Nova TV

Background
Nova TV was a short lived attempt at pirate television in Ireland by Radio Nova. Radio Nova, which started broadcasting in June of 1981, was the most popular Irish pirate radio station. In late 1983, Chris Cary, Radio Nova's owner, attempted to expand the station into pirate television, with the hopes that it would become as popular as the radio channel. Nova TV began broadcasting on channel 60 on the 4th of December, 1983. Broadcasts started with a test card and music followed by Sybil Fennell introducing the channel as well as stating the channel's plans for the future. On the 6th of December, 1983, Nova TV was shut down by its owner, who feared a raid by the Gardaí due to pressure from RTÉ, who believed the channel to be a threat to its own viewership due to the likelihood of the popularity of Radio Nova transfering to Nova TV. On the 9th of December, 1983, the channel was raided by the Gardaí and Post & Telegraph officials, who seized the broadcast equipment, estimated to have been worth around £170,000. Radio Nova continues to exist as a fully legal online radio station.

Test Card (December 4-December 6, 1983)
Visuals: A colour test pattern with a white bar and the text "NTV" (standing for Nova Television) "CH     60 / 61".

Technique: None.

Audio: Unknown.

Availability: Image sourced from the front page of an issue of The Evening Herald from 1983.