BBC Studios Home Entertainment Warning Screens

1980-1981

Warning: On a black background, we see the warning text in a Futura font, which is like this:

THIS VIDEO CASSETTE
MAY NOT BE PERFORMED IN PUBLIC,
BROADCAST, HIRED, LOANED, COPIED
OR REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY

FX/SFX: Just the simple fade-in and fade-out.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Extremely rare. Can be seen on the very first BBC Video titles, such as Great Railways: Flying Scotsman.

Scare Factor: None.

1981-1984

Warning: On a black background is different warning text, which is like this:

THE RECORDING, COPYING, LOAN,
UNAUTHORISED HIRE, PUBLIC SHOWING
OR BROADCASTING OF THIS
BBC VIDEOGRAM, IS PROHIBITED.

Variant: On the children's video BeebTots, the background is green.

FX/SFX: Just the simple fade-in and fade-out.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Extremely rare. Seen on BBC Video's earliest tapes.

Scare Factor: None.

1984

Warning: On a black background, the warning text from the previous warning appears along with a new notice this time, which is like this:

The recording, copying, loan,
unauthorised hire, public
showing or broadcasting
of this BBC Videogram,
is prohibited.

This videogram was produced
on behalf of BBC Enterprises Ltd.

FX/SFX: Just the simple fade-in and fade-out.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Even rarer than the last warning, seen on early 1984 BBC Video tapes, including the original pre-cert release of Doctor Who: The Brain of Morbius and Abigail's Party.

Scare Factor: None.

1984-1988

Warning: On a black background, the same text from the previous warning types in. The first paragraph is colored yellow, and the second paragraph is colored blue.

FX/SFX: The words typing in.

Music/Sounds: None. On some tapes however, if you listen really closely, you can hear the 1984 version of the BBC Video logo music playing over it.

Availability: Rare. Seen on BBC Video tapes until 1988.

Scare Factor: None.

1988-1991

Warning: On a black background, we see the warning text from the previous warning, flying in. It's like this:

The recording, copying, loan,
unauthorised hire, public
showing or broadcasting
of this BBC Enterprises
videogram is prohibited.

After several seconds, it flies out, segueing into the BBC Video "COW Globe" logo.

Variants:

• On a Rupert the Bear VHS by WHSmith Video, the warning takes place on a white-black gradient, with the words in black. At the end of the tape, it takes place on a red gradient, with the words in white.
• On a Postman Pat VHS by WHSmith Video, the BBC Enterprises reference was gone.

FX/SFX: The flying effects.

Music/Sounds: None, but at the end, a low humming sound that segues into the BBC Video "COW Globe" music.

Availability: Seen on BBC Video tapes using the "COW Globe" logo.

Scare Factor: Minimal to low.

1991-present

Tracking Control Screen: On a black background, white text in Futura typeface scrolls up and stops at the center. It reads:

IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF ANY
PICTURE INTERFERENCE, PLEASE
ADJUST YOUR VIDEO RECORDER'S
TRACKING CONTROL.
THIS WILL, IN MOST CASES, RECTIFY
BOTH SOUND AND PICTURE QUALITY.

Warning: On a black background, white text again in Futura typeface scrolls up and stops at the center, that reveals to be the warning text from the previous warning. It reads:

THE RECORDING, COPYING, LOAN,
UNAUTHORISED HIRE, PUBLIC
SHOWING OR BROADCASTING
OF THIS BBC ENTERPRISES
VIDEOGRAM IS PROHIBITED.

Variants:

• At the end of BBC videotapes, the warning fades in and fades out. However, this does not occur on post-1997 videotapes.
• Starting in 1995, the words "BBC ENTERPRISES" were replaced by "BBC WORLDWIDE" due to the company's rename.
• From October 1997 onward, the font in the text has been changed to Gill Sans.
• On DVD releases, the word "VIDEOGRAM" was replaced by "DVD-VIDEO"
• On some 2000s BBC videotapes, The Tracking Control Screen and the Warning Screen's Aspect Ratio is set to 16:9 widescreen to possibly match with the program's aspect ratio.
• On the BBC Active DVDS, "BBC WORLDWIDE" is replaced with "BBC ACTIVE".

FX/SFX: The scrolling.

Music/Sounds: None. But sometimes, on 1990s re-prints of the 1980s BBC videotapes, you can briefly hear the faint music from the previous BBC Video logo.

Availability: Seen on BBC Video releases have been recorded in SP, LP, or EP/SLP Mode from the era, including the first three Wallace & Gromit shorts. Also seen on American BBC releases by CBS-Fox Video (until 2000) including Blackadder's Christmas Carol and Warner Home Video (later 2000).

Scare Factor: None.

Final Note: When BBC Video merged with Video Collection International in 2004, it went to use the warnings from 2 Entertain.