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DOGs and Other On-Screen Clutter

(September 2007)

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OV
Orry Verducci
itsrobert posted:
Analogue terrestrial channels don't need them, as the transmitter identifies which channel it is, which in turn displays on the TV when you switch on the channel.

Problem with this is a lot of TV's don't have the functionality to display the station name when you change to that channel, it's more the TV's made in recent years that have the functionality. Also, this data is just teletext data, so if the reception isn't good enough to decode teletext, the name doesn't come up.

pad posted:
I've said it once, I'll say it again. Why can't the DOGs be as unobtrusive as ABC's in America?

You might be interested to know ABC introduced a new DOG the other week, to match their new 3D logo. It's still unobtusive, but slightly more noticeable than the one you've linked to.
TT
Tumble Tower
clactonradio posted:
Five now have a new DOG in the top left of the screen.

It has been DOG free for a few years but now its back Evil or Very Mad

Its not as bad as the Five US and Five Live ones though.

Twisted Evil

Well spotted clactonradio. I first noticed that yesterday evening around 10pm.

I see it as a step backwards. When Channel 5 launched on Easter Sunday 1997, they had a DOG in the top left hand corner. In September 2002 they removed it at the time of the rebrand to "five". Now it's back, albeit rather feint. Nonetheless it's still clear enough to be noticeable, so WHY HAVE IT at all?
TI
timgraham
There's nothing wrong with it if you can hardly notice it! Bottom right (if at all) is where those things belong:

http://www.rp-network.com/tvforum/uploads/watermarks.jpg
ST
Stuart
I did fire off an Email to five, and got the following response. I referred to it as a "channel identifier" so as not to appear like a geek, but as you see I received a standard response which didn't explain what a DOG was to the uninitiated:

five posted:
Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding the re-introduction of our DOG. In an environment of up to 400 channels, we feel that it is entirely appropriate to carry a DOG. The vast majority of channels carry them, most permanently and virtually every channel at some point has one during the day. 85% of households in the UK are watching digital TV and we believe that the majority of this audience are extremely visually literate and comfortable with the use of DOGs.

The logo is translucent white and completely unobtrusive; it will appear on screen at all programming times except for during commercial and promotional breaks.

Your comments about the re-introduction of our logo have been noted in our Viewer Enquiries Report, which is circulated throughout the company.

Regardless of the debate over five 's fairly unobtrusive DOG, they aren't actually necessary. I understand the need for branding, but not once you've got the product. I think C4 have actually started this with their clever +1 DOG on all platforms.

Sky Movies don't DOG their channels once you're watching an encrypted film, neither do Sky Box Office. Surely they have more reason to DOG than anyone else just incase people are copying it to DVD.

I think I just contradicted myself then - I'm allowed, it's 05:14
BR
Brekkie
StuartPlymouth posted:
Regardless of the debate over five 's fairly unobtrusive DOG, they aren't actually necessary. I understand the need for branding, but not once you've got the product. I think C4 have actually started this with their clever +1 DOG on all platforms.



So as usual, Five just dismissed your complaint as wrong.


I do think the C4+1 DOG is more justified to be honest (though it could be better) as it does distinguish it from the main channel - and prevent you from running an hour late, but Five's justification is poor and shows it now thinks of itself more in the ITV2 league than amongst the big five.


Still not as bad as ITV's new DOGs though - and to be fair as DOGs go, the Five one is pretty unobtrusive, but quite unnecessary too.
VM
VMPhil
timgraham posted:
...bottom right (if at all) is where those things belong...


*

Here's a quick mock-up of what the five DOG could look like if in the bottom-right corner.
OV
Orry Verducci
CBBC posted:
Here's a quick mock-up of what the five DOG could look like if in the bottom-right corner.

Don't take this the wrong way, but your mockup in no way does it justice to what it could look like in the bottom-right corner.
VM
VMPhil
Orry Verducci posted:
CBBC posted:
Here's a quick mock-up of what the five DOG could look like if in the bottom-right corner.

Don't take this the wrong way, but your mockup in no way does it justice to what it could look like in the bottom-right corner.


Confused. If you mean it's too big, then I can change it, but it was just a rough idea of what it could have looked like. It's not like I have the actual five font...
GM
GMc
What about this:

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6897/fivedogew7.jpg
(Image from thisisfive.co.uk)

Confused:
DB
dbl
CBBC posted:
timgraham posted:
...bottom right (if at all) is where those things belong...


*

Here's a quick mock-up of what the five DOG could look like if in the bottom-right corner.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/6648/cap00001hu3.jpg
NE
Netizen
Would it not be feasible to have it slightly smaller and have it at the edge of 16:9 safe, invisible to 4:3 and 14:9 viewers?
ST
Stuart
Oh - I did one too! Abit smaller and still 16:9 safe. Sorry the pic is ITV1, but that's what i was watching! Laughing

http://www.rp-network.com/tvforum/uploads/fivedog.jpg

PS: I did notice watching the title sequence to "The Tudors" last night on BBC TWO that they completely ignored 4:3 conventions and had everything for 16:9. About time too. Even if people don't have a widescreen TV 85% are capable of switching to letterbox.

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