Before the advent of twentyfourhour television, channels would shut off broadcasts at a given time each night and show a "signoff" to tell viewers to turn off the TV. Most channels all around the world showed the national anthem accompanied by patriotic images or videos; others (Like RTÉ in Ireland) would broadcast a prayer or religious song. I think this version was broadcast on national holidays in the USSR.

The practice of "signingoff" has largely grown out of fashion around much of the world because TV channels either show programming through the night or fill the wee hours with advertising. However, a few local stations in the USA have reintroduced the practice as a means to instil patriotism and Radio 4 in the UK also still plays "God Save the Queen" daily.

Through Google Translate I found this on Russian YouTube and added some subtitles. It claimed to show the CCCP TB (Soviet equivalent of BBC/NHK) end of day sign off from the 1980s, although in the years since I have suspected that it may be a reconstruction.

To aid Englishlanguage viewers, I have added subtitles throughout this video showing a translation of the original Russian anthem. Please turn on "closed captions" and select "English" if you would like to see them (the translation is an original by myself, feel free to use it for any use whatsoever).

This video is particularly interesting because it features the famous "turn off your TV" notice at the very end. Legend has it that this was included because Soviet TVs had a nasty habit of exploding and starting house fires when they were left on overnight.

I translated and uploaded this USSR TV startup video for fellow anthementhusiasts and it is NOT a political endorsement/message of any kind. Please keep the comments civil. Furthermore, Russian copyright law declares that all Soviet state symbols including this anthem are in the public domain.


Credits to Macheath
for making a Californian framebyframe remake of this very video:    • USSR TV end of day sign off with anth...  



Nick