Battle of the rebrands this year?

We've heard a little about visual changes upcoming for ITV's portfolio of channels and BBC One, but as yet no one seems to have heard much on here.

Rufus Radcliffe, who masterminded the 4 blocks, was appointed in January and his appointment reportedly coincided with a decision to change ITV1, 2, 3 and 4. It's likely ITV News'll get an update too, which could be quite large considering the fact ITV have conducted a review of the output.

Similarly, the BBC could be sitting on some big changes considering what we already know about the move and the fact the current BBC identity is growing a tad stale - arguably! I've read bits here and there and heard of a BBC One refresh later in the year.

Could we see the BBC (or BBC One and News at least) and ITV both revamp at around the same time? Would certainly be an exciting time for us pres-addicts, especially if the changes bring about updates to the News pres for the channels.

ITV's biggest changes since 2006 have been widely reported - but little is known so far. Is September presumed, with Downton Abbey's return etc they'll probably want to have have ITV1 refreshed by then. We should see changes on all four of ITV's channels and, possibly, ITV News.

The move to Broadcast House will surely usher in new graphics and pres for BBC News (anyone heard?) and I really think we'll see a BBC One refresh. Again, I'm probably hopelessly in the dark but if I'm missing something and it's been discussed/announced, let me know.

Otherwise:

- What do you want to see from the potential BBC One and/or ITV family updates?
- What have people heard/read that I've not mentioned/missed about changes coming up.

Hope people don't think this is a pointless thread, I've been thinking about it a lot but doesn't seem to be discussed much...

The X Factor starts in August from what I recall, so perhaps the ITV rebrand will be before/on the start of that series, which is the network's biggest programme. Although a Downton rebrand is also a likely time.

The X Factor itself changed it's title sequence when the live shows started one year, so I don't think ITV consider the auditions to be the big event. Also, any revamp in August would be overshadowed as their ratings will likely be bad for most of the month due to the Olympics.

They've done that twice actually. The long-running 'X flying through space' titles were not used until the first live shows of series 3. Then the current updated titles and logo weren't used until the live shows of the last series. They still can't seem to make their mind up on whether they use the old Gill Sans logo or the newer logo with a different typeface.

Dancing on Ice was launched under the old branding, 2 days before the network rebrand, and it went on to become their biggest entertainment show at the time and ITV had those expectations for it. X Factor is slightly different, but as the revamps for the show itself happen at the live shows (as already pointed out), it probably won't launch alongside X Factor.

ITV never really show any strategy to it other than occasionally airing refreshed idents in line with a new tv 'season', for example the current ITV2 look launched on a Wednesday in the middle of August. If it is to launch in line with any programmes it will most likely be Daybreak but purely coincidentally, just because we can assume the new 'season' begins on September 3rd. But I think it will be later than that anyway.

I think September is a fairly good bet.

IIRC, we knew nothing about 4 dropping the 'blocks' in 2004, and the rebrand took everybody by surprise.

A BBC One overhaul coinciding with ITV's rebrand is, I feel, out of the question... Unlike ITV, I've heard nothing of changes there, but if you've read something on this then feel free to direct to / quote it.

In the current financial situation I can't see the BBC doing anything major and the new news centre has been fitted out to look like the news does now so I can't see much of a change there either

We knew it was coming, there was talk on here about the development process. The thing was they spent an awful lot of time developing the new branding so nobody seemed to know when it would launch so its true that there was an element of surprise.

The difference with this though is that we've not heard anything at all about it, which I like. It's like the old days when the internet didn't exist and you'd find there'd been a rebrand and you weren't expecting it so you spent the whole day watching a channel just to see the new identity. Or was that just me?

Only when the identity was any good!

I feel the same!

Apart from a few hints and verbal teasers I'm happy to be surprised. I'm just wondering if because we've heard nothing, it shows it's delayed.

Interesting people say the BBC aren't changing this year, I swear I read BBC One would get new pres in the autumn. Maybe I was dreaming.

Should be interesting to see how far ITV go with their rebranding. Could it be on the scale of 2006, or more of a refresh/tweaking across the board? Only time will tell.

Where are the old insiders anyway?

It's more the BBC Two speculation we've had on this forum. It was rumoured the 2 is being scrapped, but since then we've heard nothing and I don't think there was ever BBC confirmation.