BBC Two: new idents from Sunday 18 February

Sorry if this is old news, but I couldn't find any mention.

This is in Campaign magazine this week:



(Not much) more here

Interesting to note that AMV BBDO is more of an ad agency than the usual branding/corporate identity companies such as Lambie-Nairn. Also that they were responsible for the BBC One "Rush Hour" promotion.

http://www.amvbbdo.co.uk/

http://www.bbdoeurope.com/

Sounds promising, and finally some concrete information about a new look which is, in my opinion, long overdue! This comment sounds especially promising -

"We've got a great tradition of mould-breaking brand identity work at BBC2. AMV has produced an idea with the flexibility and originality to be right up there with our best work."

Interesting! Does this mean we can kiss goodbye to this restrictive yellow background with computer generated 2's? And does that magazine have anything about BBC1's new idents?

They also created the fantastic Guiness "Surfer" ad!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbott_Mead_Vickers_BBDO

so when are we likely to see the new look?

I was just about to ask that question. It said in another thread that BBC1 will get a new look this autumn, so I think the new looks for both channels will be revealed on the same day this autumn. Probably September but it's just a guess.

They are keeping the famous "2's" as the central focus for this new set...aren't they?

I was thinking, they've represented the channel for 15 years, including surviving and thriving beyond the 1997 corporate logo change, and being re-invented in 2001, thus have become extremely well known and popular, probably only rivalled by the BBC Globe -- IMO, to discard the 2, such strong icon, wouldn't make sense.

I await further news on this.

(I'm actually quite glad Red Bee didn't get their mitts on this; I've not been overly impressed by any of their work, and reserve any expectations ahead of the BBC ONE rebrand in the Autumn).

If they don't keep the 2, it will be a tragedy akin to BBC1 ditching the globe. After all, C4 have always managed to keep the same logo from day one.

What concerns me is that an advertising agency has been commissioned to undertake the new work. Not only could this mean a more aggressive marketing-style of branding, but also the cost could be greater, swallowing up funds which could be used in the programme budget.

Perhaps BBC2 is trying to strike back against C4's current look. Yes, why not? But C4 managed to achieve its results using its own creative arm.

Quite simply, I would be concerned - nay, suicidal - if you didn't have any concerns, Simon.

Look on the bright side of life for once for Christ's sake. AMV BBDO are responsible for some incredible campaigns over the past and I am sure they are perfectly capable of coming up with equally outstanding stuff for BBC Two. Let's have a wait and see what happens. And then let's shoot them down for not reinstating idents from the PAST.

If you really think the Channel 4 idents were created solely by their own creative team, you are very much mistaken. You will find that a variety of companies were involved in the processes, including a sound design company and special effects company usually responsible for films. Generally they don't offer their services for a couple of quid and a pint of lager.

So stop bashing out the same dross and realise that BBC Two, like any other, will spend the allocated cash it has on the agency that comes up with the best proposal. And, my goodness, it might - might - work out well.

I'm concerend that it's an ad agency doing it too. Mainly because it's the agency that did that pretentious Guiness ad though. I hated that ad.

Are Red Bee doing the BBC One idents? If so, will this be the first time that the two channels have idents made by two different companies?

Yes Red Bee are which I'm slightly worried about because they are quite awful. The only thing they've done recently that I liked was the Morris dancing 2's.