<Li> On television stations, a video and / or photo montage set to the national anthem or another patriotic piece of music may be played; on radio stations, this would just consist of the music, usually the national anthem . The accompanying television video usually involves images of the national flag, head of states, national heroes, national military, national symbols, or other nationalistic imagery, particularly on state - owned broadcasters . </Li> <Li> The station may display some type of novelty item, such as an animated character, particular to that station or its locale . </Li> <Li> The display of a test pattern, a variation on the station logo, or a black signal, often accompanied by a monotone sound for a short period of time; radio stations may just play a monotone . In Germany, before switching to the test card (especially ARD and ZDF), a slide with the logo and the noun "Sendeschluss" or "Sendeschluß" is shown, before slowly fades to black . This means if a viewer (especially knowing German language) sees the word "Sendeschluss" it means the viewer should turn off their television sets . In ARD, while showing testcard, a female voiceover repeats itself, instead of playing tone . </Li> <Li> Viewers may be warned to remember to turn off their television sets just prior to the transmitter being switched off; these announcements were particularly common in the early days of television, but are still in regular practice in some places; in Russia this was common until the mid-90s, and in Japan this was also common in some prefectures when there is no 24 / 7 - hour service available (Toyama, Nagano, etc .) </Li>

When did tv stop shutting off at midnight