Why were the '2's brought back?

IS

Inspector Sands 15 August 2014 8:17pm

But so what? How could a balloon with a globe painted on it be anymore alien to someone than synchronised swimming hippos.

One is a stand alone concept, the other is an odd hybrid referencing something from the past.

That's the different between them and the resurrected 2 idents, they just work by themselves (well apart from the paint pot one which I gather has been shown?)

VM

VMPhil 15 August 2014 8:22pm

Inspector Sands posted:

The concept of a balloon flying over landmarks is still a good one*... but the globe painted on it doesn't work now it's stopped being the symbol of the channel. It always seemed to me as if they had a great idea, but weren't quite brave enough to ditch the globe and so came up with an odd compromise.

I'm intrigued, what do you think would have worked better? The '1' symbol used before it on the balloon? Not trying to be snarky or anything, genuinely wondering what else they could have used that would suit the channel.

IS

Inspector Sands 15 August 2014 8:45pm

VMPhil posted:

I do think having a silent ident and programme slides makes it more flexible for the announcers but it is probably deemed as old-fashioned.

Yep and very dull.

Of course the main reasons things were done like that we're because no one had thought to do it any other way, and it was what the technology/resources allowed rather than fashion

SP

Steve in Pudsey 15 August 2014 8:50pm

The =2= had audio in 1979. I guess that was played from cart rather than the same kit that did the graphics, and was dropped because it was a pain operationally?

MA

Maaixuew 15 August 2014 8:54pm

VMPhil posted:

I do think having a silent ident and programme slides makes it more flexible for the announcers but it is probably deemed as old-fashioned.

When the '2's were first launched, some regions mistakenly played them without sound. Immediately the effect that they had was lessened exponentially. Here's what it was like: http://www.tv-ark.org.uk/mivana/mediaplayer.php?id=544c4fd9654b9d12c3cf23804827a861&media=bbc2water_sw1991&type=mp4

IS

Inspector Sands 15 August 2014 8:54pm

VMPhil posted:

I'm intrigued, what do you think would have worked better?

The point isn't what would have worked better then, it's about if they would work if brought back today.

They are in hindsight an odd concept, but at the time they worked

EDIT: incidently there was an alternative concept in Lambie Nairns book and it was dreadful

Last edited by Inspector Sands on 15 August 2014 9:06pm - 2 times in total

CH

chris 15 August 2014 10:24pm

Inspector Sands posted:

EDIT: incidently there was an alternative concept in Lambie Nairns book and it was dreadful

Not going to leave us in suspense are you?

VM

VMPhil 15 August 2014 10:43pm

Inspector Sands posted:

VMPhil posted:

I do think having a silent ident and programme slides makes it more flexible for the announcers but it is probably deemed as old-fashioned.

Yep and very dull.

Of course the main reasons things were done like that we're because no one had thought to do it any other way, and it was what the technology/resources allowed rather than fashion

The old style of programme slides and silent idents seems oddly charming now when looking back on clips on YouTube, but as you say it would be very dull day-to-day compared to the mini-films we have for idents now. I still think programme slides would be effective, especially now in a multi-channel world. The equivalent today is the ECP but that is limited to the ever shortening length of end credits.

SF

Shane Forster 18 August 2014 6:46pm

The fluffy "2"s are adorable!

JB

JasonB 7 September 2014 12:01pm

The main BBC 2 thread has been locked now but forum favorite Callum Precious claims that he's been working on "new ident's" for next year over on Digital Spy:

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2007155

It's turned out to be a mock.

MF

MatthewFirth 7 September 2014 12:17pm

I'm sure the BBC are using the 2's because their planning a new look either this winter or next year.

IS

Inspector Sands 7 September 2014 1:03pm

chris posted:

Inspector Sands posted:

EDIT: incidently there was an alternative concept in Lambie Nairns book and it was dreadful

Not going to leave us in suspense are you?

Sorry, it seems I was!

An early idea was 'ONE' with a globe in the O

(August 2014)