Hubbry Logo
Sign-on and sign-offSign-on and sign-offMain
Open search
Sign-on and sign-off
Community hub
Sign-on and sign-off
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Sign-on and sign-off
Sign-on and sign-off
Sign-on and sign-off
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia
The closing announcement of ARD as heard in 1993 (in German).

A sign-on (or start-up in Commonwealth countries[citation needed] except Canada) is the beginning of operations for a radio or television station, generally at the start of each day. It is the opposite of a sign-off (or closedown in Commonwealth countries[citation needed] except Canada), which is the sequence of operations involved when a radio or television station shuts down its transmitters and goes off the air for a predetermined period; generally, this occurs during the overnight hours although a broadcaster's digital specialty or sub-channels may sign-on and sign-off at significantly different times than its main channels.

Like other television programming, sign-on and sign-off sequences can be initiated by a broadcast automation system, and automatic transmission systems can turn the carrier signal and transmitter on/off by remote control.[a]

Sign-on and sign-off sequences have become less common due to the increasing prevalence of 24/7 broadcasting. However, some national broadcasters continue the practice; particularly those in countries with limited broadcast coverage. Stations may also sometimes close for transmitter maintenance, or to allow another station to broadcast on the same channel space.[b]

Sign-on/start-up

[edit]

Sign-ons, like sign-offs, vary from country to country, from station to station, and from time to time; however, most follow a similar general pattern. It is common for sign-ons to be followed by a network's early morning newscast, or their morning or breakfast show.

Some broadcasters that have ceased signing on and signing off in favour of 24-hour broadcasting may perform a sign-on sequence at a certain time in the morning (usually between 4:00 and 7:00 a.m.) as a formality to signify the start of its operating day (in the United States, the broadcast logging day begins at 6:00 a.m. local time). These may be the switchover from network-provided overnight programming to the early morning newscast, which is the first live program of the day.[citation needed]

Sign-on/start-up sequence

[edit]

The sign-on sequence may include some or all of the following stages, but not necessarily in this order:

  • For television or radio stations that cut off their signal during off-broadcast hours, a test pattern or a static image accompanied by a 400 Hz tone, a 1 kHz tone (or other single-sine-wave tones) or music may be broadcast fifteen to twenty minutes before the actual sign-on. Digital channels may still run overnight programs or interstitials at this time (ITV Nightscreen in the United Kingdom being an example), which conclude when the station's main programming schedule begins.
  • A signal to turn on remote transmitters may be played—this is usually a series of touch tones.
  • On radio stations, especially international stations on shortwave, an interval signal may be played in a loop, usually for 3 to 5 minutes before the actual broadcast starts.
  • Technical information is provided. This can include station identification (call sign and city of license), transmitter power, frequency or channel number, translators used, transmitter locations, list of broadcast engineers, and/or studio/transmitter links (STL).
  • A television station may show a video and photo montage set to the national anthem or other patriotic piece of music. The accompanying television video may include images of the national flag, the head of state, national heroes, national military soldiers, national symbols, and other nationalistic imagery (especially on state-owned broadcasters), or simply the station ident. In the case of television stations broadcasting to audiences in more than one country, the flags and national symbols of each country in turn may be shown, with its respective national anthem being played.
  • Ownership information about the station, and a list of related organizations.
  • A video of people singing an opening song, or opening dance performance to start the day.
  • A greeting to viewers or listeners.
  • Contact information, such as street and mailing addresses, telephone number, email, and website details.
  • A prayer or other religious acknowledgement, particularly in countries with a state religion, in theocracies, and on religious broadcasters.
  • A schedule for the upcoming programs, or the day's programs.
  • A disclaimer that station programming is taped, aired live, or originates from a television or radio network.
  • Another disclaimer that programs are for personal use only (sometimes with information on copyright restrictions), and a statement that businesses cannot profit from showing them by applying a cover charge for viewing.
  • A statement of commitment to quality; this may be in the form of a recognized standard, such as the Philippines' Broadcast Code of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (Association of Broadcasters of the Philippines).
  • A station identification, including some or all of the television channel, AM or FM frequency, call sign, branding, and a clock ident.
  • Generally a station jingle or slogan will be played, accompanied on television with video clips featuring station programming or personalities. The Start-Up/Sign-On Notice is announced after the national anthem.

While most of these sign-on steps are done as a service to the public, or for advertising reasons, some of them may be required by the government of the country.[citation needed]

Sign-off/closedown

[edit]

Sign-offs, like sign-ons, vary from country to country, from station to station, and from time to time; however, most follow a similar general pattern. Many stations follow the reverse process to their sign-on sequence at the start of the day.

Many stations, while no longer conducting a sign-off and being off air for a period of time each day, instead run low-cost programming during those times of low viewer numbers. This may include infomercials, movies, television show reruns, simple weather forecasts, low cost news or infotainment programming from other suppliers, simulcasts of sister services, or feeds of local cable TV companies' programming via a fiber optic line to the cable headend. Other broadcasters that are part of a radio or television network may run an unedited feed of the network's overnight programming from a central location, without local advertising. During what are otherwise closedown hours, some channels may also simulcast their teletext pages or full page headlines with music or feeds from sister radio stations playing in the background. Some stations, after doing a sign-off, nonetheless continue to transmit throughout the off-air period on cable/satellite; this transmission may involve a test pattern, static image, local weather radar display, teletext pages or full-page headlines which was accompanied by music or a local weather radio service.

Some broadcasters that have ceased signing on and signing off in favour of 24-hour broadcasting may perform a sign-off sequence at a certain time in the night (usually between 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m.) as a formality to signify the end of its operating day (in the United States, the broadcast logging day ends at 12:00 midnight local time).

Sign-off/closedown sequence

[edit]
Indian-head test pattern used in North America

The sign-off sequence may include some or all of the following stages, but not necessarily in this order:

  • An announcement informing viewers that the station is about to go off-air: it may also include a message of thanks for the viewer's patronage, along with an announcement of the time when the station is scheduled to sign on again.
  • A station jingle or slogan may be played, accompanied on television with video clips featuring station programming or personalities,[1] or perhaps stock scenes from the station's main city/cities. A series of program trailers may also be played.
  • A prayer, hymn, or other religious acknowledgement, particularly in countries with a state religion or theocracies, and on religious broadcasters. Other channels may opt for a pre-taped sermonette or something similar. See section below.
  • A short newscast and weather forecast.[2] Stations also show PSAs through Ad Council or any organizations, for instance; some channels in the United Kingdom also used to include a public information film. Meanwhile, in the United States, it is common for a brief news reel to be broadcast over the station's logo, often accompanied by public service and missing and most wanted persons announcements.
  • A clock ident, which can be silent, play music or feature an announcer.
  • A program guide for the following day's programs.[3]
  • Closing credits acknowledging announcers, technicians and other crew who operated the day's broadcast.[4]
  • Ownership information about the station and their parent company, as well as their contact information, such as street and mailing addresses, telephone or fax number, zip code, e-mail, and website details.[2]
  • A video of people singing a closing song, or closing dance performance to end the day's broadcast.
  • A disclaimer that programs are for personal use only (sometimes with information on copyright restrictions), and a statement that businesses cannot profit from showing them by applying a cover charge for viewing.
  • A disclaimer that station programming may be taped, aired live, or originates from another television or radio network.
  • Technical information provided, such as the call sign, transmitter power, translators used, transmitter locations, a list of broadcast engineers (in the Philippines only), and studio/transmitter links (STL).
  • The viewer may be encouraged to view or listen to alternative services during the station's downtime; these are usually sister or affiliate stations.
  • A statement of commitment to quality, usually in the form of a recognized standard: in the Philippines, it is usually the Broadcast Code of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (Association of Broadcasters of the Philippines), while in the United States, it was (until 1983) the Television Code of the National Association of Broadcasters. Same as the start-up, the closedown/sign-off notice is shown before the National Anthem.
  • A television station may show a video and photo montage set to the national anthem or other patriotic piece of music. The accompanying television video may include images of the national flag, the head of state, national heroes, national military soldiers, national symbols, and other nationalistic imagery (especially on state-owned broadcasters,[5] but sometimes on privately owned ones too), or simply the station ident.[2] In the case of television stations broadcasting to audiences in more than one country, the flags and national symbols of each country in turn may be shown, with its respective national anthem being played.
  • Stations in the German-speaking parts of Europe (DACH) would use a slide with the station logo and the word Sendeschluss (in Germany and Austria also alternatively spelt Sendeschluß with an eszett), meaning "shutdown", shown prior to the test card (as opposed to before the signal being cut) to tell the viewer to switch off their sets. This practice ceased around 1994–96.[6]
  • The station may display some type of novelty item, such as an animated character, particular to that station or its locale.
  • Viewers may be reminded to turn off their television sets just prior to the transmitter being switched off. This was historically practised in the United Kingdom, German-speaking Europe[7] and in many parts of the Eastern Bloc, and is still in regular practice in some places like Russia and some areas of Japan.[citation needed] Sometimes, a loud tone may be played on the audio to encourage sleeping viewers to turn their television sets off, in order to prevent electricity wastage and to mitigate the risk of fire and/or explosions occurring in older TV sets.
  • On channels intended for young children, a short video may be shown of the channel's characters or hosts going to bed, before showing a loop of them sleeping throughout the night until programming resumes the following morning.[8][9]
  • Finally, stations may show a test card,[2] station logo, a loop of the station ident, a black screen, or a static schedule (telling viewers of the programming line-up once broadcasting resumes), usually with a monotone sound or a relay of a radio station: some stations may show a sequence of teletext pages, while others may use a promotional video or a series of infomercials. Other stations may simply cut off the signal, usually by sending a series of touch tones to turn off remote transmitters, which resulted in static on an analog television signal. Others may switch to a 24-hour channel or show archived programming.[c]

Some countries have a legal protocol for signing-off: in the United States, the minimum requirement is the station's call sign, followed by its designated city of license.[10] Many stations do include other protocols, such as the national anthem or transmitter information, as a custom, or as a service to the public.

In the United Kingdom, before the introduction of 24-hour television, there was no known legal protocol for a sign-off: BBC One and many ITV regions customarily included a continuity announcement, clock and the country's national anthem (for BBC One Wales and HTV Wales, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was also played beforehand), while Granada and Channel 4 signed-off with just an announcement, clock and ident, and BBC Two, Yorkshire and Border closed down with an announcement over their station clock.

In Germany, it is a custom to play the national anthem (for Bayerischer Rundfunk and stations owned by ProSiebenSat.1 Media, the Bayernhymne was also played beforehand) and the European Union anthem. ARD started playing the national anthem at closedown on May 23, 1985.[11]

In Spain, it is a custom to play the national anthem (for RTVA, EITB and Televisión de Galicia, the respective anthems of their autonomous communities would also be played beforehand).

In all Commonwealth realms outside the United Kingdom, it was a custom to play each realm's national anthem, examples being those of Australia and Canada (for some stations, God Save the Queen would also be played beforehand, except on CFRN-TV in Edmonton pre-2000, where it was played on its own.)

Religious acknowledgements during sign-on and sign-off

[edit]
Country Religious acknowledgement
Algeria Algeria Quran reading[12]
Armenia Armenia Christian blessing[13]
Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda Christian hymn
Australia Australia Christian hymn
Austria Austria Bible reading, responsorial psalm or Christian prayer
Bangladesh Bangladesh Quran, Bhagvad Gita, Tripitaka or Bible reading
Barbados Barbados Christian hymn
Bhutan Bhutan Buddhist hymn[14]
Bolivia Bolivia Christian sermonette or prayer[15]
Brazil Brazil Christian programme
Brunei Brunei Quran reading[16]
Cambodia Cambodia Buddhist quote or inspirational message
Canada Canada Christian sermonette or prayer[17] (English-language channels) or responsorial psalm (French-language channels)
Egypt Egypt Quran reading[18]
Ethiopia Ethiopia Bible reading or Christian prayer
France France Responsorial psalm
Germany Germany Bible reading, responsorial psalm or Christian prayer
Greece Greece Christian prayer[19]
Grenada Grenada Christian hymn
Indonesia Indonesia Quran reading[20]
Iran Iran Quran reading[21]
Republic of Ireland Ireland Christian prayer[22]
Israel Israel Psuko Shel Yom[23]
Jordan Jordan Quran reading[24]
Kenya Kenya Bible reading
Kuwait Kuwait Quran reading[25]
Libya Libya Quran reading[26]
Malaysia Malaysia Quran reading[27]
Maldives Maldives Quran reading
Morocco Morocco Quran reading[28]
Myanmar Myanmar Buddhist quote[29]
Nepal Nepal Hindu song or inspirational message[30]
Niger Niger Quran reading[31]
Pakistan Pakistan Quran reading[32]
Peru Peru Christian prayer[33]
Philippines Philippines Catholic prayer[34][35]
Poland Poland Responsorial psalm and Alleluia (either both or only the psalm)
Portugal Portugal Bible reading
Saint Lucia Saint Lucia Christian hymn
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Christian prayer
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Quran reading[36]
South Africa South Africa Christian prayer and/or sermonette
Spain Spain Bible reading
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Buddhist prayer[37] or Hindu prayer
Sudan Sudan Quran reading
Syria Syria Quran reading[38]
Thailand Thailand Buddhist quote or inspirational message[39]
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Christian prayer[40]
United Kingdom United Kingdom The Epilogue
United States United States Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or other religious prayer, sermonette or inspirational message[41][42][43]
Western Sahara Western Sahara Quran reading[44]
Yemen Yemen Quran reading[45]

Special sign-on/off cases

[edit]

Historical

[edit]

In a number of countries closedowns formerly took place during the daytime as well as overnight. In the United Kingdom, this was initially due to government-imposed restrictions on daytime broadcasting hours, and later, due to budgetary constraints. The eventual relaxation of these rules meant that afternoon closedowns ceased permanently on the ITV network in October 1972, but the BBC maintained the practice until Friday 24 October 1986, before commencing a full daytime service on the following Monday. Afternoon closedowns continued in South Korea until December 2005. Hong Kong's broadcasting networks (particularly the English-speaking channels) also practiced this until mid-2008. In these cases, the station's transmitters later did not actually shut-down for the afternoon break; either a test-card was played or a static schedule was posted telling viewers of the programming line-up once broadcasting resumes.

In Indonesia, restrictions on broadcast hours were also implemented in July 2005 as part of an energy saving campaign.[46] Three years later, they were implemented again due to the electricity crisis.[47]

Medium-wave AM

[edit]
Main article: Clear-channel station

Medium wave radio is a special case due to its unusual propagation characteristics; it can bounce hundreds of miles by reflecting from the upper atmosphere at night, but during the day these same layers absorb signal instead of reflecting. A few powerful regional clear-channel stations have an extensive secondary coverage area which is protected by having smaller local co-channel stations in distant communities sign off shortly before sunset. A frequency on which a broadcaster has to drastically reduce power or sign off entirely at sunset was traditionally the least desirable assignment, which would usually go to small or new-entrant stations when all of the more favourable slots were already allocated.

These AM daytimers are becoming less common as stations (and audiences) migrate to FM or to frequencies vacated by the closure of other stations, but a handful still exist in the US and México.

Religious

[edit]

India

[edit]

During religious holidays or occasions, Doordarshan and Akashvani will broadcast a prayer of any religion through the day, a week or a month (e.g. During Ramadan, a reading from the Quran, a Muslim quote, or a call for Azan and Fajr prayer will be broadcast. During Lent, a Christian prayer, a hymn or a psalm will be broadcast).

Indonesia

[edit]

In Bali during Nyepi, all terrestrial television and radio stations go off-the-air.

Israel

[edit]

During Yom Kippur, virtually all radio and television stations based in Israel go silent for 24 hours, as required by law. However, most international networks (e.g. CNN) continue to broadcast as usual.[48]

Malaysia

[edit]

During Ramadan, Malaysian public broadcaster RTM operated TV1 24 hours a day instead of signing off. In 2012, TV1 broadcast 24 hours a day during the London Olympics in 2012, due to the time difference.[49] This would become permanent in August 2012, to coincide with their sister channel TV2 by showing reruns from the broadcaster's archive library and movies on early mornings before start-up.

Philippines

[edit]

During the Holy Week in the Philippines that occurs anywhere between the last week of March to the third week of April (depending on the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar), terrestrial television and radio stations continue their regular schedules from Palm Sunday until Holy Wednesday. From the midnight of Holy Thursday until the early hours of Easter Sunday (before 4 AM PHT), most commercial television and radio networks either remain off-the-air or reduce their broadcast hours. Stations that opt to remain on-air provide special programming such as Lenten drama specials, news coverage of various services and rites, Christian and mellow music content. Member stations of the Catholic Media Network prominently follow the latter pattern, broadcasting Paschal Triduum services and other similar programming.[50]

Campus radio stations' operations during this time are left to the discretion of their respective schools, colleges, or universities by either closing down on the afternoon and/or evening of Holy Wednesday or remaining off-air for the entire Holy Week.

On cable, satellite, and live TV streaming, with the exception of specialty channels that broadcast horse racing, cockfighting, and the like that remain dormant during this period, most international networks distributed in the Philippines or Philippine-exclusive cable channels either continue to broadcast their 24/7 regular programming service week-long or provide specially arranged schedules from Holy Thursday to Black Saturday.

Notable historical exceptions
[edit]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Sign-on and sign-off

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Sign-on and sign-off refer to the activation and deactivation sequences employed by radio and television stations to initiate and conclude their daily operations. In the United States, regulations mandate that broadcast stations announce their call signs, accompanied by the community of license, at the beginning and ending of each period of operation. These procedures historically facilitated equipment testing, transmitter warm-up, and legal identification, with sign-ons often commencing in the early morning hours—typically between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.—following overnight silence to conserve energy and minimize interference. Sign-offs, conversely, occurred late at night, around midnight to 2:00 a.m., and frequently incorporated test patterns such as the RCA Indian Head for , followed by station identifications and, in many cases, renditions of the before ceasing transmissions. This practice stemmed from technical limitations of early equipment, limited programming availability, and operational costs, but began diminishing with the rise of 24-hour cable networks like in 1980 and subsequent adoption by local affiliates driven by competitive pressures and revenue opportunities. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, most U.S. stations transitioned to continuous operations, rendering traditional sign-on and sign-off routines obsolete in favor of perpetual programming loops or automated content. Internationally, analogous customs persist in some nations, often featuring national symbols or anthems to underscore public service obligations.

Overview and Historical Context

Definition and Core Purposes

Sign-on constitutes the initiation of a radio or station's transmission operations at the commencement of its scheduled broadcast day, encompassing the of transmitters, emission of announcements, and often preliminary technical tests or announcements to viewers. Sign-off, in contrast, involves the orderly termination of broadcasts, including final programming cues, required identifications, and the shutdown of equipment, typically culminating in static signals or test patterns before ceasing airtime. These protocols originated in eras when stations did not operate continuously, with sign-on commonly occurring in early morning hours and sign-off in late evening, reflecting operational limitations rather than perpetual availability. The primary purposes of sign-on and sign-off procedures center on regulatory compliance, technical integrity, and operational delineation. Federal regulations mandate that stations broadcast identification announcements—comprising call letters and community of license—at sign-on and sign-off, ensuring traceability and adherence to licensing terms as stipulated by the (FCC). This requirement persists even in 24-hour formats to affirm operational status. Technically, these phases enable engineers to conduct equipment calibrations, signal quality assessments via test patterns such as the Indian Head card, which facilitated monochrome receiver alignment and resolution verification without active programming interference. Additionally, sign-on and sign-off served to demarcate broadcast hours amid historical constraints, including high costs, equipment wear from vacuum tubes, and insufficient content to justify round-the-clock transmission, thereby conserving resources while signaling availability to audiences. In practice, these routines minimized interference risks during off-hours and allowed for , with stations resuming only when demand and technical readiness aligned, a necessity in pre-digital where continuous operation was neither feasible nor economical.

Origins in Early Radio and Television

The origins of sign-on and sign-off procedures trace to the nascent era of in the early , when stations maintained limited operating hours due to technological limitations, high operational costs, and the need to allocate scarce spectrum resources. The first commercial radio broadcast occurred on November 2, 1920, via KDKA in , , which typically aired programming for only a few hours in the evening rather than continuously. Initial schedules often restricted transmissions to one or two hours nightly, several nights per week, reflecting the experimental nature of the medium and the absence of widespread nighttime audiences. A primary driver for nighttime sign-offs in amplitude modulation (AM) radio was the physics of signal propagation: during daylight, the ionosphere absorbs AM waves, limiting range to ground waves, but at night, reduced solar activity allows skywave reflection, extending signals hundreds or thousands of miles and causing mutual interference among stations. To mitigate this, early regulations under the Department of Commerce and later the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), established by the Communications Act of 1934, required many non-"clear channel" stations to reduce power or cease operations at sunset, formalizing sign-off as a spectrum management tool. Sign-on sequences included legal station identification—call letters followed by the city of license—to comply with identification mandates. Television adopted analogous practices in the late and as emerged post-World War II. Early stations, facing similar economic incentives for non-24-hour operation and equipment maintenance needs, initiated sign-ons with test patterns to calibrate receivers and cameras. The RCA Indian Head test pattern, introduced in 1939 for the TK-1 camera, became a standard visual aid displayed from sign-on until programming commenced, often accompanied by audio tones for audio alignment. Sign-offs mirrored radio by airing identification announcements, as stipulated by FCC rules, before transitioning to static or a sustained test pattern overnight, typically around midnight to 1:00 a.m. These routines underscored broadcasting's regulated, intermittent character before technological advances enabled continuous service.

Evolution Through Regulatory Frameworks

The (FRC), established by the Radio Act of 1927, introduced foundational rules for broadcast licensing and to allocate spectrum and minimize interference, requiring operators to announce call signs at the commencement and cessation of transmissions. These provisions carried over to the (FCC) under the , which formalized identification announcements—including call letters followed by the licensed community—at sign-on and sign-off to ensure public accountability and traceability of broadcasts. Early frameworks also imposed operating hour restrictions, particularly for AM radio, where daytime-only licenses prevailed to avoid nighttime interference, mandating formal sign-offs by sunset or midnight. Technological and economic shifts prompted regulatory adaptations, with FCC amendments in the and gradually permitting extended hours; a 1978 rule change explicitly allowed certain daytime stations (classes II and IV) to operate 24 hours under controlled power levels, diminishing mandatory sign-offs for many outlets while retaining identification mandates. accelerated in the 1980s, including the repeal of the in 1987, which indirectly encouraged 24/7 programming by easing content obligations, though core station ID requirements persisted at sign-on/off for non-continuous operations and hourly otherwise. Recent FCC actions, such as the 2025 elimination of 98 obsolete rules, further streamlined legacy hour-based restrictions but upheld identification protocols to maintain discipline. Internationally, regulatory evolution mirrored local priorities, with bodies like the UK's (1954–1990) enforcing sign-off identifications and technical notices akin to FCC standards, often incorporating elements without U.S.-style hour limits. In state-controlled systems, such as historical Soviet frameworks, sign-offs integrated ideological announcements, though verifiable mandates focused more on content control than operational closure rituals. Overall, while technical necessities drove initial sign-on/sign-off formality, regulatory emphasis shifted from prescriptive hours to flexible identification, adapting to 24/7 norms without eliminating accountability measures.

Standard Procedures

Sign-on Sequences

Sign-on sequences initiate the operational day for radio and television stations, activating transmitters and ensuring signal integrity before programming commences. These procedures historically aligned with limited broadcast hours, typically starting between 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM in the mid-20th century , prior to the shift toward 24-hour operations in the and . In the United States, the mandates at the start of operations under 47 CFR § 73.1201, requiring broadcast of the call sign immediately followed by the licensed community or communities, such as "This is WABC, New York." This announcement must occur at the beginning of each transmission period and approximate the hour for hourly IDs thereafter. Television sign-ons commonly incorporate visual and audio tests to verify equipment functionality. Stations displayed test patterns, like the RCA Indian Head pattern from the 1950s to early , allowing technicians and viewers to adjust sets for proper convergence and . By the , color bars from the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) replaced these, accompanied by audio tones for level calibration. Radio sign-ons emphasize audio verification, often beginning with carrier tone tests to confirm modulation and accuracy, followed by the mandatory identification announcement. Additional elements may include time checks or brief updates, though not federally required, to orient listeners. Legal notices, such as equal time provisions or sponsorship disclosures, occasionally feature in announcements, ensuring compliance with FCC sponsorship identification rules applicable from the outset of broadcasts. These sequences prioritize technical reliability and regulatory adherence, distinguishing them from programming content.

Sign-off Sequences


Sign-off sequences in radio and television broadcasting formalize the end of daily transmissions, ensuring regulatory adherence, equipment protection, and an orderly cessation of service. Prior to the dominance of continuous programming, these routines typically activated after late-night content, around to 2 a.m., allowing stations to power down transmitters for savings and overnight . United States Federal Communications Commission regulations require broadcast stations to identify their call letters, community of license, and channel or frequency during sign-off announcements, broadcast audibly or visually as applicable. An announcer usually delivered a scripted message confirming the end of operations, expressing gratitude to the audience, and stating the next day's sign-on time, followed by procedural tones or signals indicating transmitter shutdown. For television, the sequence frequently transitioned to a static test pattern, such as the RCA Indian Head card introduced in 1939, displayed with alignment tones to aid receiver calibration until resumption of broadcasts; this pattern featured graphical elements for assessing resolution, contrast, and geometry. Radio counterparts omitted visuals, concluding with audio-only identification and a carrier tone before silence. The practice waned from the as technological advances enabled 24-hour and viewer demand for round-the-clock content grew, with most U.S. stations eliminating routine sign-offs by the late 1980s, particularly after the expansion of cable and satellite services reduced reliance on over-the-air signals. Smaller or non-commercial outlets persisted longer, but by the 1990s, sign-offs largely confined to specific regulatory or operational contexts.

Common Components Across Procedures

Station identification announcements, required by federal regulations , constitute a core common element in both sign-on and sign-off procedures for broadcast stations. These announcements must include the station's and its community of license, aired at the beginning and end of each operational period to inform listeners and viewers of the transmitting entity. Failure to comply can result in enforcement actions by the (FCC), as identification ensures accountability and aids in signal interference resolution. Technical parameter disclosures, such as operating , channel number, transmitter power, and modulation type, are routinely included in announcements during both sign-on and sign-off to verify equipment functionality and comply with licensing conditions. These details allow regulatory monitoring and verification of broadcast parameters, often voiced by an or displayed on-screen for television. In practice, stations historically integrated these with a formal declaration of commencing or ceasing operations, e.g., "This is [call sign] signing on/off the air." Time checks and operational notices, providing the current and outlining daily programming schedules or periods, appear in sequences for both procedures to orient audiences and manage expectations. For instance, sign-ons often reference the start time of regular programming, while sign-offs note the resumption the following day, reflecting pre-24/7 norms where stations operated limited hours for and technical . These elements, though not federally mandated beyond basic identification, became standardized through industry conventions to facilitate orderly transitions and audience retention.

Cultural and Ideological Elements

National Anthems and Patriotic Announcements

In many countries, broadcast sign-off procedures historically concluded with the performance of the , serving to symbolize the end of the transmission day and reinforce national unity, particularly in eras when stations operated limited hours for technical and economic reasons. This practice, inherited from radio, involved audio playback of the anthem overlaid with visual sequences of flags, landscapes, historical sites, and , fostering a sense of among viewers. The ritual typically occurred between midnight and 2:00 a.m., after late-night programming, before transitioning to a test pattern or silence until sign-on the following morning. In the United States, television stations commonly aired "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the final element of sign-off from the 1950s through the 1970s, with montages emphasizing American landmarks, armed forces, and evolving flag designs to evoke post-World War II national pride. While not mandated by the Federal Communications Commission, the custom aligned with broader cultural expectations of civic reverence, and some stations incorporated alternative patriotic tunes like "America the Beautiful" or announcements urging viewers to "honor America." The practice waned by the early 1980s as cable television and 24-hour scheduling proliferated, reducing the need for daily closures. Internationally, analogous traditions persisted in state-influenced broadcasting systems, where anthems underscored governmental authority and cultural cohesion. In the , sign-offs featured the state with imagery of leaders and proletarian symbols until the system's dissolution in 1991. Asian broadcasters, including those in (via NBT) and (via NTV3 and affiliates), employed similar films during both sign-on and sign-off into the late , often synchronized with flag-raising sequences. In regions like , select channels continued midnight broadcasts even amid partial 24-hour operations, reflecting enduring nationalist protocols. These elements extended to sign-on in some locales, framing the broadcast day as a , though sign-off usage predominated due to its ceremonial finality. Patriotic announcements complemented anthems by delivering scripted messages on civic or station to the state, as seen in U.S. examples like mechanical reproduction disclaimers followed by flag-lowering visuals. In non-Western contexts, such announcements frequently highlighted oaths or anti-colonial themes, prioritizing ideological reinforcement over mere technical closure. The decline of these practices correlates with , expansion, and viewer demand for uninterrupted content, though sporadic revivals occur in areas with intermittent blackouts or cultural mandates.

Religious Acknowledgements and Messages

In nations with predominant Christian populations, such as the , sign-off procedures prior to the shift to 24-hour broadcasting in the late frequently incorporated religious elements to conclude the day's transmissions reverently. These often featured the recited over serene imagery, such as natural landscapes or ecclesiastical scenes, serving as a spiritual capstone before the national anthem and test pattern. Stations like in broadcast the as part of their 1980s sign-offs, muting audio in some archival records due to but confirming its inclusion via visual and contextual evidence. A common precursor to full sign-off was the "sermonette," a concise 3- to 5-minute devotional message by local clergy, emphasizing moral or biblical themes tailored to community values. For instance, WNBC-TV in New York aired sermonettes by figures like Fr. James L. Tahaney of the Brooklyn Diocese during 1980 sign-offs, blending inspirational content with announcements for charitable causes such as Spaulding for Children. Similarly, WGAL-TV in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, featured sermonettes from pastors like Robert G. Hunsicker of St. Andrew United Church of Christ in the late 1970s, immediately preceding the national anthem. These practices, voluntary and station-specific, reflected broadcasters' efforts to align with cultural norms of piety amid limited operational hours, as documented in mid-20th-century religious broadcasting guides that promoted such features for spiritual outreach. In regions with religions, such as parts of the , sign-on and sign-off sequences have historically integrated recitations or invocations to affirm religious identity, though specific procedural details vary and are less uniformly archived in English-language sources. State broadcasters in countries like interrupt programming for Holy verses to foster reflection, a practice extending to transitional moments like sign-offs in non-24/7 eras. This mirrors broader media customs where sacred text recitation underscores fidelity to , often following national anthems. Such religious components have waned globally with the advent of continuous programming and , reducing opportunities for dedicated invocations; by the 1990s, U.S. stations largely phased them out in favor of infomercials or automated loops, prioritizing commercial continuity over devotional closure. Archival from religious advocacy groups highlights their role in early television's moral framework, yet contemporary relevance persists in select of theocratic nations.

Technical Tests and Maintenance Notices

Technical tests during sign-on and sign-off procedures enabled broadcasters to verify signal quality, equipment alignment, and transmission integrity before and after operational hours. In television, these tests commonly involved displaying static patterns or bars immediately following sign-off announcements, persisting overnight until sign-on to facilitate without programming interruptions. Such patterns, including early designs and later color bars, allowed engineers to adjust for distortions, convergence errors, and levels in analog systems. For instance, after midnight sign-offs typical until the , U.S. stations broadcast test signals during off-hours to perform transmitter maintenance and technical adjustments that required halting live content. This practice ensured reliable performance upon resumption, with patterns like —standardized in the 1950s for color testing—serving as diagnostic tools for chroma and phase alignment. Sign-on sequences often began with similar tests to confirm readiness, transitioning seamlessly to programming once parameters stabilized. Maintenance notices complemented these tests by alerting audiences to scheduled downtimes or disruptions. Broadcasters issued on-screen or verbal announcements, such as "Service will resume at 6:00 a.m. following ," to explain off-air periods driven by equipment servicing, tower repairs, or checks. In radio, analogous procedures featured sustained tones or carrier signals for stability verification, though less visually oriented, with notices broadcast via automated messages or preceding sign-off scripts to notify listeners of impending silence for similar upkeep. These elements underscored operational pragmatism in pre-24/7 , prioritizing technical reliability over continuous content, a necessity in eras when analog hardware demanded periodic intervention and minimized viewer disruption through proactive communication.

Variations by Medium and Technology

Radio-Specific Practices

Radio sign-on procedures prioritize auditory technical validations and legal identifications, adapting to the medium's audio-only transmission without the visual test patterns common in . Under U.S. (FCC) regulations, stations must commence operations with an official announcement of their , followed immediately by the licensed community and frequency, such as "KFI, Los Angeles, 640 kilocycles," to fulfill identification requirements at the start of the broadcast day. This practice, codified in 47 CFR § 73.1201, ensures listeners can verify the source and complies with to prevent interference. Prior to the announcement, engineers conducted transmitter warm-up sequences, stabilizing carrier waves and checking modulation indices through unmodulated signals or steady audio tones (often 400–1,000 Hz), which served as equivalents to television's color bars for confirming and power output within licensed limits. These technical steps were particularly vital for (AM) stations, many of which operated limited daytime hours until the 1980s , signing on around local sunrise (typically 5:00–6:00 a.m.) to align with ground-wave conditions and avoid nighttime interference with distant stations. (FM) stations, less affected by such issues, often mirrored these protocols but emphasized stereo pilot tone verification during sign-on to ensure phase-locked audio fidelity. The FCC's framework required such activations only for non-24-hour operations, with the identification serving both and of operational status, distinct from television's integration of on-screen during startup. Sign-off practices symmetrically reversed these steps, beginning with the required identification announcement, often coupled with notices of the next day's sign-on time, before gradually reducing transmitter power or ceasing modulation to minimize residual interference. For AM clear-channel or directional-array stations, this included adjustments to non-directional modes if applicable, followed by full shutdown, reflecting causal priorities of energy efficiency and conservation in an era before ubiquitous 24/7 . Unlike sign-offs featuring static visuals or national symbols on screen, radio concluded with silence or carrier-only signals briefly, underscoring the medium's dependence on precise audio engineering over visual spectacle. These protocols, while largely supplanted by continuous operations post-1980s FCC relaxations, persist in select low-power or international AM contexts where regulatory hour restrictions remain.

Television-Specific Practices

Television sign-on and sign-off procedures incorporated visual test signals to calibrate video equipment, a requirement absent in due to the visual nature of the medium. Early U.S. stations transmitted test patterns, such as the Indian Head pattern developed by RCA in the late 1930s, during transmitter warm-up periods before programming commenced, allowing adjustment of brightness, contrast, and focus. With the transition to in the 1950s and 1960s, stations adopted color bar patterns, including the SMPTE standard for systems prevalent in , to verify and alignment across broadcast chains. These bars, often paired with a 1 kHz audio , ensured from studio to receiver, with patterns displayed for several minutes at sign-on to stabilize equipment after overnight shutdowns. Sign-off sequences mirrored this technical focus, concluding programming with visuals, followed by extended color bars or test cards to maintain carrier signal until full cessation, preventing abrupt signal loss that could damage receivers. In the U.S., this practice persisted into the for many affiliates, where midnight closures displayed bars before the screen filled with static upon transmitter shutdown, contrasting radio's simpler audio fade-outs. Regulatory mandates, such as FCC requirements for daily sign-on/off identifications, extended to visual elements in , including on-screen call signs and synchronized with audio announcements, reinforcing station accountability in a visually verifiable format. These procedures prioritized empirical signal verification over continuous operation, reflecting pre-digital era constraints on transmitter maintenance and energy costs.

Impact of Digital and 24/7 Transitions

The transition to 24-hour broadcasting, beginning prominently with the launch of on June 1, 1980, marked the initial decline in traditional sign-on and sign-off procedures for many television stations, as continuous programming became feasible through satellite distribution and expanded content availability. This shift was driven by technological advancements that eliminated the need for nightly shutdowns, previously necessitated by limited programming, high operational costs, and technical constraints such as power consumption in analog transmitters. By the , U.S. local stations increasingly adopted 24/7 schedules to capture late-night audiences with infomercials and reruns, reducing sign-offs from common practice in the to rare by the early in major markets. Digital broadcasting further accelerated this trend by enabling automated, unattended operations under FCC rules established in 2021, which permit stations to maintain signals without human intervention through reliable equipment that terminates transmission only upon signal loss. The U.S. , culminating in the analog signal shutdown on June 12, 2009, replaced analog test patterns—such as the RCA Indian Head pattern displayed post-sign-off—with constant digital carriers, minimizing downtime for maintenance and tests. This change lowered energy costs and improved signal reliability, as digital systems require less power for equivalent coverage compared to analog. Economically, 24/7 and digital operations expanded revenue streams for stations by maximizing airtime for advertisements, with broadcast TV generating significant GDP contributions through continuous ad sales, though specific late-night impacts are aggregated in broader industry figures exceeding $15 billion annually in station revenues by 2021. However, the elimination of structured sign-on/sign-off rituals has led to criticisms of diminished cultural framing, such as the absence of national anthems or station identifications that once punctuated broadcast days, potentially eroding viewer perceptions of broadcaster accountability. In regions retaining partial sign-offs, like some smaller markets until the , the digital era's has standardized continuous service, prioritizing over traditional closures.

Regional and International Practices

Practices in Western Countries

In the United States, television stations historically initiated daily broadcasts with a sign-on sequence featuring a test pattern such as the , followed by , tests, and the national "." Sign-offs mirrored this in reverse, concluding programming around midnight to 2 a.m. with the , a final announcement, and transition to static or a carrier signal for and limited nighttime programming availability. These routines, common from the 1940s through the 1970s, were influenced by (FCC) requirements for operator presence and signal maintenance but not explicitly mandated for content; by the 1980s, , cable expansion, and VCR adoption prompted most affiliates to shift to 24/7 operations, though some rural or low-power stations retained sign-offs into the 1990s. In the , the British Broadcasting Corporation () employed structured closedown procedures, ending transmissions with a continuity announcement from an announcer, the playing of "" (or Queen), and display of a until resumption. Independent Television (ITV) networks followed analogous formats, often incorporating regional identifiers and weather summaries before the anthem. These nightly closedowns, standard from television's inception in through the 1980s, reflected resource constraints and public service ethos; discontinued routine closedowns in 1997 amid 24-hour scheduling, while had transitioned earlier in 1986. Canadian practices, exemplified by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), emphasized bilingual announcements in English and French, technical details, and "" as the culminating anthem during sign-offs, with sign-ons including similar patriotic and operational notices. Affiliates like CBLT Toronto maintained these until at least the early 2000s, later than many U.S. counterparts, due to public broadcaster mandates and regional variations; private stations often aligned but phased out earlier with satellite and digital shifts. Across , such as in and , state broadcasters like (ORTF, predecessor to France Télévisions) and Deutsche Rundfunk incorporated national anthems—"" and "," respectively—alongside maintenance signals and public information messages in sign-on/sign-off rituals, persisting into the 1990s before EU-driven liberalization favored continuous service.

Practices in Asia and the Middle East

In , the public broadcaster concluded daily television transmissions with the national anthem "" from the network's early years in the through the mid-, often preceded by a signature tune and announcements regarding the resumption of service the following day. This practice aligned with state-controlled broadcasting norms emphasizing national unity, persisting until the gradual adoption of 24-hour programming in the late and early 2000s amid liberalization of the media sector. Similar conventions prevailed across , where stations in countries like (e.g., NTV3, 8TV, TV9) and (e.g., NBT) incorporated national anthems into sign-off sequences, typically featuring instrumental or vocal renditions accompanied by flag displays or patriotic imagery. In , , the public broadcaster, continues limited sign-offs as of 2024, closing Sunday night broadcasts around 2:00 a.m. with technical notices and a , a remnant of pre-digital schedules that once universally ended operations overnight to conserve resources. These rituals underscored cultural emphases on and operational discipline, though widespread shifts to continuous have reduced their frequency since the . In the Middle East, sign-off procedures historically integrated religious and monarchical elements, particularly in Gulf states. Saudi Arabian Channel 3, operated by Saudi Aramco, ended 1980s broadcasts with formal announcements invoking royal patronage and national service, followed by closure signals, reflecting the kingdom's blend of state authority and Islamic piety. Broader Arab broadcasting patterns, as documented in mid-20th-century analyses, often concluded with extended music segments or devotional content, such as Quranic recitations on channels like the dedicated Holy Quran TV, aligning with regional mandates for moral and spiritual framing in media. In Iran and other Islamic republics, sign-offs frequently feature revolutionary anthems or religious invocations, enforced by state regulators to reinforce ideological commitments, though 24/7 satellite and digital expansions have diluted these since the 2000s. Israel, by contrast, maintains occasional anthem playthroughs of "Hatikvah" on public channels during holidays, prioritizing national identity over routine daily closures.

Practices in Other Regions

In African nations like , state broadcaster historically ended television transmissions with renditions of the , such as "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika" or "The Call of South Africa," followed by a test pattern or cessation of signal, as documented in closedown sequences from 1977 and 1989. These practices typically occurred around midnight, signaling the end of daily programming before resumption the next morning, reflecting a emphasis on in during the apartheid era and beyond. By 2014, government officials advocated reinstating daily anthem broadcasts on to promote and social cohesion, indicating a partial persistence of such traditions amid the shift to extended hours. In Latin American countries including , commercial and public television stations in the concluded nightly schedules with the Hino Nacional Brasileiro, often accompanied by a formal announcement, before going off-air until morning sign-on. This ritual underscored patriotic closure in an era when 24-hour was uncommon, though contemporary operations largely favor continuous programming due to cable and digital expansion. Similar patterns appeared in state-controlled outlets across the region, where sign-offs reinforced national unity but have diminished with market since the . Caribbean broadcasters, such as 's government-owned Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC), maintained sign-off routines from its 1963 launch until privatization in 1997, typically at midnight with continuity announcements and cessation until 5 a.m. the next day. These procedures, common in small-island public services emulating British models, often included symbolic elements like the to mark the broadcast day's end, fostering communal viewing habits in areas with limited station options. In territories like the , stations such as WSVI-TV followed suit with explicit good-night messages and off-air notices until resumption. Regional transitions to private ownership and satellite access have eroded these customs, though nostalgic recollections highlight their role in pre-digital media landscapes. In , particularly , the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) implemented structured closedowns in the , featuring announcements of transmission cessation—resuming at times like 11:30 a.m. in most states but later in and the due to time differences—often paired with the . Commercial networks like ATN-7 in echoed this with final sign-off messages during analog shutdowns as late as 2013, emphasizing decades of service before digital perpetuity. Such practices, rooted in resource constraints and regulatory norms, waned with 24/7 deregulation but exemplified coordinated national signaling across vast geographies.

Decline and Contemporary Relevance

Shift to Continuous Broadcasting

The shift to continuous broadcasting in radio and television largely eliminated traditional sign-on and sign-off procedures, replacing them with perpetual operation to meet evolving audience demands and economic realities. For AM radio stations, nighttime sign-offs were primarily mandated by (FCC) regulations to prevent interference caused by propagation, where signals bounce off the and travel hundreds or thousands of miles, overlapping with distant stations. These rules, established in the early and refined through licensing classes (e.g., Class D stations required to cease operations at local sunset), persisted into the era but began eroding with technological workarounds like directional antennas allowing limited nighttime power and the rise of . FM, licensed commercially from but proliferating after , operated on VHF frequencies with line-of-sight transmission immune to effects, enabling stations to maintain full power around the clock without regulatory curtailment. By the 1960s, economic pressures— including competition for listeners and cheaper automation for overnight shifts—prompted many AM outlets to seek FCC waivers for 24-hour simulcasts with FM or dedicated nighttime programming, though full adoption varied by market size. Television stations in the United States followed a similar trajectory, with most over-the-air affiliates signing off nightly from the through the , typically between midnight and 2 a.m., to conserve resources amid sparse late-night content, high staffing costs for live operations, and assumptions of negligible viewership. Early experiments in continuous TV emerged in the 1950s, such as WDTV (later WNUA) in becoming the first U.S. station to broadcast 24 hours daily by around 1953, relying on filler like test patterns and reruns. The pivotal change accelerated in the late and , fueled by cable television's expansion—which bypassed local sign-off norms via satellite-fed superstations like WTBS (1976)—and the profitability of low-cost overnight fare such as infomercials, B-movies, and syndicated repeats. Stations like WOR-TV in New York initiated 24/7 schedules in spring 1980, with WCBS-TV following in 1982, driven by advertising revenue potential and competition from cable channels. This transition reflected broader causal factors: deregulation under the FCC's relaxation of rules in the 1980s reduced barriers to extended operations, while automation technologies minimized labor needs for off-peak hours. Internationally, the pattern echoed in developed markets—e.g., the extended to near-24/7 by the —but lagged in regions with state monopolies or resource constraints, underscoring how market and investment hastened the demise of scheduled shutdowns over ideological or cultural impositions. By the , sign-offs had become rare exceptions, confined to remote or low-power stations, as continuous feeds aligned with globalized content distribution and viewer habits untethered from diurnal rhythms.

Persistent Examples and Exceptions

Despite the widespread adoption of continuous broadcasting, sign-on and sign-off procedures persist in specific regulatory and operational contexts, particularly for AM radio stations susceptible to nighttime propagation interference. In the United States, the mandates that Class D AM stations—limited to approximately 168 facilities as of recent licensing data—cease operations at local sunset to protect primary clear-channel stations from , a requirement rooted in the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement of 1988. These stations, often serving rural or low-power markets, routinely broadcast a formal sign-off announcement, followed by until morning sign-on, exemplifying a technical exception to 24/7 norms driven by electromagnetic physics rather than choice. Voluntary exceptions occur among certain religious and public-service broadcasters, where sign-offs incorporate devotional or civic elements for ideological consistency. For instance, some faith-based AM and FM stations, such as those affiliated with networks emphasizing , conclude nightly transmissions with scriptural readings or hymns before powering down, preserving a tradition of moral closure amid otherwise continuous schedules. In television, full technical sign-offs are rarer, but symbolic variants endure; Gray Television affiliates, including (FOX19 NOW) in , programmatically end local primetime with "" before transitioning to syndicated overnight content, a practice adopted network-wide post-2020 to evoke national unity without halting transmission. Internationally, state-controlled broadcasters in select non-Western nations maintain sign-off rituals as assertions of or cultural protocol. In , (IRIB) channels often conclude daily programming with Quranic recitations or the , reflecting theocratic oversight that prioritizes scripted closure over uninterrupted feeds, a pattern observed consistently into the 2020s. Similar practices appear in Ethiopia's , where EBC Television signs off with the amid resource constraints limiting full 24/7 capability, underscoring exceptions tied to infrastructural and political realities rather than technological obsolescence. These cases highlight how sign-offs endure not as relics but as deliberate mechanisms for signaling , contrasting with market-driven perpetuality in liberal economies.

Regulatory Status in the 2020s

In the United States, the (FCC) mandates that broadcast stations transmit announcements—consisting of the call sign and community of license—at the beginning of their broadcast day (sign-on) and end (sign-off), if such events occur. This requirement, codified in 47 CFR § 73.1201, persists into the despite the near-universal adoption of 24/7 programming by commercial outlets, which eliminates the need for daily sign-offs in practice. The FCC's ongoing efforts, including the elimination of 98 outdated broadcast rules in August 2025, have not altered these identification protocols but underscore the obsolescence of broader operational shutdown mandates from earlier eras. Internationally, major regulatory frameworks exhibit minimal or no requirements for routine sign-on and sign-off procedures, prioritizing instead content standards, , and competition. The European Union's Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), revised in 2018 and transposed by member states by 2020, imposes obligations on video-on-demand and linear services related to quotas for European works (30% of catalogs) and prominence of media, but omits any directives on broadcast day delimiters. Similarly, the (ITU) coordinates global frequency allocations without enforcing sign-off timings, leaving such practices to national discretion amid the dominance of continuous digital streaming. Exceptions endure in select jurisdictions influenced by religious, , or infrastructural factors. In , legislation requires all radio and television stations to cease operations for 25 hours during , the Day of Atonement, observed annually on the 10th of (typically September or ), enforcing a nationwide broadcast blackout as of the . In the , while not universally mandated, major terrestrial networks like and GMA maintain partial sign-offs post-midnight for select channels due to legacy licensing tied to limited hours of operation, though full 24/7 shifts are expanding. Some Gulf states, such as and the UAE, permit or culturally encourage sign-offs incorporating Qur'anic recitations for state broadcasters, but these are not enforced as regulatory minima in updated media laws emphasizing digital convergence over analog-era shutdowns. Overall, empirical trends show regulatory emphasis shifting toward foreign sponsorship disclosures and cybersecurity, with sign-on/sign-off relegated to niche or voluntary compliance.

Debates and Criticisms

Arguments for Tradition and Moral Framing

Proponents of maintaining sign-on and sign-off procedures argue that these rituals preserve cultural continuity and reinforce by bookending broadcasts with symbols of , such as national anthems accompanied by imagery of flags, landmarks, or . In the United States, historical sign-offs featuring "" evoked the War of 1812's resilience and honored military sacrifices, fostering a shared sense of duty among viewers before daily operations ceased. Revivals by station groups like Gray Television and Nexstar in 2019 explicitly aimed to promote national unity amid societal divisions, with executives citing the practice's role in signaling collective allegiance over commercial excess. From a perspective, these procedures frame as a rather than unchecked commerce, instilling virtues of respect and restraint by concluding the day's content with invocations of higher national or spiritual ideals. In regions where sign-offs include religious elements—such as prayers in or —they underscore moral discipline, reminding operators and audiences of ethical boundaries on airwave usage, which historically derived from public spectrum allocations requiring licensee accountability. Critics of 24/7 formats contend that absent such framing, endless programming erodes communal rituals that once prompted reflection on civic responsibilities, potentially weakening social cohesion as evidenced by the cultural for pre-cable era routines that emphasized routine and over perpetual consumption. Empirically, while direct causation studies are limited, the persistence of sign-off traditions in non-Western contexts correlates with stronger national cohesion metrics; for instance, mandatory anthem broadcasts in countries like or serve to affirm state legitimacy and moral order against fragmented media landscapes. Advocates, including broadcast executives, assert that reviving these in divided societies counters polarization by ritualizing unity, as seen in U.S. local stations' 2019-2020 returns to anthem airings despite no technical necessity post-24/7 shifts. This framing prioritizes long-term societal stability over short-term ratings, aligning with first-principles views that media, as a scarce resource, demands periodic deference to collective values to avoid moral drift toward .

Critiques of Mandated Content and Secular Alternatives

Critics of mandated sign-on and sign-off content argue that government requirements to broadcast national anthems or religious invocations impose compelled speech on private broadcasters, infringing on editorial independence and free expression rights. In India, where public broadcaster Doordarshan has played the national anthem at the start and end of transmissions since the 1980s, and private channels face indirect pressure through regulatory norms, opponents have likened such mandates to coercive patriotism that stifles dissent. The Supreme Court's 2016 directive requiring cinemas to play the anthem—later partially reversed in 2018 following challenges from a Kerala film society—drew accusations of violating Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, which protects freedom of speech, as it compelled audiences and exhibitors to participate in state-sanctioned rituals without voluntary consent. Legal experts have emphasized that no statutory obligation exists for theaters or broadcasters to enforce such displays, viewing them as voluntary cultural practices rather than enforceable duties. Similar objections apply to religious content mandates, such as required prayers or Quranic recitations in sign-offs in countries like and , where secular advocates contend they privilege one faith, contravening principles of religious neutrality in public media. In the U.S., historical FCC policies avoiding mandates for religious programming in stemmed from First Amendment concerns over government endorsement of sectarian views, with critics arguing that any compelled inclusion risks establishing or censoring non-conforming broadcasters. Broader regulatory critiques, including opposition to doctrines like the , highlight how government dictates on content—whether patriotic or devotional—distort market-driven programming and invite politicized enforcement, as seen in failed attempts to balance viewpoints that ultimately reduced diversity in . Secular alternatives, such as replacing traditional sign-offs with infomercials, test patterns, or continuous programming, face for prioritizing commercial interests over civic or moral framing, potentially eroding shared national or ethical cohesion. In the transition to 24/7 since the , U.S. stations shifted from anthem-accompanied closures to ad-filled overnights, which some observers argue commodifies airtime at the expense of solemn transitions that once reinforced obligations. Proponents of retaining ceremonial elements contend that abrupt secular substitutions, like paid programming, reflect regulatory deregulation's downsides, filling voids with rather than fostering unity or reflection, though empirical support for such cultural impacts remains debated. These alternatives are also faulted for ignoring broadcaster licenses' historical "" mandate, allowing profit motives to supplant traditions without evidence of superior societal outcomes.

Empirical Impacts on Audience and Society

Broadcast sign-off rituals, particularly those featuring national anthems, have been empirically linked to heightened feelings of and among viewers. An empirical exploration of responses to national anthems found that exposure to one's native country's anthem typically elicits positive emotional reactions, including national , which reinforces individual attachment to . This effect stems from the anthem's role as a symbolic cue that activates shared cultural memories and values, with studies indicating stronger identity-building impacts in younger during formative exposure periods. On a societal level, televised rituals integrated into daily , such as sign-on and sign-off sequences, foster national cohesion by generating emotional experiences. on mediatized cultural rituals demonstrates that repeated broadcasts of content, like anthems or test patterns marking the broadcast day's boundaries, arouse shared beliefs and values among audiences, enhancing social unity and cultural continuity. In contexts where these practices persist, such as certain state-controlled media environments, they serve to perpetuate narratives, though their influence is mediated by broader political framing. Empirical data on broader audience behaviors, such as shifts in or patterns tied directly to sign-off cues, remains limited, with most evidence anecdotal rather than rigorously quantified. However, media rituals in and generally structure audience engagement, signaling normative transitions like the end of the viewing day and potentially mitigating unstructured exposure compared to continuous formats. The decline of these practices correlates with rises in 24-hour media availability, which studies associate with increased psychological strain from saturation, though causal links to the absence of sign-off rituals specifically require further investigation.

References

  1. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/73.1201
  2. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/station-sign-ons-sign-offs-look-back-television-history-leger-tui7e
  3. https://www.irememberjfk.com/when-tv-stations-signed-off-at-midnight/
  4. https://journalnow.com/news/local/article_dac4503a-03ab-11ee-bc56-5f90f76aabce.html
  5. https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/public-and-broadcasting
  6. https://www.yourdictionary.com/sign-on
  7. https://davidsarnoff.tcnj.edu/2017/06/02/item-of-the-week-indian-head-test-card/
  8. https://vermonthistory.org/early-days-of-radio-1920
  9. https://www.quora.com/What-was-radio-broadcasting-in-the-1920s-like-and-what-were-they-usually-about
  10. https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/am-stations-at-night
  11. https://transition.fcc.gov/Reports/1934new.pdf
  12. https://www.cato.org/policy-report/may/june-2018/untold-history-fcc-regulation
  13. https://broadbandbreakfast.com/fcc-repeals-98-antiquated-rules-and-regulations/
  14. https://ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/2025/03/31/redrawing-the-bottom-line-how-fcc-deregulation-reshapes-broadcast-newsrooms/
  15. https://www.qligent.com/resources/blog/the-evolution-of-broadcast-compliance-regulation
  16. https://broadcasting-history.ca/the-history-of-canadian-broadcasting/industry-government/history-of-canadian-broadcast-regulation/the-history-of-canadian-broadcast-regulation/
  17. https://www.quora.com/How-were-TV-and-radio-broadcasts-sign-off-in-the-night-and-sign-on-in-the-morning-in-the-old-days
  18. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2010-title47-vol4/pdf/CFR-2010-title47-vol4-sec73-1201.pdf
  19. https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/common-broadcasting-terms-in-radio-tv/68782540
  20. https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/sponsorship-identification-rules
  21. https://www.mediacollege.com/video/test-patterns/television/indian-head.html
  22. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-90/subpart-N/section-90.425
  23. https://www.cloudrad.io/glossary
  24. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/30/arts/television/national-anthem-tv.html
  25. https://popcultureaffidavit.com/2014/09/14/o-say-does-that-star-spangled-banner-yet-wave-this-concludes-our-broadcast-day/
  26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP-YxQ_AYvY
  27. https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1gu9qg3/til_until_the_1980s_us_television_stations_would/
  28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT40nTFax7U
  29. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRO_2jpx6jE
  30. https://www.reddit.com/r/asklatinamerica/comments/nb851y/does_the_anthem_of_you_country_start_playing_on/
  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P__67fbdZVg
  32. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aICYeqUyNAE
  33. http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/m/v/1228/
  34. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8--BoGlWEo
  35. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Business/Television-and-Religion-SBC-1964.pdf
  36. https://kabayankuwait.com/news/kuwait/kuwait-tv-interrupts-programs-to-broadcast-verses-from-the-holy-quran/
  37. https://tedium.co/2025/01/19/television-test-patterns-history/
  38. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-73/subpart-H/section-73.1201
  39. https://www.departmentofinformation.org/tv-test-cards/
  40. https://www.samimgroup.com/blog/color-bars-broadcast-system/
  41. https://blogs.library.duke.edu/bitstreams/2016/06/23/color-bars-test-patterns/
  42. https://www.videouniversity.com/articles/color-bars-and-how-to-use-em/
  43. https://www.facebook.com/groups/DoYouRememberThe70sFanClub/posts/4115471262054825/
  44. https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/unattended-operation
  45. https://archive.nytimes.com/mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/stations-turn-off-analog-signals-as-digital-tv-deadline-arrives/
  46. https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/friday-marks-final-signoff-for-analog-tv-service/
  47. https://www.npr.org/2023/12/19/1220210879/tv-industry-making-big-changes-to-the-way-stations-transmit-over-the-air-signals
  48. https://www.nab.org/documents/newsRoom/pdfs/Economic_Impact_Tech_Platforms_Broadcast_News.pdf
  49. https://radiodiscussions.com/threads/last-tv-station-to-broadcast-24-hours-a-day-per-market.612688/
  50. https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/radio-history-documents
  51. https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/research/story-of-bbc-television/closedown/
  52. https://transdiffusion.org/2003/02/01/247/
  53. https://www.cbc.ca/archives/true-patriot-love-the-evolving-words-of-canada-s-national-anthem-1.5183755
  54. https://transition.fcc.gov/opportunity/meb_study/broadcast_lic_study_pt1.pdf
  55. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_goO6-TOD4
  56. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C15BreteeAI
  57. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnEWk0KvHGw
  58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDnMYePBRHQ
  59. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/History/Broadcasting-in-the-Arab-World-Boyd-1982-040824.pdf
  60. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCos52azQNBgW63_9uDJoPDA
  61. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Business/Broadcasting-in-Asia-and-the-Pacific-Lent-1978.pdf
  62. https://logos.fandom.com/wiki/Al_Saudiya
  63. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzTeOGCGiVU
  64. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=casJyoW-xlI
  65. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McIc-J2VYfg
  66. https://techcentral.co.za/minister-wants-sabc-to-foster-patriotism/190316/
  67. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVnw5_8_zOc
  68. https://e-archivo.uc3m.es/bitstreams/cc5941da-f996-49b0-a77d-bf30116ea42d/download
  69. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=987913623354700&id=100064082131663&set=a.411083081037760
  70. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8uKFl21ZBg
  71. https://www.facebook.com/groups/iamjamaica/posts/9332040836815829/
  72. https://signons-and-signoffs.fandom.com/wiki/WSVI-TV_sign-off
  73. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMVbjLbAhS9/
  74. https://archive.org/details/sign-off-abv-2-23-03-85
  75. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HZPtiC7YLw
  76. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWk5SvvCeA8
  77. https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/sign-ons-and-offs/9763
  78. https://www.iflscience.com/radio-stations-shut-or-power-down-at-night-because-of-the-laws-of-physics-66833
  79. https://www.edn.com/1st-networked-tv-broadcast-takes-place-january-11-1949/
  80. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/communication-and-mass-media/twenty-four-hour-television-news-cycle-overview
  81. https://radiodiscussions.com/threads/first-tv-station-to-broadcast-24-hours-a-day.612455/
  82. https://radiodiscussions.com/threads/fm-radio-stations-that-play-sign-on-sign-off-messages-at-the-start-end-of-the-day.723893/
  83. https://www.quora.com/Do-any-television-stations-in-the-US-still-sign-off-at-night-and-play-the-National-Anthem-before-ending-their-broadcast-day
  84. https://www.insideradio.com/free/fcc-hits-delete-on-dozens-of-media-rules-and-regulations/article_fde9521f-7f11-40a8-be3b-491e29176fca.html
  85. https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/fcc-looks-to-scrap-98-broadcast-related-rules
  86. https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/avmsd-content-distribution
  87. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/07/16/2024-15259/sponsorship-identification-requirements-for-foreign-government-provided-programming
  88. https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-reason-behind-American-TV-stations-playing-The-Star-Spangled-Banner-at-the-beginning-of-every-broadcast-day-including-newscasts
  89. https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/local/2019/11/05/broadcasts-revive-airing-national-anthem/2368559007/
  90. https://www.facebook.com/knowledgehub707/posts/before-television-became-a-24-hour-medium-american-tv-networks-had-a-nightly-sig/574877951828071/
  91. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/1/9/india-reverses-order-on-national-anthem-at-theatres
  92. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/national-anthem-no-longer-compulsory-120523904.html
  93. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/not-standing-up-for-national-anthem-not-an-offence-say-legal-experts/articleshow/49990165.cms
  94. https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/posts/pbs-public-broadcasting-is-secular
  95. https://www.cato.org/blog/internet-regulation-fairness
  96. https://www.theregreview.org/2025/10/11/seminar-stewardship-or-censorship-at-the-fcc/
  97. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270626694_What_are_your_thoughts_when_the_national_anthem_is_playing_An_empirical_exploration
  98. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10458337/
  99. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1471431/full
  100. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/download/18465/3989
  101. https://oxfordre.com/communication/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.001.0001/acrefore-9780190228613-e-869
  102. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/11/strain-media-overload
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.