I've said many times before how I seemed to be alone on here in preferring the 2009 versions, and it's for exactly those reasons - I found the original build-ups too long and ponderous, and boring to watch repeatedly. The re-edits felt so much snappier, and also, to my mind, had better soundtracks.
I'm a bit old fashioned and still prefer the days of a simple rotating globe with no messing around, no form-ups and the announcer speaking immediately. It's also a symbol I found strangely interesting as a young child - if I was that age now I can't imagine the current idents (or any 'people' idents, for that matter) would have held anything like the same kind of fascination.
Completely agree with you Robert. My main annoyance back in 2009 was the wastefulness of producing all those build-up sequences in the first place, only to later bin them. And for the longer sequences which they did retain in the 2009 re-edits - such as Hippos - they introduced the logo after a couple of seconds - getting in the way of all the "build-up" action - rather than waiting and animating on the logo in synch with the circle formation in the filmed sequences. Either ditch the longer version completely or keep it true to the original format.
I too preferred the shorter versions and would agree that the music was an improvement too.
Like you, I was fascinated with BBC pres in the 70s/80s. I've always had a strong interest in technology and graphic design - though have never been involved in the latter in a professional capacity. The bits in-between the programmes provided examples of advancements in both fields.
I was completely blown away by the introduction of the "==2==" symbol in 1979 (though my memory, for many years, was that it was introduced in 1980). I was quite young at the time but was so used to seeing symbols and captions that were imperfect in many ways. This new symbol seemed like incredible perfection. And the electronically-generated clock, when it came along not long afterwards, seemed equally remarkable (if not more so) at the time. I remember waiting and waiting and waiting for the BBC One globe to get a similar makeover. But I had a very long wait. But when the COW globe came along, it was certainly worth the wait. I recall being particularly gobsmacked by the shading and quality of the 'BBC1' lettering. The 'BBC1' on the clock was more the type of thing that I expected to see, rather than this amazingly crisp, colour print quality lettering. The globe itself was an incredible achievement for that time and I recall wanting to find out more about the technology behind it.
But the 1991 globe is definitely my favourite BBC One symbol. When it launched, I thought it looked amazing. And when it came back for BBC NI's 90th birthday celebrations, it still looked well in HD. I don't believe I ever felt tired of that symbol. It worked well as a channel ident. The sequence ran for about 1 minute before looping - and in my mind anyway - proves that you can actually have one channel ident rather than a hundred.
The 70, 80s and 90s was a fascinating era for technology - some huge leaps were made - and it was great to have been around for all that.
As for the state of channel pres at the moment. It's pretty sad really. Live action, people nonsense everywhere you look. Same, same, same. BBC Two resorting to 26-year-old idents. I can't even bring myself to mention BBC One. Most channels still producing programme trails in SD.
This post is not me advocating the reinstatement of the BBC One globe. The globe served BBC One well but it's not really an appropriate symbol for a TV channel in this age. Back in the day - when it symbolised bringing a world of entertainment to its audience, when the BBC One schedule was filled with imports - it probably made a certain amount of sense. Not now.
The "creatives" just need to stop trying to "out-creative" each other (and producing the kind of tripe that's being passed off as "idents" on Channel 4) and get back to the basics of what a channel ident is there for. Let's stop producing 50 idents and just get one good idea and do it really well.
Do the BBC2 idents have the earlier Mono soundtracks used until March 1991, or the later Stereo ones that were used 'til the end of the '2's run?
