Old Tv Broadcast Here

[The picture begins to collapse into a bright white dot in the center of the screen, then flickers.]

[Video switches to a slow pan of a silent, empty TV studio. A single camera tilts downward. Dust motes float in the blue light.]

“Good evening. The time is now... two-oh-seven AM, Eastern Standard Time. Channel 9, WKRP, serving your tri-state area, has completed its regular programming for this day, October the 12th, 1987.” old tv broadcast

“But now, the transmitter hums a lonely song. The studio lights grow cold. And the cathode ray tube, that glowing window to other worlds, fades to a single, silver dot.”

[Black and white test pattern with high-pitched tone. Static crackles. The tone fades.] [Cut to: Grainy, slightly out-of-focus shot of a waving American flag or a spinning globe.] [Text overlay in a serif font: "THIS CONCLUDES OUR BROADCAST DAY"] [The picture begins to collapse into a bright

(The sound of a needle drop onto vinyl. A slow, patriotic instrumental plays faintly—"The Star-Spangled Banner" or "Nearer My God to Thee.")

“From all of us at Channel 9... good night, and may your signal always find its way home.” The time is now

[The white dot shrinks, then pops into blackness. Static hiss returns for 3 seconds.]

[Loud POP as the transmitter cuts off. Pure, hissing static. Then silence.] [END OF TAPE. PLEASE REWIND.]

“Remember: the news returns at 6 AM with ‘Morning Farm Report,’ followed by ‘The Flintstones.’ So turn your dial to ‘standby,’ adjust your rabbit ears, and get some rest.”