MI
We had thoughts, and opinions, at the time. Go back in the archive and read them at your leisure.
https://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/new-channel-4-ident-9880/
https://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/new-channel-4-ident-s-shown-22633/
https://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/new-channel-4-ident-16870/
https://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/new-channel-4-ident-daytime-special-22042/
https://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/new-channel-four-ident-21040/
https://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/new-channel-4-idents-22294/
https://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/complaints-ofcom-c4-ident-24856/
https://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/new-channel-4-ident-9880/
https://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/new-channel-4-ident-s-shown-22633/
https://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/new-channel-4-ident-16870/
https://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/new-channel-4-ident-daytime-special-22042/
https://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/new-channel-four-ident-21040/
https://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/new-channel-4-idents-22294/
https://www.tvforum.co.uk/tvhome/complaints-ofcom-c4-ident-24856/
BH
BillyH
Founding member
I forgot they lasted that long, they’re very evocative of the mid-late 2000s for me - episodes of Deal or No Deal, middle-era Big Brother and Peep Show.
Fantastically done and the CGI used is extremely clever and hasn’t dated at all. I think there’s some digital “camera wobble” in many to sell the effect further.
Fantastically done and the CGI used is extremely clever and hasn’t dated at all. I think there’s some digital “camera wobble” in many to sell the effect further.
VM
I’m going to be controversial here and say that, whilst they were well-made and I admired them production wise, I never particularly loved them as channel idents. I also think they were used for far too long; there was a real missed opportunity to have a proper revamp around the time of the ‘creative renewal’ after Big Brother ended and before the Paralympics.
GE
thegeek
Founding member
I was always a fan of how they'd give them room to breathe. 40-odd seconds of Tokyo? Go on, then
JJ
Juicy Joe
Founding member
I feel these idents are way superior to the current Channel 4 idents and the previous 2015 idents. They are more imaginative and the soundtrack which was different for each one, dramatic. Yes, they were allowed to breathe and you usually would see the whole playout of each ident, especially in prime-time. Seeing how the 4 logo would form up was always exciting and albeit, it was only on screen briefly, you still knew you were watching Channel 4. Although Channel 4 idents have been creative since, nothing has yet come close to matching the precision and variety of the 2004-2015 set.
VM
This is something I wish BBC One could have done more with the 2006 idents. Unfortunately they often couldn't so we ended up with the bad edits with inferior soundtracks instead.
I was always a fan of how they'd give them room to breathe. 40-odd seconds of Tokyo? Go on, then
This is something I wish BBC One could have done more with the 2006 idents. Unfortunately they often couldn't so we ended up with the bad edits with inferior soundtracks instead.
JJ
This is something I wish BBC One could have done more with the 2006 idents. Unfortunately they often couldn't so we ended up with the bad edits with inferior soundtracks instead.
BBC1 idents which were almost as long as the Channel 4 ones, boasted equally impressive production values. It was such a shame they were re-edited 2-3 yeas after debuting and the soundtracks were also not as dramatic. I'm not sure why they did this, at the time, it was thought it was a way to get the "BBC One" logo on screen more quickly. However, they were still far better than what we've seen since.
Getting back on subject though, this is a Channel 4 discussion thread...
Juicy Joe
Founding member
I was always a fan of how they'd give them room to breathe. 40-odd seconds of Tokyo? Go on, then
This is something I wish BBC One could have done more with the 2006 idents. Unfortunately they often couldn't so we ended up with the bad edits with inferior soundtracks instead.
BBC1 idents which were almost as long as the Channel 4 ones, boasted equally impressive production values. It was such a shame they were re-edited 2-3 yeas after debuting and the soundtracks were also not as dramatic. I'm not sure why they did this, at the time, it was thought it was a way to get the "BBC One" logo on screen more quickly. However, they were still far better than what we've seen since.
Getting back on subject though, this is a Channel 4 discussion thread...
VM
This is something I wish BBC One could have done more with the 2006 idents. Unfortunately they often couldn't so we ended up with the bad edits with inferior soundtracks instead.
BBC1 idents which were almost as long as the Channel 4 ones, boasted equally impressive production values. It was such a shame they were re-edited 2-3 yeas after debuting and the soundtracks were also not as dramatic. I'm not sure why they did this, at the time, it was thought it was a way to get the "BBC One" logo on screen more quickly. However, they were still far better than what we've seen since.
I believe that was the main reason, that the announcers were talking over most of the form-up and the logo would sometimes not be on screen very long before going into the programme. However the edits weren't great either as the logo now formed-up before the circular overhead shot appeared - really messy and cheapened those idents IMO.
I was always a fan of how they'd give them room to breathe. 40-odd seconds of Tokyo? Go on, then
This is something I wish BBC One could have done more with the 2006 idents. Unfortunately they often couldn't so we ended up with the bad edits with inferior soundtracks instead.
BBC1 idents which were almost as long as the Channel 4 ones, boasted equally impressive production values. It was such a shame they were re-edited 2-3 yeas after debuting and the soundtracks were also not as dramatic. I'm not sure why they did this, at the time, it was thought it was a way to get the "BBC One" logo on screen more quickly. However, they were still far better than what we've seen since.
I believe that was the main reason, that the announcers were talking over most of the form-up and the logo would sometimes not be on screen very long before going into the programme. However the edits weren't great either as the logo now formed-up before the circular overhead shot appeared - really messy and cheapened those idents IMO.
JJ
BBC1 idents which were almost as long as the Channel 4 ones, boasted equally impressive production values. It was such a shame they were re-edited 2-3 yeas after debuting and the soundtracks were also not as dramatic. I'm not sure why they did this, at the time, it was thought it was a way to get the "BBC One" logo on screen more quickly. However, they were still far better than what we've seen since.
I believe that was the main reason, that the announcers were talking over most of the form-up and the logo would sometimes not be on screen very long before going into the programme. However the edits weren't great either as the logo now formed-up before the circular overhead shot appeared - really messy and cheapened those idents IMO.
You could say that about all of Central's idents - the announcer would talk over the form-up every time and the music. They wouldn't wait until the music and animation had finished. Apart from the very early initial globe idents and the final 1997 idents after the handover from GMTV to the regional stations, a quick 2.5 second ident then after the animation, a quick "Good Morning from Central where it's the start of the week, means another clean sheet, for Bob Mills and friends." or similar. Despite this, talking over their idents never cheapened the ident and still remain some of the best idents we've seen.
Getting back on subject though, this is a Channel 4 discussion thread...
Juicy Joe
Founding member
This is something I wish BBC One could have done more with the 2006 idents. Unfortunately they often couldn't so we ended up with the bad edits with inferior soundtracks instead.
BBC1 idents which were almost as long as the Channel 4 ones, boasted equally impressive production values. It was such a shame they were re-edited 2-3 yeas after debuting and the soundtracks were also not as dramatic. I'm not sure why they did this, at the time, it was thought it was a way to get the "BBC One" logo on screen more quickly. However, they were still far better than what we've seen since.
I believe that was the main reason, that the announcers were talking over most of the form-up and the logo would sometimes not be on screen very long before going into the programme. However the edits weren't great either as the logo now formed-up before the circular overhead shot appeared - really messy and cheapened those idents IMO.
You could say that about all of Central's idents - the announcer would talk over the form-up every time and the music. They wouldn't wait until the music and animation had finished. Apart from the very early initial globe idents and the final 1997 idents after the handover from GMTV to the regional stations, a quick 2.5 second ident then after the animation, a quick "Good Morning from Central where it's the start of the week, means another clean sheet, for Bob Mills and friends." or similar. Despite this, talking over their idents never cheapened the ident and still remain some of the best idents we've seen.
Getting back on subject though, this is a Channel 4 discussion thread...