i suspect its meant to be an interpretation on their style. however I don't think they've used that gappy style anywhere ekse since the new branding was introduced years ago so it just looks out of place.
Their CMSs are disjoined and complex too.
Funny thing is, back in the days of 99/2000 i remember C4's site was as fab as the BBC's, whereas itv still had loads of odd itv-sitename.co.uk sites
As ever, the site looks like arse. It's a bit like they forgot to design it.
However, I am impressed by the programmes site - http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-it-crowd for example, the linking of clips to episodes is something that's done well compared to BBC's /programmes/, and it's much more visual with a screengrab to represent each episode.
I would have liked the BBC's to be more detailed on their radio shows - for example, listing what features and tracks were played on each Radio 1 show, and integrating Chris Moyles' running order into it.
Ignoring the fact this is a slight tangent with Programme site discussions... Hopefully when the /music/ beta gets going more we'll see that long awaited integration. Speaking of Radio, as well as the Labs Blog, another way to pick up a bit of information, it's an odd one, but one of the internet guys Sam occasionally posts on Unofficial Mills - http://www.unofficialmills.co.uk/communities/showthread.php?t=10460&page=3
But yes, I'm particularly impressed with The It Crowd linking clips to episode. Now, the BBC have tons of clips of Live at the Apollo, but they're not in EMP, only on YouTube, and not linked from programmes... and even without making a full subsite, Channel 4 have done it rather nicely.
Though it'd be nice for C4 to hire, oh I don't know, visual designers.
The header actually looked half-decent before, but now it just reminds me of the horrible ITV.com effort. Channel 4 seems to have lost it a little on the design-front recently.
Seems to just be a rehash job of the site in order to remove evidence of 4Radio.
I wish they'd rebrand the "Watch Online" service as 4oD too - no reason to have the two separate brands going, and 4oD works fine as a brand. And as successful as the iPlayer has been, I hope C4 tell the BBC where to stuff it with their offer to share technology considering they had 4oD up and running a good 12 months before hand.
However, what iPlayer does do better is the web interface: not counting the Peer to Peer Bandwidth Sapping app, the Channel 4 site is pretty much a drop down menu to choose a show.
And not being tied to Microsoft platforms through use of WMV only.
It's true, it's impressive that Channel 4 got 4OD going well early, the service was working, they got the brand going well (both things ITV cocked up on)... but further development seems to have lagged a bit. And the lack of simulcasting is a pity, I watched Channel 4 more when the simulcast trial was going than I do now/before then.
But, 4OD's other strengths, purchasable content and free archive content supported by ads... that's not to be snuffed at.
And as successful as the iPlayer has been, I hope C4 tell the BBC where to stuff it with their offer to share technology considering they had 4oD up and running a good 12 months before hand.
Yes, they had it up and running first, but this was no technological victory. C4's offering is all off-the-shelf stuff, whereas the BBC was bogged down by a combination of actually developing a number of their own technologies (rather than just having to design a vile frontend like 4OD), and having to go through a slower process of approval.