Australian Television Archive

23/01/2025

The Dilemma of Saving History

Here’s the strange thing about saving history: people want it to be done, but they don’t want to pay for it.

I’ve saved rare, irreplaceable materials from being thrown away and offered them to the very people they’re most meaningful to. But as soon as I mention there’s a cost—because preserving history takes time and resources—they lose interest.

And here’s the dilemma: if no one supports the work, the materials get lost. Yet, years later, those same people will ask, “Why didn’t anyone save this?”

The truth is, history doesn’t save itself. If we don’t value it enough to support the work now, it will disappear—and once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

So, does the public really care about preserving history? Or just the idea of it?

What are your thoughts?

21/01/2025

Countdown clocks at the start of archive video content are a fascinating piece of history that viewers rarely got to see. Often, they were uniquely designed, reflecting the creativity and personality of the production house behind them. This particular countdown stood out to me—it’s incredibly creative and feels advanced for its time. A true hidden gem from behind the scenes!

🎥✨ "

16/01/2025

Ever been told you're "too different" or "too focused"? What if those "quirks" were your greatest strengths?

In a recent article, I share how embracing my neurodiversity turned challenges into a thriving career—and why industries need to catch up.

👉 Curious? Read (click below)

by James Paterson, Australian Television Archive At first glance, television archives might not appear as a nexus for discussions on neurodiversity, but my journey from personal challenges to professional accomplishment in the broadcast industry paints a different picture. Neurodiverse individuals,

11/01/2025

Can you name this iconic piece of broadcast equipment? The first correct answer gets the spotlight, and bonus credit if you’ve worked with one—share your memories below! 🎛️📼

01/01/2025

35,000 News Stories Digitised—and Counting!

Over the past few months, I’ve been working on a massive project to digitise a large archive of Betacam tapes containing historic news footage. This effort significantly expands the Australian Television Archive’s internal collection, which is available through the Footage Research & Supply Service.

So far, over 35,000 news stories have been digitised—with many more to come!

Some tapes, like these bright red Ampex Betacam tapes, have fallen victim to "sticky shed syndrome" and required extra care. Using a specialized heat treatment process, I’ve been able to recover their valuable contents.

If you’re searching for unique archival footage or need help preserving your own tapes, I am here to assist!

📧 Get in touch today: [email protected]

24/12/2024

"AI Restoration" Is Ruining Historic Video—And We're Letting It Happen!

It’s shocking how many “AI-enhanced” historic videos are being paraded online as proof of the brilliance of old camera and videotape technology.

Let me be blunt: they’re not restorations—they’re destructions. These AI processes throw away critical information, leaving faces disturbingly deformed and everything else looking like it’s been dipped in plastic. This isn’t preservation; it’s vandalism disguised as progress.

Even worse, this practice is becoming normalized. I recently streamed classic sitcoms on a major platform, only to find them smeared with the same AI treatment. The sharp, detailed originals were reduced to lifeless, overly smoothed images, reminiscent of poor 70s NTSC-to-PAL conversions.

The tipping point for me? Seeing a 1-inch videotape I digitized for a DVD release subjected to this “AI enhancement.” The original crisp PAL footage I worked meticulously to preserve was stripped of its detail and authenticity. It now looks like an overly soft, artificial imitation of its former self.

Here’s the hard truth: AI doesn’t add detail or restore what’s lost. It averages out, erases, and replaces—leaving behind something that might look modern but has none of the integrity of the original.

When I digitize footage, I ensure every ounce of detail and authenticity is preserved—without AI interference. Because you only get one chance at true preservation, and shortcuts like this do nothing but destroy our visual history.

Agree? Disagree? Let’s discuss—this is too important to ignore.

20/12/2024

No need to hang Christmas lights here—just turn out the lights, and it looks as pretty as a Christmas tree! 🎄✨

While others might be winding down for the holiday season, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here throughout the Christmas break, ready to digitize your footage or help with that footage research request

Drop me a line anytime at: [email protected]

19/12/2024

In the world of archiving, the loss of historical material often comes down to one critical factor: relationships—or the lack of them. Early in the life of the Australian Television Archive, I learned this lesson the hard way:

When Crawfords Productions, a leading Australian production house, was vacating its premises, a donation of materials was made to the archive, including items reportedly rescued from a skip. Back then, the archive wasn’t well known, and its purpose was often misunderstood. I was frequently mistaken for "just a collector hoarding TV memorabilia", partly due to my early involvement with the collecting and fan community—a blend that in hindsight, should NEVER be mixed with business!

This misunderstanding came to a head when the (then) head of Crawfords, unable to grasp how I came to hold such material, labeled the items “stolen property” and issued legal threats, demanding their destruction. Faced with the impossibility of reasoning with someone so combative, the only viable option at the time was to dispose of much of the material—a decision that still weighs heavily on me.

A similar situation arose when the archive had (over a decade earlier) digitised all of the surviving 1-inch master videotapes of the popular Australian tv series: "Young Talent Time". During the show’s anniversary celebrations, public interest surged, when out of the blue I received aggressive voicemails from none other than Johnny Young, threatening immediate arrest unless I provided him with what he also called “stolen property.” It was a surreal situation, on one hand so laughable if only it was not so disturbing.

Looking back, these incidents highlight how fragile historical preservation can be when relationships aren’t built early on. Misunderstandings, legal threats, and hostility stemmed from a lack of trust, hearsay, rumours and misplaced assumptions—issues that could have been avoided if clear communication has been valued and the archive recognized as a legitimate business and preservation effort from the start.

Thankfully, times have changed. As the archive’s reputation has grown and professional relationships have been established, such confrontations are now rare.

These early challenges taught me that preserving the past isn’t just about saving physical items—it’s about navigating human complexities, overcoming misunderstandings, and staying committed even when the path is uncertain. It’s a lesson I carry forward as I continue working to digitise and protect stories that might otherwise be forgotten.

Here’s to preserving what matters—and learning from the past to create a stronger future!

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18/12/2024

Wishing all our valued clients, associates (and facebook followers!) a very Merry Christmas. Thank you for your support during 2024 and look forward to working with you again in 2025!

📽️ Need something digitized or researched over the holidays? The archive is open throughout the Christmas and New Year period, so feel free to get in touch anytime.

Wishing you a festive holiday season filled with joy, relaxation, and good memories!

James Paterson
Australian Television Archive

18/12/2024

Yes we can digitise your home VHS tapes!, contact: [email protected]

07/12/2024

The Australian Television Archive provides specialist recovery and digitisation of all (domestic AND broadcast) obsolete film and videotape formats, don't leave it too late - film and videotape won't wait!, make sure your old material is preserved for the future, contact: [email protected]

06/12/2024

You'd be surprised how many people think you can just "throw a videotape onto the machine" - indeed many do! However the truth is we are at a point where pretty much all magnetic media now requires treatment and analysis before it goes anywhere near a videotape machine.

We use multiple devices for cleaning and tape analysis such as the recortec analyser and ASACA cloth/ dry cleaning system.

Contact: [email protected]

05/12/2024

This Scotch 3M 1" videotape was so badly affected by age and "Sticky Shed Syndrome" that it had become unplayable!.
However after many many weeks of oven heat treatment (baking) as well multiple passes through the cleaning machine, winding tails out, further baking along with a bit of backcoat burnishing the tape was playable and the contents were able to be successfully recovered to digital file.

Do you have archive content you need recovered?, I'm your specialist in archive recovery! content: [email protected]

03/12/2024

🌈 No, it’s not the official tape of the Pride movement, but with those bold stripes, it sure looks like it could be! This was a real 80s brand that brought a splash of color to your video collection. 🎥✨

Don't forget - I also specialize in professional VHS digitization, preserving your footage with the highest care. Bring your tapes into the digital age and keep your memories alive!

contact: [email protected]

01/12/2024

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30/11/2024

Another day, another 3/4" UMatic tape restored to its former glory despite mould and leader damage. As the broadcast industry rapidly evolves, the golden era of Umatic tapes should not be left in the shadows. I offer dedicated recovery and digitization services for this format. contact: [email protected]

29/11/2024

Many years ago, someone—perhaps envious—once claimed across social media they were better than me at fixing 1 inch equipment. They dismissed my work, saying I was just "someone who took pictures of themselves in front of equipment with the covers off, shining a torch to look inside."

I still think about that comment and laugh. Why? Because it motivated me to go even further, sharing in-depth photos, detailed videos, and behind-the-scenes insights into the painstaking processes I use to restore and preserve old technology. It pushed me to showcase the effort and expertise required to keep vintage tech alive—something I’ve dedicated my life to.

That kind of feedback can sting at first, but for me, it turned into a catalyst for growth and transparency in my work. Today, there’s no room for such claims. The results and evidence speaks for itself.

Sometimes, criticism can be the spark that drives you to prove just how wrong they are.

Meanwhile, here is the actual picture of me, with the covers off, shining a torch inside, because everyone knows that's ALL i do!! 🤣 😁 😂

🔧✨ hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

29/11/2024

As your specialist in digitizing 3/4 Umatic content, I understand the urgency in preserving valuable material still stored in this vulnerable format.

My service offers straightforward, cost-effective solutions tailored to meet your deadlines and budget. Plus, I personally handle the repair and maintenance of the machines, ensuring top-notch quality and reliability.

Let's safeguard your archives with efficiency and expertise.
contact me today!: mailto:[email protected]