26-09-2010, 14:09
For a long time now I've found it interesting to analyse the changeover which takes place as BS1 goes to freeview Channel 96 each night. In particular, the time at which the first call is taken by the first featured freeview girl. I've listed times from the past two weeks below – these being the times I first recognised the onscreen girl to be talking into the phone. Because BS routinely pan off the girl's face when she takes the first call (I assume so viewers can't see she's unavailable), it's often been necessary to take the pan itself as recognition that the first call has been answered. I can't guarantee 100% accuracy of the times (some girls may be skilled in ventriloquism – you never know), but the list does give a good insight.
It should be stressed that BS sometimes use a count-down timer to indicate to viewers when the first freeview section will begin. However, the first call is not normally answered immediately as the timer reaches zero, and there can be a period of four or five minutes during which the girl occupies the bed 'awaiting calls'. For example, last night BS used a 3 minute timer, but the first call did not appear to be taken until almost 23.10. What's most interesting is that the nights on which you'd expect lines to be busiest tend to see the girls 'awaiting a call' for longer periods, and not the other way round as would at first glance seem more logical. However, this can make sense if you consider it more carefully – particularly taking into account the diminishing spectacle of 'girl callers' at peak times.
Here are the times, starting with Sunday 12th Sept.
12/09/10:.....23.09
13/09/10:.....23.05
14/09/10:.....No lapse in calls. Sky section continued into freeview.
15/09/10:.....23.07
17/09/10:.....23.08
18/09/10:.....23.07
19/09/10:.....23.05
20/09/10:.....23.04
21/09/10:.....23.06
22/09/10:.....23.03, but by 23.05 internal call was in progress.
23/09/10:.....Very hard to tell, but appeared to be 23.05 after some phone-switching.
24/09/10:.....23.05
25/09/10:.....23.09
Hope this was the appropriate thread for this post.
It should be stressed that BS sometimes use a count-down timer to indicate to viewers when the first freeview section will begin. However, the first call is not normally answered immediately as the timer reaches zero, and there can be a period of four or five minutes during which the girl occupies the bed 'awaiting calls'. For example, last night BS used a 3 minute timer, but the first call did not appear to be taken until almost 23.10. What's most interesting is that the nights on which you'd expect lines to be busiest tend to see the girls 'awaiting a call' for longer periods, and not the other way round as would at first glance seem more logical. However, this can make sense if you consider it more carefully – particularly taking into account the diminishing spectacle of 'girl callers' at peak times.
Here are the times, starting with Sunday 12th Sept.
12/09/10:.....23.09
13/09/10:.....23.05
14/09/10:.....No lapse in calls. Sky section continued into freeview.
15/09/10:.....23.07
17/09/10:.....23.08
18/09/10:.....23.07
19/09/10:.....23.05
20/09/10:.....23.04
21/09/10:.....23.06
22/09/10:.....23.03, but by 23.05 internal call was in progress.
23/09/10:.....Very hard to tell, but appeared to be 23.05 after some phone-switching.
24/09/10:.....23.05
25/09/10:.....23.09
Hope this was the appropriate thread for this post.