Matthews Interview: Michael Blackstad, Director of Programming for TVS

Title

Matthews Interview: Michael Blackstad, Director of Programming for TVS

Transmission details

15 Nov 1981

Description

Mike Matthews talks to Michael Blakstad, Director of Programmes at TVS. He was born in Penang, Malaya, in 1940 and was educated first in Australia and then in England. He won a Classical Scholarship to Oxford University, where he was President of the University Art Club, and also boxed for the University. He joined the BBC in 1963 as a General Trainee and worked first in radio. His first production was: In Search of Edwin Muir. Then, he moved to television, working on documentary and educational programme. In 1969 he joined the newly formed Yorkshire Television. As a freelance, he produced several single documentaries for the BBC including A Question for Survival, How to win the Nobel Prize [1972 Emmy nomination] and Children in Crossfire [1974 Prix de Jeunesse, Nyon]. Then he returned to the BBC as a Series Editor. He was in charge of the popular science and technology series Tomorrow’s World and, The Risk Business. Michael Blakstad is also a writer, both in magazines and in books. He contributes regularly to Design and Ideal Home magazines, and in 1979 published two books: The Risk Business - Industry and the Designer and Tomorrow’s World looks to The Eighties. In 1981 he became Director of Programmes of TVS, the consortium which won the Southern Television franchise. He talks about his life and his career. [Box 4]

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Duration

00:44:36

Notes

Includes music. Track 1- Music at approx 4-7 mins; 12 mins to end; Track 1a- No music; Track 2-Music at approx 0-3 mins; 14 mins to end; Track 3-Music at approx 2-3 mins.

Misc. notes

6:57 mins, Track 1a; Speed:- 7.5ips

Production company

Radio 210

Technical information

Stereo

Extent

1 tape

Credits

Presenter

Mike Matthews

Interviewees

Michael Blakstad