When did you first get interested in idents?

Was I the only one who used to copy down the listings for the various ITV regions and compare them from the papers, when they shut down and started up etc?

I can distinctly remember being fascinated (when I was about 5) with the way Ulster (didn't even know what Ulster was at that time) always used to start much later than the rest of the stations at Weekends (sad I know). I also used to get quite excited when we got the wrong paper and listings from 'weird' channels like Westward and Channel would appear.

Or am I just the most desperately sad person on here?

And also, can anyone else remember getting so excited they almost hyperventilated when ITV came back from the strikes in 1979, or Channel 4 started in 1982? They always said I was a strange kid -- yes I watched the testcard as well (but only for the music, Dad, if he ever asked!)

We couldn't even get Channel 4 when it started - we had to wait until 1985 for it to appear on our local transmitter. Probably my first excited moment in the world of idents was in 1985 when BBC1 finally got round to replacing the old mirror globe, which did look terribly dated by then, and brought in the fantastic COW!

Like I said I was never interested in idents like everyone else here was before I saw websites,and unlike everyone else I'm probably the only one here in this topic who has no recollection of the COW.I did however watch Channel 5s Test transmissions a lot,nearly all day.

<Cue people saying they can't get Channel 5!http://web.ukonline.co.uk/tv.home/forum/emoticons/biggrin.gif >

I can't get Channel 5! http://web.ukonline.co.uk/tv.home/forum/emoticons/biggrin.gif (Well, not on analogue anyway)

Don't worry, it's not as if you're missing anything special!

Well I admit, I do have it on digital - but no, I never watch it!!  (But I might just have a peek at a Christmas ident in a minute)

(Edited by RW at 6:57 pm on Dec. 18, 2001)

I first got interested in idents at around the beginning of this year, when I felt the sudden urge to see the old BBC News/ITN titles again! How many people here, apart from me, thought that they were the only ones in the world interested in this stuff? I know I did!

I think i must of got intrested in idents when i was about 5. I used to watch Central all the time and look at all the diffrent variety on the same theme. The cake took on so many diffrent forms, it amazed me. I used to record many of the idents onto video and some of them now feature on my site. Unfortunatly, many of the early tapes got taped over so i now only have a few of the tapes left.
I did buy a box of video's from a car boot sale and watched them and found a load of 1992 central idents which was quite lucky. I spent the whole sunday watching the videos.

Curt

It was when BBC News changed to it's current look that I got interested in idents. And when TV Home came around, I really got interested. And when Identz came around that was just as good! So thanks Asa and Jamez!

I used to love the ATV fanfare, but it was a refeshing change to go to Cornwall once and see the Westward symbol in its home setting. I also remember holidays in Wales and seeing the old mirror globe on BBC CYMRU. I also have clear recollections of the ITV strike of 1979.

So I suppose from these reminiscences, I would say my interest in TV idents has being going for some 23 years or so!

I've never really been that interested in TV idents. Though seeing the members in this forum getting excited by rebrands can be quite infectious, especially when I know a bit of ‘insider' information.

For me, my interest originally was in radio jingles. I managed to collect a few demo tapes, and tape loads of jingles off the radio. Although I did a bit of work in radio, I quickly found myself in television.

A couple of years ago I ended up working in TV presentation. I guess I have more interest in television branding now, but making junctions looking good and slick is rewarding. There are a few of us who get quite excited if we make something look really good.

I always thought the biggest anoraks worked in the industry. Since the arrival of the Internet it seems it's not the case. Although I have Nicky to blame for pointing this website at me. For purely professional research reasons you understand

Especially in this 'new age' of broadcasting where it seems the only requirement is to press buttons - very little creativity is possible. If you're able to bring a bit of creativity into a show these days it IS very rewarding!