UTV rebrand

Good for them. Recorded or otherwise, it's a great tradition to uphold.

Not sure what inspired ITV to go ahead with Santa Flash this year but I'm very pleased they did it. I wouldn't be surprised if they're adopting a softly-softly approach and will slowly remove UTV elements from the station.

However, whatever the thought process, it's good to see ITV once again recognising the importance of the distinctiveness of the nations. Much like STV doesn't really seem to care too much about the former Grampian region but does care about its own country, ITV may have little interest in the English regions but seems to get why Wales and Northern Ireland require different treatment.

Local programmes rate well in Wales, and of course it must help that the Welsh Assembly etc has a decent advertising budget.

Just back from honeymoon and noticed we've a new set of idents on UTV. Have the old set gone completely? I haven't seen any of them over the past couple of days.

ITV rotate them by the season so I suspect UTV are doing likewise.

That is no longer the case, ITV seems to be using any of the idents of late, BUT maybe UTV is keeping up with the trend?

On a different note, I also noticed that UTV Life now has end credits!

Ofcom might warn them if they don't

So when did UTV have an extra 6 idents added to its rotation?

Ofcom isn't going to warn UTV for not doing Santa Watch, or for abruptly switching the name to ITV. If NI-originated programming fell below the required level then sure.

I noticed that too! I thought we may have seen a refreshed opening titles after a year. I noticed Terry Brennan (Head of News) was credited as Executive Producer seems rather strange to me.

I wasn't referring specifically to the Santa Watch. *rolls eyes*