already begun into looking for feasible options to secure an outlet for possible future programming and various projects including possible terrestrial broadcasts or internet streaming.

Top Banana Productions, would like to thank all viewers that have interacted with, participated in, and watched over 130 of our non-profit Harlow-related productions over the past few years including the ON_A_FRIDAY and WEB_BROWSER formats.

For further information please contact:
Lisa Baldwin (General Manager) – 01223 23770
Tarba Gill/Cassie Marks (RedTV) – 01223 722722                                           

Additional information TOP BANANA PRODUCTIONS : TBP have produced over 130 non-profit programmes for and about Harlow since October 1999 and have been the only production team from Harlow to consistently provide Harlow-related material. TBP began by using analogue equipment but since early 2001 moved over to high quality digital equipment which has improved the look of all programmes. All Top Banana Productions’ programming has been completely non-profit making and has not received any financial assistance/backing.

REDTV: RedTV was set up by Cambridgeshire businessman, Peter Dawe and has been broadcasting across Cambridgeshire on NTL’s cable network on channel 8 since 1996 and since autumn 1999, to Harlow/Bishop Stortford.  Since Late 1997 the station has relied upon local volunteers to produce programming and as a result the station has gained a reputation for providing them with invaluable experience. Redtv provides an output for the community whether it’s the local band scene or featuring on general interests.

Well this is it, REDTV stops broadcasting on NTL Channel 8 on Friday 29th March in Harlow which means that On_A_Friday Show 16 and Web_Browser 53 are the last programmes on the repeat from Top Banana Productions - the ONLY production team to have continuously filmed and produced programmes for and about Harlow.

We wanted to make a short Best Of TBP programme, but unfortunately circumstances and time haven't allowed us to do this.

Finally, from a personal point of view I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone that has made this all possible. Most notably Dan, John and Lou for letting me join the team back in October 1999 and carry it through until now. I would also like to thank Tarba at RedTV for her help, advice and for giving us the break and allowing On_A_Friday to be broadcast all that time ago.

Finally, to everyone that has watched, interacted with, and appeared in all of our programmes, thank you.

-Dave Hynes
Top Banana Productions

"BACK for its fourth series on cable TV channel Red TV is entertainment prog ON_A_FRIDAY with repeats the following week. Its being filmed by independent production company Top Banana at Harlow's live music venue The Square and features some of the bands who have performed on stage over the past few months. You have just GOT to watch it - or video it. Don't forget, Red TV's Web_Browser [made by tbp] features local websites for bands, clubs and organisations in the area"

text copyright of Community Media Ltd 2001. Our thanks to the HARLOW HERALD NEWSPAPER for supporting us.

MORE COOL BANDS APPEARING IN THE NEXT FEW PROGRAMMES:

CNUT, HOUSTON 500, FONDA 500, FLAK, HI-JINX, FIREMOUTH, ANTI-PRODUCT, FLAK, AUDREY 2, THE 45's AND MORE!!

- ON_A_FRIDAY IS RETURNING to redtv from Friday 30th November with a great lineup. Three bands with three different styles of music. DNA DOLLS, an indie band begins the show, followed by SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK a band with some 80's sounds followed by a band well known around Essex and Cambridgeshire, MISS BLACK AMERICA.

-- so keep an eye out for the ON_A_FRIDAY Promo's currently being broadcast , or watch it and a preview of the 1st show online.

-- Web_Browser continues with show 40 planned for broadcast along with ON_A_FRIDAY.

-- remember both shows will be broadcast on the rolling repeat too.

LOADS HAPPENING

Well, by now you've seen Enter: Stage Left, Sights & Sounds, loads of ON_A_FRIDAY Shorts and the continuing series of Web_Browser...

...On top of that we've been busy designing new logo animations for redtv, PLUS, animations and specials for HALLOWEEN  - so look out for The SQUARE B*TCH PROJECT, WEB_BROWSER HALLOWEEN SPECIAL + The halloween Idents.

-- You may have also seen a pilot show called THE GUIDE - this may be made into a series, possibly a new show each week with details of what's on locally.

-- ON_A_FRIDAY >update< it's been promised for ages, just with so many other programmes and things happening, time has been against us, BUT, it will be here VERY SOON! watch this space!!

LOADS HAPPENING

There's loads going on at tBp, we're continuing to bring you ONE NEW WEB_BROWSER EVERY WEEK

We've also been bringing you a brand new ON_A_FRIDAY SHORT EVERY WEEK.

Well, ON_A_FRIDAY series 4 will be hitting screens in a couple of weeks. Look out on the new look redtv for loads of new bands filmed at Harlow Live Entertainment Venue, The Square. "Get Your Fix of Local Music"

Lookout for a brand new one-off show, ENTER: STAGE LEFT  filmed at Harlow Playhouse. Its a behind the scenes look at Chain Reaction's Return to the Forbidden Planet.

Also, we've been filming at PAH NHS TRUST's Its a Knockout so lookout for SIGHTS&SOUNDS coming soon to redtv.

If all of this is not enough, check out the new adverts and multimedia online, plus some of our new Redtv Idents all coming soon.

"IN_2_FOCUS ON THE WEB"

AUGUST 31

tBp continue to bring at least one brand new non-profit programme every week.

Highlights include the continuing Web_Browser technology programme, and ON_A_FRIDAY Shorts - a selection of tracks from previous featured bands. The New series is coming soon.

Also check out the teasers for the new look redtv all coming to your local tv channel in September!

Remember to check out the Multimedia Section for loads of videos online!

"IN_2_FOCUS ON THE WEB"

A couple of new IN_2_FOCUS programmes have been made and broadcast in August. We've been to Harlow Museum and NHS Week - both programmes are also available to view online in shorter versions check it out in Multimedia Section.

Web_Browser continues...

"A NEW LOOK FOR TOP BANANA!"

Along with the new look website Top Banana now have a new logo.

The new logo still features the monkey, along with the "TBP" letters ...

Anyway, take a look at the logo on the homepage or in the top menu bar above

"WEBSITE GETS A BLUE MAKEOVER!"

Top Banana Productions have finally got around to redesiging the website.

The old one was looking a bit tired. The new site is very blue! ... but its got a simpler layout and a few more graphics.

The new look comes as Top Banana improve the look of all the broadcast programmes with the addition of Digital quality.

"D:I:G:I:T:A:L QUALITY"

Top Banana Productions finally have access to  Digital Video equipment which means most future editions of WEB_BROWSER and ON_A_FRIDAY will be sent to Cambridge on DV Tape. This is effective from ON_A_FRIDAY Show 2 and WEB_BROWSER 17.

Digital means far better quality, especially when reading text on screen. Programmes will still need to be MPEG'd when they get to redtv so they can be broadcast on the rolling repeat, however, the loss in quality as this occurs will be less noticable than with previous programmes which were sent on Analogue SVHS tapes.

So, all in all, this means better quality programmes from Harlow - finally!