BBC Three Rebrand

... which they got rid of a decent music channel (VH2) to provide airspace for. Grrr.

We'll be saying the same about BBC3, mark my words.

I've read it, it says:

"The new look BBC Three, which will be revealed on the 22 January, introduces a unique and vibrant world of places and characters alongside a new logo, colour palette and graphic system. "

But we're on the 25 January now, and they're stil using the blobs idents. It doesn't say when the new idents will actually start being shown. That's what I'm desperate to know, so I can set my DVD recorder to record:

1) The preceeding night's closedown, in case BBC Three show a montage of the outgoing blobs idents

2) The first night that the new ones are in use, every programme junction.

DS said it will start next month

And it'll probably be delayed further at this rate.

The new look BBC Three was revealed on 22nd January - in a press release.

Why do you say that?

I know, but one might have thought they meant the new idents will start being used on 22 January. So when will they start being used?

Taking a complete stab in the dark I'd try Saturday 2nd Feb or the following Monday. At the moment the blobs are singing goodbye, which presumably means it's a matter of weeks, and that date is close to the start of the month.

I don't know if it has already been mentioned, but BBC Three's upcoming new look is similar to Smash Hits on-screen presentation. Both and use random objects and images - http://www.smashhits.net/

I'm sure the whole point of this new look, is to be reminiscent of other youth sources, so it appeals to them and can be thought of as familiar. YouTube again is another influence...

Indeed, that will likely be its weakness.

Make something too familiar and it will become contrived - but then I suspect the creative team were never going to take risks, and when that attitude spreads, broadcast design can become all the poorer for it, as people start becoming too scared of being truly unique.

The aim of the channel itself could have been to differentiate its content from Youtube in order to take up the position as provider of a distinctive, quality service which the 'Web 2.0' simply cannot match - and that would've no doubt then been reflected in the identity. But instead of attacking where the opposition's line is weakest, so to speak, they're trying to muscle in on the territory of these others, in terms of content and a typical, quite uninspired 'youth channel' presentation.

That's no fun at all - because, as you've suggested, it just feels like the same old.

Still not keen on the user generated aspect of this, but I am happy the BBC Three logo has broken out of the box.


It's certainly time BBC2 did the same as the box ruins the current idents (even if they're not that great in the first place), though it's less of an issue for BBC4 - I think they could cling on to it until a revamp is due.