[Bluecortina]

I don't see why they wouldn't have rehearsed the opt outs, after all the regions weren't doing them into TVam. However of course they wouldn't have been able to test the last bit as they couldn't put them to air until the new year.

As for TVS, yes good question and the same for 1982. Obviously they must have had the new sets built and rehearsed and ready to go for news years day. Both Southampton and Maidstone weren't short of studio space to move the old one into, or build the new one in.

In 1982 TVS started it's South East news in Southerns Dover studio which looked tiny so more of a challenge there I suspect

Southern produced 'Day by Day' from Studio 3. When TVS took over they produced' Coast to Coast' from one half of Studio 2 with a 'Sports' set in the other half. One programme was transmitted directly after the other so it was very efficient - the cameras just swung round etc. 'Coast to Coast' eventually moved into Studio 3. Meridian produced 'Meridian Tonight' (South edition) from Studio 2 - the set was far too big to fit into Studio 3. Many retained staff worked on 'Coast to Coast' and 'Meridian Tonight' so it was no big deal really.