BBC 2 are axing their current channel idents

November 14, 2001 3:49 PM

BBC 2 are axing their current channel idents One of the pleasures of this UKtv channel is seeing how they'll be banging, crashing or stretching that little number two. Is this a revolutionary development or just another example of meddling from a channel which is having trouble finding an identity within the UK's multi-channel future?
posted by feelinglistless (17 comments total)

It was hard for me to belive that this wasn't about IRC as I read it.

Anyway, I'm sure that as this channel has evolved these for over 10 years they've changed their station-IDs (the US term). I don't see how it could be considered 'revolutionary'
posted by delmoi at 4:01 PM on November 14, 2001

I really liked the old idents and these seem to be in a similar vein, no matter what the BBC says (i.e. giving the '2' a personality). So no, not revolutionary.
posted by Summer at 4:05 PM on November 14, 2001

The BBC seems to employ an awesome collection of graphic designers. We get BBC World (not to be confused with BBC Canada or BBC America) here on digital cable. There credits, promos and bumpers are lushly coloured but generally feature simple visual elements. (My husband has become just a little tired of my frequent exclamations of pleasure over the visuals, so I've decided to take today's fangirl gushing here instead).

(This just in ... those 8 aid workers held by the Taliban for "preaching Christianity" have been released. An uncredited American source says that this was the result of some unspecified military action).
posted by maudlin at 4:08 PM on November 14, 2001

Bizarre place to slip in a world news update maudlin - but thanks for the tip! - ;)
posted by kokogiak at 4:20 PM on November 14, 2001

I know the designer responsible for the BBC logo! And the design elements of the new Website! But that's not interesting to anyone but me is it? I'm off to bed.
posted by Summer at 4:21 PM on November 14, 2001

they'll be banging, crashing or stretching that little number two

"That's it! You show that turd who's boss!"

hehehehehehehehehe
posted by Kafkaesque at 4:33 PM on November 14, 2001

I used to have nightmares about that doll. Evil, I tells ya.
posted by dlewis at 4:38 PM on November 14, 2001

Bizarre place to slip in a world news update maudlin

I was watching BBC World at the time, so it's not all *that* bizarre, really. I'd hate to have anyone think I just watched the Beeb for all the preeeetty colours ...
posted by maudlin at 4:39 PM on November 14, 2001

One eye on Mefi, the other on the Beeb. Not a bad situation, I suppose.
posted by kokogiak at 4:42 PM on November 14, 2001

just another example of meddling from a channel which is having trouble finding an identity within the UK's multi-channel future?

what do you mean, meddling? they're only changing their logos, they do it periodically, and i wouldn't have said they were having trouble finding an identity, bbc2 has always had a strong identity as far as i can tell, more so than any of the new cable or digital channels i have ever seen - i would say it is the new channels who are at the moment probably struggling to establish an identity!
posted by mokey at 5:48 PM on November 14, 2001

WHY IS THERE NO CHANNEL 1 ON AMERICAN TELEVISIONS? WHERE DID IT GO?
posted by ParisParamus at 5:52 PM on November 14, 2001

Channel 1 originally shared spectrum space with FM radio under the pretense that the two wouldn't appreciably interfere. That proved to be a false assumption, though; when The Powers That Be redistributed things to rectify the problem, FM radio got to keep the Channel 1 frequencies for itself. More or less, anyway. More detailed info on the matter here.
posted by youhas at 6:51 PM on November 14, 2001

wow. I am impressed.
posted by ParisParamus at 6:54 PM on November 14, 2001

thanks paris, for reminding me about a question i had forgotten to keep asking, and thanks youhas, for answering it. you learn something new every day, especially at metafilter.
posted by lotsofno at 7:52 PM on November 14, 2001

I specialize in displacing Mefi threads to Tangentland. Tangents are the spice of life.
posted by ParisParamus at 8:02 PM on November 14, 2001

I'm amused that there are Britons who are saddened by 24-hour television programming, because it means they won't be able to see test cards anymore.
posted by gimonca at 8:05 AM on November 15, 2001

I'm amused that there are Britons who are saddened by 24-hour television programming, because it means they won't be able to see test cards anymore.

Oh come on -- there wasn't anything better in the 1980s than being off sick from school and listening to the test card music and hoping the girl with the chalk sitting next to the clown would finally finish her maths.
posted by feelinglistless at 11:31 AM on November 15, 2001