As a personal professional point, in 1980, TV weathercasters were using magnetic weather symbols on a metal-based map to indicate temperatures, frontal boundaries, and even rain/snow. Current weather conditions were shown on individual weather "dials" on set that would be shown on camera and panned to the next weather dial. Local current temperatures, barometric pressure, wind direction, and wind speed dials would be shown on some TV stations. The screen would include white electronic lower thirds to identify someone on camera. We were still a decade or two away from the colorful digital lower third graphics we see on newscasts now. Channel "bugs" or station logos on the corner of the screen were not yet being used in most markets.

 

Cable TV

 

Cable TV in 1980 featured the "cable box," a set-top box with 12 to 36 mechanical push buttons, or a plain box that connected to the antenna terminals (VHF), pushing up to 12 channels onto your 25-inch CRT screen. If your cable box had switchable channels, it was probably connected to the VHF antenna terminal, and your TV tuner was set to channel 3 or 4, where you would receive your cable TV stations. Most homes just had it connected to the living room TV. If you had a smaller portable set in another room, it often relied on VHF/UHF rabbit-ear antennas.

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The stations received were mostly broadcast channels, often including duplicate network affiliates from nearby markets. Cable stations included for some TBS-Superstation, Nickelodeon, ESPN, and CNN. Premium channels included HBO, Showtime, The Movie Channel, or maybe even Playboy. The local origination channel was mostly a digital weather screen displaying the forecast and/or current weather conditions, with perhaps a few advertising slides interrupting the weather information. 

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Video Tape Recording Technology

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VCR's were making an appearance, but they proved costly initially. They were introduced as early as 1976 or 1977, mostly in electronics stores, but spread to department stores by 1980. A typical VHS VCR would record for 2 hours on a $25 VHS tape. The units would cost up to $1,200 at that time. The Sony Betamax was also available at similar costs, and promised better video quality. Tapes wouldn't run for only an hour. Not enough to record a movie, which put the standard at a significant disadvantage in the upcoming years, even after Sony offered slower tape speeds and longer tapes, the quality of the video was reduced. 

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Radio Station Technology

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Radio stations were primarily live, although station groups used radio automation from the 1960s to power up and air separate, non-profitable FM programming until the early to mid 1970s. By 1980, the tide was beginning to turn as many FM stations were airing live programming, drawing audiences away from AM music stations. Other FM stations were using automation with live local DJs, while some of the syndicators of automated music formats began to struggle, and the concept of satellite-delivered radio formats was being discussed as a better, cheaper way to distribute and operate syndicated formats, especially in smaller markets.

Music was still played off vinyl at most local stations, while others played carted music on two-track endless-loop tape cartridges. Programming features like station jingles, sound effects, and commercials were also played on endless-loop cartridges. The general use of CD's in broadcasting wouldn't come for another decade.