The Newsroom

BBC Xmas Ident into News Special Tonight 7.30 BBC1

The ident just didn't fit.... (December 2004)

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RE
Reuben
denton posted:
If the disaster had of occurred at any other time of year the Ballet Symbol would have been used, I don't think there is any doubt about that.

The fact that the BBC is so marketing driven now that we cannot lay aside our Christmas branding for half-an-hour in order to treat such programming, and the people caught up in the disaster, with dignity is infuriating.

I suspect that if the decision lay with the folks working in presentation then the Bouncy Puds symbol would not have made an appearance around any news programming over the past few days.


who is the decision left with then?
DV
dvboy
It's strange how sometimes they try to use an ident that bears a vague resemblance to the programme about to follow it, but they can't do it on every occasion so I don't know why they bother when there is the opportunity. However, it's Christmas and they've been using nothing but the Christmas idents for over a week, so it would stand out unusually if they suddenly used one of the normal ones. I think some of the pudding idents are bouncier and happier than others, and while I didn't see the ident before the news special, I thought the one before the short appeal programme was one of the less bouncy idents which is as close to serious you can probably get with the design.
DV
DVB Cornwall
Actually I thought it was quite appropriate - It showed how the tranquillity of a British Christmas and it's cosy family atmosphere has not been replicated elsewhere on this planet.

It may have generated thoughts very much like it has here and the effect on the viewer would be even more disturbing for doing that, This may result in even more funds being raised by the various appeals.

Chris.
IS
Inspector Sands
denton posted:
I suspect that if the decision lay with the folks working in presentation then the Bouncy Puds symbol would not have made an appearance around any news programming over the past few days.


That is whose decision it is: the duty editor in presentation control
AN
Ant
I thought it was inappropriate as well. They didn't even play the slower Christmas ident. Must have been a mistake.
WI
william Founding member
Inspector Sands posted:
denton posted:
I suspect that if the decision lay with the folks working in presentation then the Bouncy Puds symbol would not have made an appearance around any news programming over the past few days.


That is whose decision it is: the duty editor in presentation control


I suppose it rather depends on what else they have left to select *from*... Personally I'd prefer a simple 'News Report' slide rather than trying to brand a programme or calling it 'The Great Wave'. A return to the clock (again, if it still exists) would have worked as well. I think it doesn't really matter what you choose, as long as its markedly different to normal output - there were all sorts of odd captions and announcements at around 6am on 31 August 1997, which made you sit up and pay attention..
OH
ohwhatanight Founding member
william posted:
Inspector Sands posted:
denton posted:
I suspect that if the decision lay with the folks working in presentation then the Bouncy Puds symbol would not have made an appearance around any news programming over the past few days.


That is whose decision it is: the duty editor in presentation control


I suppose it rather depends on what else they have left to select *from*... Personally I'd prefer a simple 'News Report' slide rather than trying to brand a programme or calling it 'The Great Wave'. A return to the clock (again, if it still exists) would have worked as well. I think it doesn't really matter what you choose, as long as its markedly different to normal output - there were all sorts of odd captions and announcements at around 6am on 31 August 1997, which made you sit up and pay attention..


The word GREAT in the title 'The Great Wave' doesnt actually suggest that it was a bad wave but something totally the opposite!
The word GREAT is glorifying the whole situation and a word I assumed ITV News would have used - but haven't!
DV
DVB Cornwall
GREAT was very appropriate as the quake itself is officially classified as a GREAT EARTHQUAKE.

USGS
DE
denton
Inspector Sands posted:
denton posted:
I suspect that if the decision lay with the folks working in presentation then the Bouncy Puds symbol would not have made an appearance around any news programming over the past few days.


That is whose decision it is: the duty editor in presentation control


That being the case, I have to say I don't agree with the decision he or she made tonight. Although I would have thought that the decision as to whether or not to stick with, or abandon, Christmas branding would have been referred higher up the chain of command.
OH
ohwhatanight Founding member
DVB Cornwall posted:
GREAT was very appropriate as the quake itself is officially classified as a GREAT EARTHQUAKE.

USGS


What I was trying to say was that when the word GREAT was used in 'THE GREAT ESCAPE' it meant something different - didnt it?
AN
Andrew Founding member
TC8 posted:
Is it just me, or did it seem a tad disrespectful to introduce the Asia Earthquake News Special tonight on BBC1 at 7.30pm with jolly children bumping around on Xmas pud space hoppers to the jingly jolly Christmas Ident tune???

Why the hell don't the BBC bring back a clock or something and introduce an important programme in a respectul manner.

This goes for any serious news programming at any time of year, with the BBC's current set of silly idents.

What do others think?

They should really have a more serious ident ready for this sort of situation. You only have to look at what ITV1 used into their News Special. Did they use the slow version of their Xmas ident? No. Did they use the serious 'Ribbons' ident? No. What they did use was a static version of Ribbons. So at least 3 times more suitable than whatever BBC1 were thinking.
AN
Ant
BBC Two didn't really make an attempt either. Just put on their normal ice cube ident.

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