BBC News 24

So News 24 moved to it's new position (opposite where it is now) in late 1998, with it's flags motif visible etched in the glass, then less than a year later the flags were dropped. That's why I think it was a waste of money.

In making that judgement, you've got the benefit of hindsight. I doubt in 1998, the News 24 management knew they were going to be completely rebranding the following year. And even if they did, they had to make a set for the channel because BBC World had taken their home. I don't think it would have been appropriate to present for a whole year from an unattractive pokey corner of the newsroom.

When News 24 moved to its current location from the what is now BBC World Newsroom it was still only available on cable i believe. Still only recieving small (if at sometimes any) numbers of viewers. News 24 was probably on trial for quite a few months/years before they knew what they were going to do with it. I doubt anyone had at this point even thought about creating a new brand across all of BBC News. Lets not forget though that the flags were a brand in there own right as they were used for BBC World, BBC News 24, Radio 5 Live, BBC News Online. Infact one of the only places the flags never made it to was BBC News bulletins on BBC One & Two. When Digital tv kicked off that is where News 24's audience gradually began to grow. i think it was aided by the fact Weekend 24 and BBC One overnight made people more aware of the channel. Then in May 1999 the big BBC News rebrand began with the BBC One bulletins. News 24 followed suit in October 1999 and World a few months later (April 2000??). Then the look has just evolved ever since. I would think the next time we see a large scale rebrand like this will be when everything moves to the new News Centre and new sets etc have to be constructed.

Indeed, the main thing being of course that News 24 will be moving into a purpose build studio rather than their current set in the corner of an office.

Well that remains to be seen!

You could see the etched flags ... check out this on YouTube - a very different Jane Hill from 1989 when she presented overnights and you will clearly see them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eL3W8oNQq8

Dont think Jane will thank you for getting the year wrong. lol.

Does anyone else wish they'd gone with the flags theme for all the news output over what we have now? I personally think it is miles better.

It would have certainly been more colourfull. Im a big fan of the flags so yes it would have been nice to see what they would have done with them on the BBC One Bulletins.

In 1999/2000, I was a big fan of the new BBC News look. I thought N6, N8 and N9 all looked great once they had adopted the china red and cream look. The music by David Lowe was fresh, too. However, the 2003 refresh was a step backwards, I feel. The illuminated white and bright red is just too gharish - if you watch News 24 or World for too long, you get a headache. I feel sorry for those having to work in those newsrooms. The music used by BBC News now is boring - I don't think it's the best of David Lowe's creations. His best stuff came in the period 1999-2002.

I would have been really interested to see how the flags would have been adapted for BBC1 News had they been fully rolled out. However, I suspect we'd have been fed up of those by now, too (especially BBC World viewers, as they would have had flags since 1993). I think it's definitely time for BBC News to roll out something completely new, both visually and musically.

I agree with you here about the music. 1999 had a more newsy orchestral feel, then 2003 it all went like a rave and its boring. I would like to hear where David Lowe develops the BBC News theme, for what I belive will be the last 'era' of this beeps and boops theme.

Well, in just over a week, if the rumours are true, You might be saying how the music is far better than the 1999-2003 music!!