1989 in Scottish television

This is a list of events in Scottish television from 1989.

Events

• 5 February – The world's first commercial DBS system, Sky Television, goes on air in the United Kingdom.
• 11 February – Australian soap Home and Away makes its British television debut on ITV.
• 2 March – After much publicity, a two-minute advert for Pepsi featuring Madonna's single Like a Prayer is shown during a commercial break on ITV 12 minutes into The Bill.
• 15 March – BBC1 airs John's Not Mad,^[1] an edition of the QED documentary strand which shadowed John Davidson, a 15-year-old from Galashiels in Scotland, with severe Tourette syndrome. The film explores John's life in terms of his family and the close-knit community around him, and how they all cope with a misunderstood condition.
• 3 April – Channel 4 launches its breakfast television show The Channel Four Daily. The programme is based heavily on news and current affairs, with segments focusing on sports, finance, lifestyles, arts and entertainment, and discussion. It is axed in 1992 after failing to gain enough viewers.
• 20 April – John Leslie becomes the first Scottish presenter of Blue Peter.^[2]
• 25 August – Rupert Murdoch delivers the MacTaggart Memorial Lecture at the Edinburgh International Television Festival in which he launches an attack on the narrow elitism within the British television industry.^[3]
• September - The first ITV generic look is introduced.^[4]
• 15 September – The ITV national weather bulletin is launched.
• December – The controversial Broadcasting Bill is introduced into Parliament by the Government. It will pave the way for the deregulation of commercial television.^[5]

Debuts

BBC

• Unknown - The Singing Kettle (1989-1993)

ITV

• 24 February - Fun House (1989–1999)

Television series

• Scotsport (1957–2008)
• Reporting Scotland (1968–1983; 1984–present)
• Top Club (1971–1998)
• Scotland Today (1972–2009)
• Sportscene (1975–present)
• Public Account (1976–present)
• The Beechgrove Garden (1978–present)
• Grampian Today (1980–2009)
• Take the High Road (1980–2003)
• Taggart (1983–present)
• James the Cat (1984–1992)
• Crossfire (1984–2004)
• City Lights (1985–1991)
• The Campbells (1986–1990)
• Naked Video (1986–1991)
• Wheel of Fortune (1988–2001)

Births

• Unknown - Jordan Smith, actor

Deaths

• 17 December - Edward Boyd, 73, radio and television writer

References