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Licensed Stocking Fillers - Dodgy Branding

(December 2013)

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SP
Steve in Pudsey
It is (just about) conceivable that the publicity card was designed 12/18 months in advanced of the programme's debut and so the logo was still 'correct' at the time - which perhaps is where all of these 'dodgy branding' examples came from; they were current when designed and have just been saved up and used now.


But the last BBC1 (as opposed to BBC or BBC TV) logo to look like that was the 1972 globe, replaced by both the Futura and stripey variants and the COW. The legend from the COW globe would have been the more likely in your just about conceivable scenario.
VM
VMPhil
It is (just about) conceivable that the publicity card was designed 12/18 months in advanced of the programme's debut and so the logo was still 'correct' at the time - which perhaps is where all of these 'dodgy branding' examples came from; they were current when designed and have just been saved up and used now.


But the last BBC1 (as opposed to BBC or BBC TV) logo to look like that was the 1972 globe, replaced by both the Futura and stripey variants and the COW. The legend from the COW globe would have been the more likely in your just about conceivable scenario.

From what I've read the rounded logo was still used on copyright notices up until 1990. The BBC didn't seem particularly brand conscious until the mid-90s so it's possible it was still available for use.
WP
WillPS
The BBC would create tapes from the same master in some cases for decades. I'm sure there's a YouTube video which shows the COW on a video tape manufactured around 2000.
WH
Whataday Founding member
My favourite use of all 'dodgy branding' though has to be the BBC-branded Cassettes and VHS tapes, which into the 2000's were still being produced new with the old BBC logo and they also had the 1988 BBC Sport Globe on them for no obvious reason. It was only during the final couple of years of BBC-branded media that you could get versions with the 1997 logo on them.


I believe the reason the branding didn't change on the blank 'BBC' VHS tapes was that they were produced in such huge quantities that they didn't run out for years. I don't think I ever saw one with a 1997 logo on. The logo was badly drawn too.

I don't think anyone ever worked out the reason for the BBC Sport globe though.
CW
cwathen Founding member
My favourite use of all 'dodgy branding' though has to be the BBC-branded Cassettes and VHS tapes, which into the 2000's were still being produced new with the old BBC logo and they also had the 1988 BBC Sport Globe on them for no obvious reason. It was only during the final couple of years of BBC-branded media that you could get versions with the 1997 logo on them.


I believe the reason the branding didn't change on the blank 'BBC' VHS tapes was that they were produced in such huge quantities that they didn't run out for years. I don't think I ever saw one with a 1997 logo on. The logo was badly drawn too.

I don't think anyone ever worked out the reason for the BBC Sport globe though.

1997 logo'd VHS tapes definitely did exist for a short while around 2002/03 just before VHS ceased to be the dominant platform for home recording. I have a couple in my attic.
WH
Whataday Founding member
1997 logo'd VHS tapes definitely did exist for a short while around 2002/03 just before VHS ceased to be the dominant platform for home recording. I have a couple in my attic.


Actually, now you say that, I have a vague memory of them. Were the cases predominantly black in colour?
WP
WillPS
Are you sure there were blank BBC branded tapes with the 1997 logo? I can't remember any, and I can't find any on Google either (that's not to say they don't exist - I'd be curious to see what they looked like).

I remember that there was Sky branded media with both the old (pre-digital) and new (post-digital) logo for a good while.
WH
Whataday Founding member
Are you sure there were blank BBC branded tapes with the 1997 logo? I can't remember any, and I can't find any on Google either (that's not to say they don't exist - I'd be curious to see what they looked like)..


I have a vague memory of a black and gold cover with a white BBC logo.
TH
Thinker
I have a vague memory of a black and gold cover with a white BBC logo.

?

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/159/439592477_0ba8f26dfa_z.jpg
BR
Brekkie
Wonder if that lifetime guarantee still holds.
RO
robertclark125
I remember in the 1990s mum bought some VHS blank cassettes, with the BBC logo on them, but the globe was the origial 1988 colour, and with a blue background, and the stripey BBC logo. I'm sure mum got them out of Currys.
WH
Whataday Founding member
Yes, spot the badly drawn BBC logo:
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