BBC Two 2018 Revamp

The Superunion presentation happened a good few weeks after Sparky first showed up - and it's been consistently showing up - so I'd think that they mean eight more idents. But I could be wrong.

At the very least that's five idents we haven't seen yet, so that's cool.

I think your maths is right. So eight idents including Discovery and Maverick! So 30 (not including Christmas ones?) in the space of a year potentially!

I love the new ident being showcased for The Planets. That's the best one yet.

I also seen part of the new ident for Top Gear this week. That's not too bad.

BBC Two have highlighted the advantages of a continually expanding set of idents based on a simple concept, that keep the channel presentation from looking stale and repetitive, and allow for a much wider variety of idents to introduce different types of programming. Compare and contrast with Channel 4, whose last two ident packages have consisted of a small set of idents with little variation, and have tired quickly.

I think many of us said C4 should have concentrated on the animated block idents rather than the filmed once, something they do use sparingly (though the fantastic clock seems to have gone now) and could easily add too.

Instead they've had two sets of idents with very few variations, generally just using the same couple (and brief cuts of them) and frankly just nowhere near the standard of their previous set. Granted, C4 isn't in the mess presentation wise BBC2 was before this revamp, or BBC1 is now, but I do think they need another full revamp to move on.

The 7 o'clock clock was shown before news from Channel 4 last night. Although I agree, I haven't seen it for a long time.

Always happens 24 hours and 16 minutes before you post about them not using it for ages.

100% agree. It also helps that there's a lot of collaboration involved with the BBC Two set - it's not just one creative mind but lots of different ones with their own takes on the curve, and an agency overseeing them all (Superunion) and laying down simple rules. Both of Channel 4's newest sets only had one creative mind and one perspective - same thing with Oneness. Not that you necessarily need to collaborate to get good idents - ITV hasn't done it as well with their weekly artist idents - but BBC Two has clearly balanced collaboration and control much more effectively.


I think the main reason is the concept though. The curve is as versatile as, if not more than, the bladed 2 was across its lifetime, whereas Channel 4, while I like their idents, have kind of shoehorned themselves into the corner twice in a row with both the Glazer set and the giant (though even those have unused potential, especially the giant). It's a far cry from the 2004 set which was far more versatile.

You’re not the first one to have mentioned this - but I’m pretty sure the clock is still in regular use, just not used before the news all the time as it was at the start. I saw it last week at least.

If the BBC were to have a full on revamp, do you think that the 'Curves' would survive it, like the '2's' did in 1997?

I don't think we need to worry about it.


I do think the last C4 set had real potential to expand as well with potential to use the numerous small blocks in almost any location and scenario.

Great ident. To be honest, all of the new BBC Two set has been superb.