PH
On RTÉ's digital output (ie: NTL, $ky, Chorus etc.) the RTÉ One and Two DOGs are generated differently to the analogue ones AFAIK. In a 4:3 programme, the DOG appears exactly where it does in a proper 16:9 broadcast (ie: in the top left of the safe area) so if you watch a 4:3 programme stretched to 16:9, the DOG looks identical to the proper 16:9 DOG. However, nobody likes watching 4:3 stretched to 16:9 so when you watch 4:3 properly the DOG therefore becomes squished. I hope this makes sense! Very few channels do this and it implies that RTÉ wants you to watch their 4:3 broadcasts stretched so that the DOG will look right.
The late summary's DOG must be generated by Pres because on digital, its always floating at the top left of the safe area. Similar to above, it becomes squished when the 4:3 picture is viewed properly but if you stretch it to 16:9, it looks fine.
On analogue, the DOG is always in the proper ratio including the RTÉ News DOG during the summary. So the digital and analogue DOGs are generated differently. That time when the RTÉ News DOG was floating on analogue means they must have been broadcasting the digital feed on analogue for some reason.
As for why they bother having the 4:3 DOG on digital all squished up I don't know. The only good thing about it is that if you have the box set to 4:3, you can tell if the programme is widescreen or not without changing the setup of the box. If the dog is squished its 4:3 and if its not, its 16:9!
I've noticed that as well
. I remember watching the weather around the time of hurricane Katrina and they had category as "catagory" and hurricane as "hurrican" 
.
As for a news re-launch...I'm losing hope that they'll bother. There's no sign of any major changes in the current studio albeit there were some funny camera angles lately but thats just because there's not many people around at this time. I know that this package is only 2 and a half years old but so was the 1997 one when they changed it on 1st Jan 2000. The TV Room did say "early 2006" so I suppose that could mean any time before March or April!
Telefís posted:
Sorry Phen - you get the floating DOG all the time?!?! You're joking right?!
How is this? I thought the late bulletins were shot in 4:3?
How is this? I thought the late bulletins were shot in 4:3?
On RTÉ's digital output (ie: NTL, $ky, Chorus etc.) the RTÉ One and Two DOGs are generated differently to the analogue ones AFAIK. In a 4:3 programme, the DOG appears exactly where it does in a proper 16:9 broadcast (ie: in the top left of the safe area) so if you watch a 4:3 programme stretched to 16:9, the DOG looks identical to the proper 16:9 DOG. However, nobody likes watching 4:3 stretched to 16:9 so when you watch 4:3 properly the DOG therefore becomes squished. I hope this makes sense! Very few channels do this and it implies that RTÉ wants you to watch their 4:3 broadcasts stretched so that the DOG will look right.
The late summary's DOG must be generated by Pres because on digital, its always floating at the top left of the safe area. Similar to above, it becomes squished when the 4:3 picture is viewed properly but if you stretch it to 16:9, it looks fine.
On analogue, the DOG is always in the proper ratio including the RTÉ News DOG during the summary. So the digital and analogue DOGs are generated differently. That time when the RTÉ News DOG was floating on analogue means they must have been broadcasting the digital feed on analogue for some reason.
As for why they bother having the 4:3 DOG on digital all squished up I don't know. The only good thing about it is that if you have the box set to 4:3, you can tell if the programme is widescreen or not without changing the setup of the box. If the dog is squished its 4:3 and if its not, its 16:9!
Col posted:
spelling errors
I've noticed that as well
. I remember watching the weather around the time of hurricane Katrina and they had category as "catagory" and hurricane as "hurrican" .
As for a news re-launch...I'm losing hope that they'll bother. There's no sign of any major changes in the current studio albeit there were some funny camera angles lately but thats just because there's not many people around at this time. I know that this package is only 2 and a half years old but so was the 1997 one when they changed it on 1st Jan 2000. The TV Room did say "early 2006" so I suppose that could mean any time before March or April!
TE
Thanks for that extensive reply Phen. I'm so glad I don't have Sky digital as I'd officially crack up with all the errors being made - I'm quite happy to sit here in blinding ignorance in analogue-land to the farce that is RTÉ Digital 
That's just ridiculous about the squished DOGs, especially the main station ones - talk about not caring less for the image of your station!
While it explains the squishness of DOGs, it still doesn't quite account for why the RTÉ News DOG actually floats at the top of the screen, as this cannot be resolved in in 4:3 or 16:9 stretch!
Yes it's increasingly unlikely there's going to be any change at the New Year juncture - there's been no hint at all of changes. No doubt there'd be a press release of some kind too were things to happen, as well as blatent production alterations including an entire replacement stock of field cameras, editing, OB and transmission equipment being brought in.
On another site, indication has been made that nothing is to happen at the New Year point - rather later in 2006.
Really this does make sense I suppose - Christmas is the very last time you'd propose making almost unprecedented technological changes to a station's news division - this is after all the biggest changeover since colour, only a vastly greater scale.
In which case, we may be looking at September 2006 realistically. I can't see them introducing changes in the dead period of April/May - mid-season, though the BBC have done it in the past.....
Importantly though, given Current Affairs is part of the News Division, Prime Time, and possibly Q&A may get a new look too, in which case Sept is again the logical time to do it - especially as they're such poor presentation packages.
The Late Late may get a new look too - again an appalling set that some wlll probably want to get rid of, coupled with the fact that Pat's last 3 years are on their way in Sept (he has said he wants to retire from the LL at 60), so now is the time to change if they want to.
So all in all, major pres changes across the board may be ushered in in Sept - maybe even new station idents? - in which case Sept would be the logical time to change News. But it could be earlier - a lot of people it seems want widescreen introduced sooner rather than later!
Personally I'm in two minds about it as I want rid of the set, but want to keep 4:3 for News! Can't win....
That's just ridiculous about the squished DOGs, especially the main station ones - talk about not caring less for the image of your station!
While it explains the squishness of DOGs, it still doesn't quite account for why the RTÉ News DOG actually floats at the top of the screen, as this cannot be resolved in in 4:3 or 16:9 stretch!
Yes it's increasingly unlikely there's going to be any change at the New Year juncture - there's been no hint at all of changes. No doubt there'd be a press release of some kind too were things to happen, as well as blatent production alterations including an entire replacement stock of field cameras, editing, OB and transmission equipment being brought in.
On another site, indication has been made that nothing is to happen at the New Year point - rather later in 2006.
Really this does make sense I suppose - Christmas is the very last time you'd propose making almost unprecedented technological changes to a station's news division - this is after all the biggest changeover since colour, only a vastly greater scale.
In which case, we may be looking at September 2006 realistically. I can't see them introducing changes in the dead period of April/May - mid-season, though the BBC have done it in the past.....
Importantly though, given Current Affairs is part of the News Division, Prime Time, and possibly Q&A may get a new look too, in which case Sept is again the logical time to do it - especially as they're such poor presentation packages.
The Late Late may get a new look too - again an appalling set that some wlll probably want to get rid of, coupled with the fact that Pat's last 3 years are on their way in Sept (he has said he wants to retire from the LL at 60), so now is the time to change if they want to.
So all in all, major pres changes across the board may be ushered in in Sept - maybe even new station idents? - in which case Sept would be the logical time to change News. But it could be earlier - a lot of people it seems want widescreen introduced sooner rather than later!
Personally I'm in two minds about it as I want rid of the set, but want to keep 4:3 for News! Can't win....
RD
rdd
Founding member
RTÉ One tend to change idents every three years - certainly can't remember an RTÉ One ident set since 1986 that's managed to last any longer. (RTÉ Two is a different kettle of fish, they tend to keep their idents for a lot longer...)
Same with RTÉ News - the 2000 look (the immediate predecessor of the current look) is the longest lasting in recent memory, at a straight 3 1/2 year run. I don't think the virtual look (which lasted quite a while) even lasted that long.
September would defintely be the time both would be up for a change. Can't see the RTÉ One logo changing though, especially since they have only this month updated RTÉ 2FM's logo to the same style (RTÉ Two and RTÉ Radio 1 having already recieved this style of logo). They would just have to play catchup. The RTÉ News logo might change to the corporate style one though.
Same with RTÉ News - the 2000 look (the immediate predecessor of the current look) is the longest lasting in recent memory, at a straight 3 1/2 year run. I don't think the virtual look (which lasted quite a while) even lasted that long.
September would defintely be the time both would be up for a change. Can't see the RTÉ One logo changing though, especially since they have only this month updated RTÉ 2FM's logo to the same style (RTÉ Two and RTÉ Radio 1 having already recieved this style of logo). They would just have to play catchup. The RTÉ News logo might change to the corporate style one though.
TV
I only noticed that they'd changed the 2FM logo a few days ago. Couldn't they just have changed the colour of the logo to green and kept the stylised '2' - Lyric FM and Raidio Na Gaeltachta managed to retain their original lettering? I don't know what committee approved the new 2FM logo but it just looks totally unsuitable for a channel of that genre.
As for RTE ONE - I wouldn't expect any change there until the Autumn at the earliest. Look out for the new RTE ONE trail promoting the channel's new year line-up: the current logo animation figures prominently.
rdd posted:
September would defintely be the time both would be up for a change. Can't see the RTÉ One logo changing though, especially since they have only this month updated RTÉ 2FM's logo to the same style (RTÉ Two and RTÉ Radio 1 having already recieved this style of logo). They would just have to play catchup. The RTÉ News logo might change to the corporate style one though.
I only noticed that they'd changed the 2FM logo a few days ago. Couldn't they just have changed the colour of the logo to green and kept the stylised '2' - Lyric FM and Raidio Na Gaeltachta managed to retain their original lettering? I don't know what committee approved the new 2FM logo but it just looks totally unsuitable for a channel of that genre.
As for RTE ONE - I wouldn't expect any change there until the Autumn at the earliest. Look out for the new RTE ONE trail promoting the channel's new year line-up: the current logo animation figures prominently.
TE
I kinda like the new 2fm look. It's certainly difficult to get used to after years of distinctive identities, but I think it will bear out quite well over time. Colouring the old 2 green would certainly have been a viable option - though it seems they wanted to keep the two top stations of '1' and '2' the same....
Yes RTÉ like to make changes over the quiet summer period and then come back with a bang in Sept, so it'll be an interesting month by the looks of things.
The idents are holding up very well I think, to the extent there's no need to change anything for at least another year and a half, but one thing they must do is rotate them more often. There's a raft of idents we never get to see, while the same old ones of the woeful Ireland...
http://thetvroom.com/images-rte-one/images-2005/id-3d.jpg
and boring round tower...
http://thetvroom.com/images-rte-one/images-2005/id-23d.jpg
www.thetvroom.com
...are shown day in day out, in the same positions up against major news bulletins. Variety is needed. Rotate them so morning ones are shown in the evening, and the current over-exposed ones popped down into afternoon and late night.
Yes RTÉ like to make changes over the quiet summer period and then come back with a bang in Sept, so it'll be an interesting month by the looks of things.
The idents are holding up very well I think, to the extent there's no need to change anything for at least another year and a half, but one thing they must do is rotate them more often. There's a raft of idents we never get to see, while the same old ones of the woeful Ireland...
http://thetvroom.com/images-rte-one/images-2005/id-3d.jpg
and boring round tower...
http://thetvroom.com/images-rte-one/images-2005/id-23d.jpg
www.thetvroom.com
...are shown day in day out, in the same positions up against major news bulletins. Variety is needed. Rotate them so morning ones are shown in the evening, and the current over-exposed ones popped down into afternoon and late night.
PH
I agree. I think the current ident set on RTÉ One is the best they've had in a long time and should be left until
at least
2007. The new(ish) RTÉ Two look is good but kinda monotonous. I like their new Christmas ident - its very busy and kinda fun - very suitable for the channel's genre.
The TV Room - I was wondering did you hear anything about when RTÉ News will relaunch now that its almost certain that nothing will happen in January?
The TV Room - I was wondering did you hear anything about when RTÉ News will relaunch now that its almost certain that nothing will happen in January?
TV
This is a big problem and it was the same with the previous ident set. You do tend to get a reasonable variety in daytime but outside of that, the Waterfall, Tower and Fields idents are used way too much. There's one of a marina for example that I have only spotted twice. I'm so tired of the same two idents being used to introduce news.
Since they introduced the new master control areas on the two channels last year have you noticed that some of the dissolves/fades aren't very smooth? It seems to be particularly apparent when they fade up that Tower ident.
Not sure that I'd like to be seeing these idents beyond this Autumn. I don't think they're anything spectacular. The whole idea is a tad stale and the picture quality on most of them is rather soft.
I quite like the rather quirky RTE TWO idents. A wee bit more variety wouldn't go amiss but my personal view is that RTE TWO is in the top five in terms of presentation in the UK and Ireland. Slight weakness with that bottom third strap they use as a promo endboard - not too keen on that. I think it's ridiculous that the original batch of idents have been largely restricted to the 1am - 6am zone since July. There's no reason why they couldn't have been mixed in with the new batch.
As for RTE News Phen - well, I haven't heard anything more recently. Back in September/October I was told that a conversion to widescreen would take place early in the new year. I can't see a complete revamp taking place before the Autumn though. If any changes are made before then I think the most likely outcome is a rough and ready adjustment to the set and titles just to tide them over until September.
How I detest that set!!
Telefís posted:
The idents are holding up very well I think, to the extent there's no need to change anything for at least another year and a half, but one thing they must do is rotate them more often. Variety is needed. Rotate them so morning ones are shown in the evening, and the current over-exposed ones popped down into afternoon and late night.
This is a big problem and it was the same with the previous ident set. You do tend to get a reasonable variety in daytime but outside of that, the Waterfall, Tower and Fields idents are used way too much. There's one of a marina for example that I have only spotted twice. I'm so tired of the same two idents being used to introduce news.
Since they introduced the new master control areas on the two channels last year have you noticed that some of the dissolves/fades aren't very smooth? It seems to be particularly apparent when they fade up that Tower ident.
Not sure that I'd like to be seeing these idents beyond this Autumn. I don't think they're anything spectacular. The whole idea is a tad stale and the picture quality on most of them is rather soft.
I quite like the rather quirky RTE TWO idents. A wee bit more variety wouldn't go amiss but my personal view is that RTE TWO is in the top five in terms of presentation in the UK and Ireland. Slight weakness with that bottom third strap they use as a promo endboard - not too keen on that. I think it's ridiculous that the original batch of idents have been largely restricted to the 1am - 6am zone since July. There's no reason why they couldn't have been mixed in with the new batch.
As for RTE News Phen - well, I haven't heard anything more recently. Back in September/October I was told that a conversion to widescreen would take place early in the new year. I can't see a complete revamp taking place before the Autumn though. If any changes are made before then I think the most likely outcome is a rough and ready adjustment to the set and titles just to tide them over until September.
How I detest that set!!
CO
I agree Mike, there is something very distinctive and very attention-grabbing about the RTE TWO idents. And the ident bed is very hypnotic in a way. I don't think there's anything to fault with the current RTE TWO presentation style.
Maybe the ones introduce to coincide with the start of widescreen are the only ones used in primetime as they have additional action in the end frames (the lift doors, the Euro falling down from the roof, the windscreen wipers appearing) whereas I don't think the early RTE TWO idents do. The only one I've ever seen shown in prime time of late is the Bouncers ident.
Or maybe the concept of people with bigger heads than the rest of their bodies was too disturbing for some people and those idents have been kept to a minimum broadcast.
Are the team behind the RTE TWO idents the same ones behind that PIF/ad on TG4 "Ceannaigh leabhar Gaeilge um Nollaig"?
Maybe the ones introduce to coincide with the start of widescreen are the only ones used in primetime as they have additional action in the end frames (the lift doors, the Euro falling down from the roof, the windscreen wipers appearing) whereas I don't think the early RTE TWO idents do. The only one I've ever seen shown in prime time of late is the Bouncers ident.
Or maybe the concept of people with bigger heads than the rest of their bodies was too disturbing for some people and those idents have been kept to a minimum broadcast.
Are the team behind the RTE TWO idents the same ones behind that PIF/ad on TG4 "Ceannaigh leabhar Gaeilge um Nollaig"?
CO
Telefís:
"The Late Late may get a new look too - again an appalling set that some wlll probably want to get rid of, coupled with the fact that Pat's last 3 years are on their way in Sept (he has said he wants to retire from the LL at 60), so now is the time to change if they want to."
What's the bets that Henry Kelly's long lost twin brother Ryan Tubridy will get that gig?
Was strange and a bit scary to see RT's screen test shown during the Blizzard of Odd Christmas Special last week, I doubt the show would have been the same in anyone else's hands apart from Colin Murphy.
"The Late Late may get a new look too - again an appalling set that some wlll probably want to get rid of, coupled with the fact that Pat's last 3 years are on their way in Sept (he has said he wants to retire from the LL at 60), so now is the time to change if they want to."
What's the bets that Henry Kelly's long lost twin brother Ryan Tubridy will get that gig?
Was strange and a bit scary to see RT's screen test shown during the Blizzard of Odd Christmas Special last week, I doubt the show would have been the same in anyone else's hands apart from Colin Murphy.
TE
I can't see Tubridy getting the Late Late - as glittering as his rise to fame has been. He just doesn't have the clout of Pat, Miriam O'Callaghan, or even David McWilliams who I'd personally like to see take over.
It'd be great to have Pat move take on Q&A as 'a bit on the side' come retirement - the perfect television platform for him. He's sorely missed in Current Affairs.
As for the idents, yes more variety is essential. There's certain ones we never get to see in primetime (if at all), like the two bicycles along the beach (as per Michael Collins
turning into motorbikes, or the aerial view of Dublin City we see on the very odd occasion in the afternoon.
And the most appalling, ignorant, stupid re-edit was made of one of the best idents of all - the Dundrum Taney Bridge with a bed of harp pluckings cleverly laid down under it.
http://thetvroom.com/images-rte-one/images-2005/id-20d.jpg
This was mauled with a re-edit, with a track of what seems to be the monk chanting from another ident laid over it - destroying what was the wittiest ident of the bunch
Looking through them all there, yes a lot are quite boring, particularly the landscape ones. As such I think the Sept 2000 relaunch had much better landscape photography, while the current batch have better non-landscape idents.
But yes the landscape/new-old theme is rather dated at this stage, but it's impossible to imagine RTÉ with anything else in these post Celtic Tiger years. Whatever will they come up with next?!
It'd be great to have Pat move take on Q&A as 'a bit on the side' come retirement - the perfect television platform for him. He's sorely missed in Current Affairs.
As for the idents, yes more variety is essential. There's certain ones we never get to see in primetime (if at all), like the two bicycles along the beach (as per Michael Collins
turning into motorbikes, or the aerial view of Dublin City we see on the very odd occasion in the afternoon.
And the most appalling, ignorant, stupid re-edit was made of one of the best idents of all - the Dundrum Taney Bridge with a bed of harp pluckings cleverly laid down under it.
http://thetvroom.com/images-rte-one/images-2005/id-20d.jpg
This was mauled with a re-edit, with a track of what seems to be the monk chanting from another ident laid over it - destroying what was the wittiest ident of the bunch
Looking through them all there, yes a lot are quite boring, particularly the landscape ones. As such I think the Sept 2000 relaunch had much better landscape photography, while the current batch have better non-landscape idents.
But yes the landscape/new-old theme is rather dated at this stage, but it's impossible to imagine RTÉ with anything else in these post Celtic Tiger years. Whatever will they come up with next?!