BBC One Pres problems

True up to a point, but it really depends on what sort of relationship the customer has formed with the automation supplier.

In the case of the other well-known national broadcaster (the one with a number between 3 and 5) they have insisted that their new system is delivered as a proven working system. Therefore - at this very moment in a factory unit on the outskirts of Reading - there is a complete mock-up transmission facility running 6 streams of the same channel, playing programme segments in off both server and tape, and exectuting six regional ad-breaks - all displayed on a six-way split plasma. What's more - it's working very well indeed. But then the product is designed to do what the broadcaster needs it to do. Perhaps there's a lesson to be learnt here?!

Symbols that run out?

Inability to override the computer and get your choice of sound & vis to air?

Hard disk playout of standby music with no hardware alternative available?

Debugging the software live on-air?

This they call progress?

I think I'm getting old.

Oh dear, I don't usually watch BBC One, but the problems here really make the BBC's top channels look bad. I am sure this is very embarasssing for the BBC.

Of course the symbols run out, those people dancing would be exhausted otherwise.

Well I quite like seeing that blue BBC logo in between the programmes all the time -- it's very pretty.

I'm certain it must be the new ident, ready for when Lorraine Hedgehog leaves and takes her dancers with her etc etc etc.

But they are not an ideal length. 50-60 seconds would be better, so that you're not left with a blank screen if the timings go wrong.

Well thank-you. Pity I'm not on Martin Lambie-Nairn's rate.

I preferred it when we had the spinning world. It never ran out. As long as the announcer kept pedalling, of course. Or the Network Assistant in London.

So is blue going to be the new red?

I wouldn't base any assumptions on the slide referred to here unless any new branding is based on a picture of some clouds I took from my back garden while testing a new digital camera.

Which blue logo is this? It's not the ribbons one is it?

Well now you would say that wouldn't you.

Don't be fooled Mr Harvey, it's an elaborate double bluff -- the new look for the BBC is definitely blue with clouds.