ET
You can make a point that it builds up anticipation, but I'm unexpectedly on the side of airing them early.
You get to feel more festive earlier, meaning you technically have a higher level of anticipation than you did under the old system. More pressingly, the BBC pump effort into these - why would they want to throw them away to show for three days only when you can show them for longer and justify the effort more? Sure, they can make a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day ident like they did a few years ago (last year before Oneness, I recall) but show the others throughout the month.
I remember when Christmas presentation was used only from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day (or any “in lieu” bank holidays that followed). A few days maximum. I don’t think the BBC even used any special pres at New Year. Even the ITV regions rarely used any Christmas-themed IVC or presentation until a few days before Christmas, though they did tend to use it until after New Year.
My point is that when Christmas idents are launched at the start of December, by Christmas itself they already look familiar and nothing feels special about Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day pres. If they must start using Christmas-themed idents in early December, set the theme - tease us a bit with the idents but don’t show them all on the first night - keep the best ones back to be showcased on 24th/25th/26th December.
For example - and it’s just an example to demonstrate what I mean - they could have idents featuring different “characters” or objects/props (someone wrapping a present, someone buying a tree - Christmassy enough in themselves) but the final idents show how all these characters/objects come together to form a story you see played out in the Christmas Eve/Christmas Day idents.
My point is that when Christmas idents are launched at the start of December, by Christmas itself they already look familiar and nothing feels special about Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day pres. If they must start using Christmas-themed idents in early December, set the theme - tease us a bit with the idents but don’t show them all on the first night - keep the best ones back to be showcased on 24th/25th/26th December.
For example - and it’s just an example to demonstrate what I mean - they could have idents featuring different “characters” or objects/props (someone wrapping a present, someone buying a tree - Christmassy enough in themselves) but the final idents show how all these characters/objects come together to form a story you see played out in the Christmas Eve/Christmas Day idents.
You can make a point that it builds up anticipation, but I'm unexpectedly on the side of airing them early.
You get to feel more festive earlier, meaning you technically have a higher level of anticipation than you did under the old system. More pressingly, the BBC pump effort into these - why would they want to throw them away to show for three days only when you can show them for longer and justify the effort more? Sure, they can make a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day ident like they did a few years ago (last year before Oneness, I recall) but show the others throughout the month.