The end of television

It seems strange to think that I lived at a time when there was nothing to watch

Before video, television used to run out of programs to broadcast.

At the end of the day, through until the morning when it resumed again, they'd broadcast a test pattern.

The thing that most vividly comes to mind is the sound of it, a whining 1kHz tone.

If you fell asleep watching a show, that unceasing note would sometimes wake you up.

There were only two TV stations in those days, a local commercial broadcaster and the national ABC.

Insomniacs would either read books or listen to the radio, which would often include a talk-back host who'd try to engage listeners in conversation.