Launch BBC One North

[Inspector Sands]

Even 25 years ago Channel 5 had the ability to target an individual transmitter, and any configuration of transmitters they wished with bespoke content. They had 4 main, and 4 standby D-Sat feeds, that routinely were used to provide 4 macro ad regions, but it was all instantly re configurable I think ?

I think the only time it was used in anger, was to run a barker on new transmitters while they were in test transmission mode.

Ironically, I don't think they have anything like that flexibility today !

I'm not sure it was instantly reconfigurable but that's essentially how it worked. There were 4 feeds of Channel 5 and their playout area was set up for 4 advertising regions. They were distributed on 2 satellites (2 on each) and the transmitter sites could use any of the 4 for their feed. 
They were used to create advertising regions but theoretically they could reconfigure in any combination they wanted. 

That was the original set up anyway, two things changed - firstly a storm wiped out the feed to Croydon taking it off air in London for a while one evening, so a fibre feed was put in for that one transmitter, I don't think it was given a new region though. 

The other change was that it was the first terrestrial channel to be carried on Astra, IIRC there was a test signal on that in the early days that identified it as Region 5, so presumably they expanded their playout to do that. 

But yes as you say they don't have that ability any more, it seems to be a single national service