Snub TV – Nostalgia Central

1 9 8 9 – 1 9 9 1 (UK)
31 x 30 minute episodes

Broadcast as part of the BBC’s DEF II youth programming strand, which had been introduced by Janet Street-Porter, Snub TV highlighted new musical artists, many of them unsigned by record companies.

The show featured musical artists including The Fall, Butthole Surfers, Dinosaur Jr, The Pixies (in their first UK TV appearance), Throwing Muses, New Order, The Stone Roses, The Sundays, Napalm Death, 808 State, Cocteau Twins, Primal Scream, Happy Mondays, Sonic Youth, Yello, Jesus Jones, The Wedding Present, Wire, The Shamen, The Mekons, The Chills, The Cramps, Big Audio Dynamite, James, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Lemonheads, KLF, Inspiral Carpets, The Soup Dragons, Cabaret Voltaire, My Bloody Valentine, Manic Street Preachers, The Boo Radleys, Teenage Fanclub, The The, and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin.

The programme used a combination of video, live footage, guest artists, label profiles, feature subjects and interviews to present what the show regarded as the most essential – and ignored – non-chart music of the time.

Snub TV was known for its raw, “no-frills” production style. Early episodes were shot on a shoestring budget of roughly £700.

The BBC axed Snub TV in August 1991.

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