[DavidV]

Living in Cornwall in 1992, I actually saw Westcountry “switched in” on several occasions in the weeks leading up to January 1st. It was always done during a network programme (Emmerdale was normally chosen)… one the first part was a few minutes in, there would be a visible switch in video feed… and Oracle would vanish! Just before the commercial break, TSW would switch back in, adverts would be played, then shortly after the second part of Emmerdale, the switch would happen again, loss of Oracle and then just before the end credits, would be switched back to normal.

That way, Westcountry could test their output was going to TX’s directly, the viewers really don’t notice (unless using Oracle or subtitles)…. I have to add this was from the Redruth transmitter (which also switched to Westcountry late on 1st Jan! 🤣)…. other programmes may have been “tested” on Carson Hill, Huntshaw Cross, Beacon Hill etc…

I would have thought ORACLE would have been on the network feed that Emmerdale was on. All you would have lost would have been the local magazine I think on the two hundreds.