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"BBC Colour" on end credits and the change to Roman Numerals

(October 2010)

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MA
Matt_1979
I have always noticed copyright dates on TV series and I always saw in credits of 70s programmes that the BBC didn't use dates until 1972 and 1976 was when Roman Numerals were introduced. However, it must have been late 76 as I have seen programmes with "BBC Colour c.BBC 1976" and "BBC Colour c.BBC MCMLXXVI. I know that by late 77 they had scrapped "BBC Colour" from the logo as I have seen at least one programme (possibly the 77 Porridge Christmas Special) that simply said "BBC MCMLXXVII" with no mention of colour.

I could be imagining this, but I seem to remember seeing the end credits of Sorry on UK Gold when waiting for the next programme and I seem to recall that, strangely, the credits said "BBC Colour c.BBC MCMLXXXII". But why would the BBC suddenly add "Colour" back to the logo on the copyright date? I'm sure I remember seeing this oddity, though.
AB
aberdeenboy
I don't think the phrase BBC COLOUR was ever formally dropped as such... it just gradually disappeared. You're right though, it did start to become far less common about 1976/77 in credits and it disappeared off the channel logos about the start of 1975.

Just as the classic "BBC1" and "BBC2" rhombus box logos lingered on long after 1975 when they went from the idents, I suppose. BBC2 kept it on the clock for years and BBC1 network and BBC1 Scotland actually used the logo on their programme menus until about 1981/82. In fact, I think that classic BBC1 logo only finally went completely in 1985 with the golden globe! Somwbody told me it was actually on the cover of the EastEnders press launch pack!!

Branding was not taken so seriously in those days.
WE
Westy2
How come they didn't use 'BBC COLOUR' on the copyright until 2 or 3 years later?

Certainly on the early Pertwee Dr Who's & early colour Dad's Army's, it just says 'BBCtv'.
CW
cwathen Founding member
Copyright dates were introduced at some point during 1972, and the change from arabic to roman numerals happened at some point during 1976.

The 'BBC Colour' text is usually associated with the arabic copyright dates, but it was actually introduced shortly before copyright dates were used, and discontinued shortly after they changed to roman numerals

Quote:
How come they didn't use 'BBC COLOUR' on the copyright until 2 or 3 years later?

Certainly on the early Pertwee Dr Who's & early colour Dad's Army's, it just says 'BBCtv'.

'BBC tv' was still for the first few years of colour programmes until late 1971/early 1972 until they finally put 'BBC COLOUR' on the end. There are many convoluted explanations doing the rounds for why there was such a long delay between the introduction of colour and the acknowledgement of it in the credits, but in reality it probably took that long to change simply because no one thought to change it.

My favourite oddity is that until at least the mid-80's there was seemingly no standard size for the copyright date to appear in - I've got a Pertwee Dr Who from 1973 with '(C) BBC 1973' in such a tiny size that it's all but unreadable, and I've got a Tom Baker one from a few years late with giganitic '(C)BBC MCMLXXVII' text at the end.
ST
Stuart
My Latin Teacher was rather annoyed that the BBC & ITV didn't go all way with the latin and display;
(c) PROLATIO MCMLXXVI Laughing
SP
Steve in Pudsey
Those with access to the MHP PP may like to take a look at file 9985 which is related to this topic
WH
whoiam989
Those with access to the MHP PP may like to take a look at file 9985 which is related to this topic

What do you mean?
VM
VMPhil
Those with access to the MHP PP may like to take a look at file 9985 which is related to this topic


Brilliant, cheers for that.
MI
Michael
My Latin Teacher was rather annoyed that the BBC & ITV didn't go all way with the latin and display;
(c) PROLATIO MCMLXXVI Laughing


He was a bit wrong: The numeral system is not Latin, it is Roman. That's like saying we should use Arabic for COLOUR preceding any numerals 0123456789.
MA
Matt_1979
Copyright dates were introduced at some point during 1972, and the change from arabic to roman numerals happened at some point during 1976.

The 'BBC Colour' text is usually associated with the arabic copyright dates, but it was actually introduced shortly before copyright dates were used, and discontinued shortly after they changed to roman numerals


I only thought when I read your post about how I have seen a few programmes that only have "BBC Colour" on the credits, with no date. I wonder why the BBC (or any ITV companies) never considered giving copyright dates before. I know that it was mainly in the 70s when ITV companies also began to add copyright dates.
SP
Steve in Pudsey
Those with access to the MHP PP may like to take a look at file 9985 which is related to this topic

What do you mean?


It's a site associated with a mailing list - people on that list will understand what I mean.
WE
Westy2
Those with access to the MHP PP may like to take a look at file 9985 which is related to this topic

What do you mean?


It's a site associated with a mailing list - people on that list will understand what I mean.


And what about those of us who don't have access to the MHP?

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