BBC TWO shows DOG

I was watching a programme on BBC Two last nigth and they showed there dog in the top left hand corner of the screen. Is this a sign for the times to come? Will all BBC channels (I mean BBC1 & 2) have a DOG when BBC3 and BBC4 are launched?

Yes, we have been talking about this is another post - the dog or bug (take your pick!) also appeared during the golf on Thursday late afternoon for a second or two.

So if they've done it a few times now, they might be testing audience feelings on the subject!

Personally, I don't mind DOG's (or BUGS)! Except ITV2's - that is so annoying! It keeps moving and also, on programmes which have DOG's (e.g. 'This Morning'), it covers theirs up!

Why can't they move it to the right corner like they did when Party in the Park was on?

BBC1, 2 and Choice all had DOGs on digital when it started in October 1998, but they were withdrawn at the end of November due to the amount of complaints from the relatively small number of people watching on digital at that time. The BBC Choice DOG reappeared in October 1999; I doubt BBC1 and BBC2 will try it again (although the BBC2 DOG is used overnight).

Scottish Television's S2 (their own branding of ITV2) have their DOG (or BUG - see what you've started BugBoy?) on the right.

It looks rediculous to have ITV2 and S2 on both corners of the screen. I know what you mean about it shifting from left to right periodically as occassionally S2 covers the ITV2.

They just dont have a clue, do they?

It is rediculous when they keep moving it! They should keep it in a fixed position - This probably would be best in the bottom right hand corner as no shows show their DOG's there.

I don't understand what you mean with the ITV2 and S2 branding though? Do you mean both logos (ITV2 and S2) are on the screen at the same time?

If BBC 1 and 2 introduce DOG's then I for one will be defianately complaning. I'm a Red Dwarf Fan and I like to record them when they're on, partially because UK gold have a DOG and I don't want it over my recordings.

Anyone else agree/back me up?

Yes the S2 and ITV2 logos both appear on screen at the same time some of the time. There are certain programmes where only S2 appears. I presume that Scottish TV receive the feed from the network without the embedded logo and then broadcast from their transmitters superimposing the S2. Certainly Party in the Park had both as I was watching.

I just tuned in to see, and Blind Date is currently playing with the S2 on the left and no sign of ITV2. Its a fully opaque BUG rather than being semi-transparent so I can't tell if there is an ITV2 BUG underneath.

Is anyone else able to tell me what their region is playing on that channel right now?

What PBS does over here is that they put the DOG on for about two minutes every five to ten minutes. Other stations used to do something like that a while ago, before all stations used DOGs full time.

But I think it would be a good idea for the beeb to do what PBS does - so that they can get their audience 'ready' and slowly integrate the DOG - I think it's obvious that they want to use their DOGS. - Just an idea.

I think the Beeb should definetely rethink their DOG's! I think they should have them - they don't annoy me but channels such as News 24 should have just one DOG which has all the info in it. They, at present, have DOG's in three corners! They have the name, the time and the website in three corners!

They should do like Sky News - have all info in one corner!

And also, the website isn't even for the News pages. It's for BBC Online as a whole!

Personally I think the 3 DOG's on News24 are excessive too, but I like the fact that they always use www.bbc.co.uk as their on-screen URL.

The BBC Online homepage has links to the news at the very top, in a very prominent position.  In a different thread today many members have been commenting on ITV's dreadful lack of uniformity when it comes to web adresses.  One of the Beeb's strong points is that they have the web thing covered.  Their URL's are, and always have been, consistent for years; and they are almost guessable if you're not sure of the exact adress.

What other web-present organisations can claim this?



(Edited by Gavin Scott at 9:10 pm on July 13, 2001)

There are none! I can't think of any anyway! I just think a re-ordering of the DOG's is needed! BBC News 24 will end up like Bloomberg at this rate - and that will certainly ruin the 'friendly' aspect of the channel.