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New logo and possibly name coming for S4C

(December 2005)

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ST
Stuart
Andrew posted:
StuartPlymouth posted:
I can't see them changing the name. The only thing they could do is the same as five and drop the word "channel", but 4C wouldn't be much of an improvement, and would make it sound like a subsidiary of C4.


How about calling themselves "Sianel Cymru" or just "SC" for short?


That's probably the most sensible option really following analogue switch-off. But that also raises the question of why C4 and five should be so named when they would just be channels in the digital environment and not really the "fourth" or "Fifth" channels anymore.
MI
Michael
I agree the concept of S4C being Channel 4 in Wales has now been surpassed by both digital satellite and terrestrial enabling viewers in Wales to see Channel 4 "England" as my nan always used to call it. In the future it will simply be a Welsh-only channel (possibly with the addition of Welsh-based English Language programming)

But we've seen what the attempted removal of strong branding has done before. HTV still exists in some parts of Wales by word of mouth. There are still people who use the innaccurate "Channel 3" for ITV. And even Coco Pops couldn't be renamed Choco Krispies. S4C won't go away even if it is remnamed Sianel Cymru or Teledu Cymru.

It was the fourth television channel to launch in Wales, so therefore, historically, the moniker of fourth channel in Wales - S4C - is accurate. It's a call sign - I don't see BBC Radio 1-7 giving up their numbers just because talkSPORT, Virgin and others are muscling in. In fact, the numbers 1-4 replaced non-numerical titles like "Home Service". So any corparate decision that results in the end of "S4C" isn't desirable in my view.
CW
cwathen Founding member
Quote:
Hmm. I don't think we're disagreeing really -- though I might be wrong.

My bad here, I read your originally post wrongly. We actually don't disagree.

Quote:
I'm stuck here again -- I'm saying if 'S4C' is staying [quite unlikely it seems], why change a branding which is just about the only thing about the station which will not alter -- its Welshness?

My reply to that post was said firmly tounge in cheek Smile

Quote:
There are still people who use the innaccurate "Channel 3" for ITV.

It's actually not that inaccurate a term. When the ITC advertised the new licences to run from 1993 they intended for the term 'ITV' as a blanket brand for the ITV Network to discontinue and for 'Channel 3' to replace it. The licences which became effective in January 1993 were not advertised as 'ITV Licences' but as 'Channel 3 Licences'.

This of course didn't happen, but even today OFCOM continue to licence the ITV Network as 'ITV (Channel 3)'

Quote:
S4C - is accurate. It's a call sign - I don't see BBC Radio 1-7 giving up their numbers just because talkSPORT, Virgin and others are muscling in. In fact, the numbers 1-4 replaced non-numerical titles like "Home Service". So any corparate decision that results in the end of "S4C" isn't desirable in my view.

'S4C' isn't a callsign, it's an intialisation which translates into English as 'Channel 4 Wales'. BBC Radio have numbered stations as part of a portfolio of stations - it wasn't like there was ever a 'BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, Capital Radio 3, Joe Bloggs Radio 4' pecking order as there is with TV. Indeed, ITV has abandoned it's 'channel 3' position and despite continuing to be the 3rd channel on every EPG, the channel which appears there calls itself 'ITV1'. For 'S4C' to continue to make sense, there would also need to be an 'S1C', 'S2C' and 'S3C'.

That of course doesn't mean that S4C has to give up it's name (indeed, in what I predict will be difficult times ahead for them, the brand might well turn out to be the biggest asset they have and it might be better to plod on with it - it could then sell itself as the 'original' 4th channel in Wales) but it does mean that you can understand the reason why it is being considered - it's days of being 'Channel 4 Wales' will end when analogue ends in Wales, which would make continuing with the name someone redundant.
MI
Michael
S1C, S2C and S3C? Now you're just being C-lly. Smile

So for S4C to make sense the three above must exist? Not necessarily. What about E1, E2 and E3? Or More1, More2 and More3? Nations 100-216 don't exist, and Channel 425 is just taking the biscuit. Yes 660 has negated its 659 previous incarnations, and BBC News 24 doesn't have 23 cousins Laughing

OK so that's a bit facetious, but this obsession with correct naming and over-zealous corporate branding is leading to channels trying to out-bland each other. Channel Four Television Corporation won't change its name, neither will Five TV.

And do I remember an old analogue cable channel called Channel One?
MO
Moz
Why not just call it PEDWAR?

(Welsh for FOUR)
PH
phileasfogg
I really like the idea of Pedwar.
MD
mdtauk
phileasfogg posted:
I really like the idea of Pedwar.

Perhaps it could work...
http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/pedwarideas.gif
EY
the eye
martinDTanderson posted:
phileasfogg posted:
I really like the idea of Pedwar.

Perhaps it could work...
http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/pedwarideas.gif


I really like them, but they dont really look like a logo for tv, more of an oil or petrol brand.
ST
Stuart
Nice logos Martin, and also an inventive name for the channel, retaining enough of the current one when they change to being a welsh language only channel.
BR
Brekkie
Love the logos - but I doubt they'll rename it Pedwar as it's no better than S4C~ - and I expect it'll only be renamed due to the numbering situation.

17 days later

TV
TVDragon
Well now it seems S4C are introducing new style promo endboards for the first time in seven years.

Still using christmas ones and new year ones of course, and normal ones for new year ones -- as well as christmas idents, normal idents and no doubt, from tomorrow, new year idents.

How slapdash.

I do doubt there will be any more new idents made mind you -- the last lot have been pi ss poor, apart from the one with the vacuum in it.

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/tvdragon/s4ctt1.jpg
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/tvdragon/s4ctt2.jpg
BR
Brekkie
Simple, but nice enough.

I don't watch S4C now as regularly as I did, but there hasn't been new idents in ages. I think it be good for S4C to ditch the older idents and concentrate on the white ones with the red logo (matching these promos), then introduce some new ones with it.

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