Is a BBC re-brand inevitable?

With the advent of digital satellite, cable and now terrestrial television; the BBC in a few years could consider re-branding it's main television channels, including BBC One and Two which were named long before the advent of digital TV. With BBC One showcasing mainly general entertainment and with BBC Two having issues with it's programming content, this may be a way forward. For example:

BBC One could again be re-branded sport the moniker, BBC Television with BBC Two axed and replaced with BBC Three and Four. BBC Three and Four are re-named also (much like the Choice and Knowledge days) but to showcase a wider breadth of programming that was currently incorporated on BBC 2. BBC News Channel, CBBC and CBeebies are all kept the same.

Another interesting prospect could be with the advancing technology of digital television, local and regional opt-outs could become more interactive and much more practical. Delivered through a data-stream such as modem or broadband connection, rather than a traditional satellite or television antenna. This would not only allow opt-outs to become much more frequent, but also be used to deliver messages and emergency information to regions in a way that would be efficient and easy (much like the EAS system in America).

I would like to know what you guys think. If anyone else has any ideas, please do feel free to share them here.

But that's what the BBC did in 1997, a total rebrand with the advent of digital.

BBC One and BBC Two, simple names, one came first and then another came, so they named it '2' and renamed BBC TV to BBC1.

Why axe BBC Two? Why rename BBC One?

Broadband and IPTV is not great in some areas.

MONEY.

Why because BBC One and BBC Two are all on 101,102 on digital same with ITV 1, Channel4 and Channel 5, as they were the main 5 channels and still are.

The answer to the question is no. There are certainly problems with where content lies post-DSO but it's not like the BBC are clinging on to the names as though they're sacred cows; they're huge brands with the kind of awareness any other broadcaster would die for.

Sort of related: how often is the BBC News channel referred to as 'News 24'?

BBC One - News and Entertainment
BBC Two - Lifestyle and Factual
BBC Three - Comedy and DocuDrama
BBC Four - Arts and Drama
BBC News
BBC Parliament
CBBC/CBeebies
BBC Sport

BBC Four should never have been called that in the first place - it launched before BBC Three!

There was talk of BBC Three or BBC Two possibly closing at some point before DQF. I guess if more cuts went the BBC's way and they decided BBC Three didn't warrant it's own slot any more it might end up being merged with Two, Four would obviously then need a new name, but that wouldn't be Three.

I think the BBC One brand is safe for a long time anyway.

Well, it's slightly more complex than that.

Depends how you view it. BBC Three was effectively BBC Choice rebranded, and Choice launched before BBC Knowledge (which became BBC Four). BBC Choice effectively became BBC Three in all but name around 2001 (can of worms - see the BBC website thread!).

I believe the plan was to rebrand Choice and Knowledge at the same time but the initial plans for Three were rejected.

That's more or less what I couldn't be bothered to say.

How about B1, B2...

Well channels in Australia were named after their old VHF frequencies - 7, 9, 10.

They didn't feel the need to rename in the digital era, because the brands are very well known.



I used to hate the names BBC 3 and BBC 4 because they say nothing about the channel, and brought to its logical conclusion, we might end up one day with BBC 14, but actually I don't mind the names now, it's fairly easy to promote which channel a programme is on.

News 24 however needs its name reinstating. The BBC dropped the 24 because people used to call it "News 24" instead of "BBC News 24", but it's one of those nonsense marketing things; just because people don't say "BBC News 24" doesn't mean they don't know "News 24" is a BBC service.