UTV archive

A partnership between PRONI and Northern Ireland Screen has been set up to digitise key elements of the UTV archive and make them publically available. This partnership aims to safeguard this important part of Northern Ireland's broadcast heritage and to encourage public access to it.

Access to digitised material from the UTV archive

The first point of access to the UTV Archive is the Digital Film Archive (DFA). Dedicated DFA kiosks are located in the PRONI search room and on the ground floor, where material can be viewed free of charge. Much of the UTV content on the DFA can be accessed anywhere with an internet connection. New content will be added as more material is digitised.

Access to material that has not yet been digitised

If you want to enquire about material within the UTV archive that is not yet available on the DFA, you can contact PRONI by email or letter (details below). Complete a request form providing as much information about your request as possible.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
2 Titanic Boulevard
Titanic Quarter
Belfast
BT3 9HQ

Email: access@communities-ni.gov.uk

Telephone: 028 9053 4800

Processing your request

You will be advise what records are held that may be relevant to your request. Facilitating access to material from the UTV archive depends on the item being available in an accessible format, the condition of the material, and securing permission from the copyright holder. Note public access to un-broadcast UTV news and programming is not permitted unless permission is secured from UTV. It may take time to investigate your request but you will be kept updated on progress.

Viewing Material from the UTV Archive

Once your request has been processed, you can view material from the UTV archive in a viewing facility in PRONI on an appointment basis. Appointments must be made at least two weeks before viewing. If you need to cancel your appointment, you need to give at least 24 hours’ notice.

If you are visiting PRONI for the first time, you need to register as a PRONI reader. See the registration section of the website for further information.

On arrival to PRONI, tell reception that you have an appointment to view material from the UTV collection. Reception will let a member of staff know that you've arrived and you will then be escorted to the UTV viewing facility.

Costs

There is no charge to view material from the UTV archive that is held on an accessible format. However, much of the UTV collection held at PRONI is in an inaccessible format and has not yet been transferred to a digital file or reference tape. In order to view or access any title that is on 16mm, 35mm, one inch or U-matic tape format, it must first be transferred (digitised), which will incur a fee.

If you wish to view material from the collection held on an inaccessible format, PRONI will forward your request to UTV, who will advise you of the costs involved. You can then decide if you wish to go ahead with your request. Once the material has been digitised, you can view it in the viewing facility in PRONI on an appointment basis.

Lending and copying material

There is no lending or copying facility available.

Future use of material from the UTV archive

If you wish to quote from or reference material from within the UTV archive in print, online or through any other means, you must first contact PRONI for permission. For further information, email access@communities-ni.gov.uk

Academic researchers

All academic researchers must provide a written submission from their educational organisation in order for their request to be considered. Academic researchers who wish to access and view broadcast material which is held at PRONI in an accessible format should follow the steps above and have the same restrictions. Content is only available for viewing onsite at PRONI’s facility and personal copies of material from the collection cannot be provided.

Production companies and professional researchers

Any commercial requests for access to UTV material must be sent through to ITV, the copyright holder of material. You can contact ITV at clipsales@itv.com for further information.

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?

report a problem

leave feedback

ask a question

Report a problem

Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

A link, button or video is not working

There is a spelling mistake

Information is missing, outdated or wrong

I can't find what I'm looking for

Another issue

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

Tell us more about the problem you're having with the nidirect website.

Enter your feedback

What is your question about?

Choose a topic for your question:

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit. Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme, email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about 60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. We don't have access to information about you.

Extra comments (optional)