GMTV2 (1999-2010)

If you were a regular or curious viewer of ITV2 and 4 between 1999 and 2010, (I was the former), you're probably familiar with GMTV2, which originally aired in the mornings on ITV2, from GMTV's 6th anniversary in January 1999. From what I remember, it was an extension of GMTV's programming; news, kids slots and The Sunday Programme, and it had some of the most ambient idents ever seen on British television:


One thing that caught me was how GMTV2 marked the first appearance of the modernized sun logo, designed in 1998, and the rather ominous pre-launch notice revolving fish in a tank first appeared on ITV2 the day after it's launch, but the main GMTV station didn't have it's logo modernized until late 1999, (first appeared New Year's Day 2000): any reason for this?


I also remember GMTV Kids 2, and have memories of catching The Wheels on the Bus on ITV2 in 2004: and Sonic Underground around late 2005/early 2006, although the name was also used for the GMTV weekend strands on ITV1, as I was a regular watcher of Wakey Wakey, Action Stations and The Fluffy Club back in the day.


One original production that aired on the strand that I remember fondly was Nini's Treehouse, which sadly hasn't been uploaded online yet. I particularly remember the theme song and secretly watched it after GMTV2 moved to ITV4 in 2008, and the name was quietly dropped afterwards.

GMTV2 also used to carry the News Hour with signing. And some seemingly marmite music during the regional opts - people in the YouTube comments love it, I think it sounds a bit twee



Although the alternative mix used for kids blocks is even more irritating

I have Blockbusters vibes from that theme.
That is a unique way of doing the signing, which takes up a significant chunk of screen space. Interesting.

I presume GMTV2 came about because somebody somewhere decided that when an ITV2 came along GMTV had to have their 6-9:25 slot too on it too, for some reason? These days of course its effectively been buried on the CITV channel.

What a strange logo. It’s so unique from the normal GMTV logo of the time, yet the actual ‘2’ bit feels so tacked on, both in the actual logo design and the animation in the ident.

The music they played over the menu at closedown was quite creepy in my opinion.

Someone I know finds the signing useful, and makes the point that sometimes the hand gestures used are sometimes too small on screen, so therefore they prefer the signing bigger... after all, they'll be watching the signing - not necessarily the actual programme.

There was an awful lot of padding in the kids sections. I recall at one point they used a filler that replaced the menu in the video above that was a group of toddlers playing. No caption, no context. It felt really weird watching it.

Not so much someone thinking it "was a good idea", but that each analogue broadcaster was legally allocated part of the DTT spectrum for existing services and space for additional channels in anticipation of DSO. This included each regional Channel 3 franchisee and the national breakfast franchise.

Although Granada, Carlton and UNM jointly launched ITV2; initially STV launched S2, and UTV launched UTV2/TV You. GMTV was therefore also entitled to a slice of the ITV2 spectrum from 0600-0925 each day, hence GMTV2. GMTV was still owned jointly by Granada, Carlton, STV and Disney at the time.

I thought 'Kiddystare' was just a joke.

I seem to recall GMTV2 having a god awful DOG onscreen. From what I remember, full colour, non opaque and in a totally awkward position which lead to it being chopped off onscreen (even for those of us with common sense and not having our Sky box/OnDigital box set to 4:3 centre cut out) like a lot of folk during the early days of digital TV.

Does the second breakfast licence still technically exist on CITV?

It does yes.