The test card usually has a set of line-up patterns, enabling televisions to be adjusted to show the picture correctly. (Compare with color bars[?]). They would also typically be broadcast to a background of specially composed music, to avoid having to pay licencing fees for existing compositions. There is now a cult following for test-card music[?].
Formerly a common sight, test cards are now only rarely seen. Two things have led to the demise of the test card:
See also: trade test transmission[?]
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