BBC Choice Idents - The Ident Review
Summary
TLDRThis episode of 'Ident Review' delves into the evolution of BBC Choice's television idents from 1998 to 2003. Starting with creative pattern-based idents, the channel transitioned to a simplistic single heart motif in 2000, criticized for its lack of innovation. In 2001, a dynamic cube design emerged, foreshadowing the channel's rebranding to BBC Three. The final idents humorously announced BBC Choice's end, paving the way for BBC Three's launch. The video provides an insightful look at the channel's digital journey and its significance in TV history.
Takeaways
- 📺 The script is a review of BBC Choice's television idents, discussing their evolution over the years.
- 🚀 BBC Choice was launched on September 23, 1998, as a digital channel, marking a significant step in the BBC's digital expansion.
- 🔄 The channel underwent several ident changes to appeal to different demographics and reflect its programming variety.
- 💡 The initial idents featured a pattern of three, with various imagery such as hearts, mice, fans, and punches.
- 🔴 A notable ident from 2000 was criticized for being simplistic and lacking the creativity of the launch idents.
- 🔺 In 2001, BBC Choice introduced a new ident motif with three energetic cubes, signaling a return to a more appealing visual style.
- 🔮 The idents from 2001 included foreshadowing of BBC Three, with the use of three blocks, hinting at the channel's upcoming replacement.
- 🎉 The final idents for BBC Choice were bold, announcing the channel's end and the launch of BBC Three, with a mix of fun and respectability.
- 🎬 The script includes examples of idents with specific programming mentions, such as 'EastEnders' and 'I'm Alan Partridge'.
- 📈 BBC Choice's journey reflects the BBC's experimentation with digital channels and its eventual focus on targeting young adult audiences with BBC Three.
- 👋 The final words of the broadcaster signify a bittersweet farewell to BBC Choice, as it transitioned to CBeebies, another digital channel.
Q & A
What is the purpose of the 'ident review' show?
-The 'ident review' show is dedicated to examining and discussing various television idents that have become familiar over the years.
When did BBC Choice launch and what was its significance?
-BBC Choice launched on September 23, 1998, as a digital channel over the Internet and later on digital TV receivers. It marked the BBC's expansion into digital broadcasting.
What was unique about the initial idents of BBC Choice in 1998?
-The initial idents of BBC Choice in 1998 were unique for their pattern of three theme, featuring different imagery such as hearts, mice, fans, and punches.
Why are the idents from 2000 considered a letdown compared to the initial ones?
-The idents from 2000 are considered a letdown because they were seen as lazy and cheap, using a single heart and generic beats, lacking the creativity and simplicity of the initial idents.
What was the motif of the idents introduced in 2001 for BBC Choice?
-The motif of the idents introduced in 2001 featured three energetic orange cubes interacting with each other against a green digital background.
Why were the idents with three blocks in 2001 seen as foreshadowing?
-The three blocks were seen as foreshadowing because BBC was planning to replace BBC Choice with a new channel called BBC Three, and the presence of three blocks hinted at this upcoming change.
What change did the idents in 2002 reflect for BBC Choice?
-The idents in 2002 reflected the impending launch of BBC Three, as they announced that the channel was being replaced and featured a countdown to the new channel.
How did the final idents for BBC Choice differ from the previous ones?
-The final idents for BBC Choice were bold and playful, announcing the channel's end and the launch of BBC Three, with a focus on building excitement for the new channel.
What was the final night of BBC Choice like, according to the script?
-The final night of BBC Choice was dominated by previews for BBC Three, signaling a transition from one channel to the next.
What is the broadcaster's final message in the script?
-The broadcaster's final message is a goodbye to BBC Choice, mentioning the transition to CBeebies and the anticipation of meeting new friends and having fun.
Outlines
📺 Evolution of BBC Choice Idents
This paragraph delves into the history and evolution of television idents for BBC Choice, a digital channel launched in 1998. It discusses the channel's initial idents characterized by a pattern of three, with various imagery such as hearts, mice, fans, and punches. The idents are noted for their simplicity and visual appeal despite being considered dated by modern standards. The paragraph also covers the less successful 2000 idents, criticized for their lack of creativity and effort, which were quickly replaced in 2001 by a more dynamic set featuring three energetic cubes. This section highlights the channel's programming and its eventual rebranding to BBC Three, marked by idents that announced the channel's impending change.
🎉 BBC Choice's Final Idents and Transition to BBC Three
The second paragraph focuses on the final years of BBC Choice, leading up to its transition into BBC Three. It describes the idents that featured three blocks, which seemed to foreshadow the channel's replacement. The idents were simple yet effective, providing information about upcoming programming. As the government approved BBC Three, BBC Choice's idents began to reflect the upcoming change, announcing the channel's end and the birth of BBC Three. The paragraph also touches on the emotional aspect of this transition for viewers and fans of BBC Choice, and it praises the BBC for handling the phase-out with creative and straightforward idents. The final night of BBC Choice is noted for being filled with previews for BBC Three, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new one in digital television.
🌟 Wrapping Up the Ident Review and Looking Forward to New Content
The final paragraph of the script wraps up the review of BBC Choice's idents and teases upcoming content for the viewers. It provides a brief overview of the ident review show, expressing hope that the audience enjoyed the episode and encouraging them to tune in for the next installment. The paragraph also mentions the regular programs and the anticipation of new shows being featured. It concludes with well wishes for the viewers' week and an invitation to join the show again soon, ending on a positive and engaging note.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Ident
💡BBC Choice
💡Digital Landscape
💡BBC Prime
💡Programming
💡Visual Identity
💡Pattern of Three
💡Generic Beats
💡Foreshadowing
💡Phasing Out
💡Benchmark
Highlights
Introduction to the ident review show discussing television idents over the years.
BBC Choice's launch in the late 1990s as part of the expanding digital landscape.
The unique visual identity of BBC Choice's 1998 idents revolving around the theme of a pattern of three.
Description of the creative simplicity and appeal of the idents despite their dated look by modern standards.
The change in idents in 2000, criticized as one of the laziest and cheapest idents by the BBC.
Introduction of the 2001 idents featuring energetic cubes, signaling a return to form for BBC Choice.
The significance of the three cubes in the 2001 idents as a foreshadowing of the upcoming BBC Three.
The 2002 idents reflecting the transition to BBC Three with bold and respectable designs.
The emotional impact of the final idents for BBC Choice, marking the end of an era.
The historical significance of BBC Choice as the first exclusively digital channel by the BBC.
The final night of BBC Choice dominated by previews for BBC Three, indicating a smooth transition.
The broadcaster's farewell speech, capturing the essence of change and looking forward to new beginnings.
The ident review's conclusion emphasizing BBC Choice's place in television history.
The broadcaster's final words, creating a sense of closure and anticipation for the future.
The ident review's sign-off, inviting viewers to join for the next installment and new shows.
Transcripts
[Music]
[Music]
hello and welcome to the ident review
the show where we have a good look and
chat about the various television idents
that we've come to know and love over
the years and for this installment we're
moving back into the digital landscape
as we take a look at BBC choice
[Music]
in the late 1990s the BBC was rapidly
expanding its operations far beyond BBC
one and two BBC Prime had launched in
1995 with a specific news channel
following in 1997 and his digital
channels started to become more
prevalent in the industry the BBC would
soon enough follow suit on the 23rd of
September 1998 BBC choice launched over
the Internet becoming available on
digital TV receivers soon after it would
last until 2003 with a wide mix in
programming which would change within
those five years to appeal to different
demographics however let's now take a
look at the idents that represented this
channel starting with the batch that
launched the channel itself in 1998
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
probably one of the most interesting
visual identity by the BBC as you've
probably guessed these all revolve
around the theme of a pattern of three
each variant coming with different sorts
of imagery including hearts mice fans
and punches there was also a trumpet
variant that sadly we couldn't find any
existing footage of that one I find
these quite nice and appealing to look
at despite them in quite simplistic and
some even may argue a little dated by
modern-day standards the solid
background colors complement well with
what's happening on the screen
particularly the ones with specific
movements such as the punch sequence
that makes for quite an amusing viewing
now despite the creative simplicity and
easy view ability in 2000 they would be
swapped out for a new motif which would
only last for a single year
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
now this is a massive letdown after
going for creative yet simple with the
launch idents this follow-up set had the
potential to expand on it greatly to be
a bit more bigger and a bit more bolder
but instead we get probably one of the
laziest and cheapest idents that the BBC
has ever produced it borrows from the
heart variant of the launch idents now
with just a single heart center stage
and over time other heart shapes have
beamed out from it
the soundtrack may as well not exists
it's just a mindless array of generic
beats and as for the changing colors
well yeah sure it's in the effect but it
just amplifies seemingly how little time
effort and money was put into creating
these sequences definitely one of the
Corporations weakest efforts across all
its channels throughout its entire
history thankfully this ident was only
in place for a year as in 2001 the
channel was restyled yet again this time
with three energetic cubes
get evening you're watching BBC choice
and in just a moment you'll be watching
those crafty Kaka knees in the
EastEnders omnibus the lovely Frank
butcher is the East End ER revealed in
an hour from now on BBC choice but first
perhaps present hubby is the one with
problems
it's part two of the EastEnders omnibus
the lovely Davina McCall is providing
more closure in half an hour on BBC
choice but press that legendary spinning
bowtie moment as Frank butcher is the
East End ER revealed so this is
definitely a return to form again we
have quite a simplistic syrup we have a
green digital ish looking background and
three orange cubes which across the
three variants we have interact with one
another they zoom around and at other
times aside from these clips they
displayed information about upcoming
programming now by this time it is
worthy to note that the BBC was looking
to replace BBC choice with a channel to
be known as BBC three so the presence of
three blocks specifically seems to be an
interesting bit of foreshadowing overall
it's a good ident has a bit of Furman it
isn't an eyesore or a drag to view and
for many this is the main BBC choice
item that springs to mind when the
channel is mentioned bergen this would
only be in place until 2002 as the
government approved BBC three for a
February 2003 launch it was time for BBC
choice to reflect these change in times
[Music]
good evening welcome to BBC Choice and
as well as being happy that it's
Saturday you should also be happy
because we've got an I'm Alan Partridge
bonanza starting at 9:00 tonight in half
an hour on BBC choice it's I'm Alan
Partridge and right now on BBC choice
it's I'm Alan Partridge and just in case
you couldn't tell it's I'm Alan
Partridge enough and don't forget you've
got one night with Robbie Williams good
evening welcome to BBC choice and we
start this dark wintry Thursday evening
29 members of the public undergo 10 days
of physical punishment in SAS are you
tough enough in half an hour
BBC threes here tomorrow well this is
quite a bold move by the BBC these
idents I think overall the quite fun but
they're also very respectable I mean it
takes a lot of goal to basically
announce that the channel you're
watching is dying or being replaced by
something new but the BBC really wanted
to give BBC 3 the best launch possible I
like the little Christmas variants how
we see the slight differences in both
the builders and the standing set piece
and they also quite like the countdown
sequence clips we see you'll make the
audience feel like we're building to
something new fresh and exciting
however these idents also mark a spell
of sadness as they are essentially
announcing the death of BBC choice which
I'm sure for those back in 2002 and
three who were avid viewers and fans of
the channel was a bit of a
disappointment nevertheless props to the
BBC for phasing out BBC choice was some
fun quirky and very on-the-nose idents
[Music]
now when you boil down to it BBC choice
probably would have never lasted in its
initial form the target demographics and
types of programming were constantly
shifted around and by the time they
settled on the young adult market BBC
three was pretty much set to take over
them so much so that the final night of
BBC choice was essentially dominated by
previews for BBC three
so although BBC choice may not be that
well remembered nowadays it still does
have its place within television history
marking the first real time the BBC went
exclusively digital a benchmark for what
they would go on to expand an it and to
achieve over the next 20 years and so
we've come to the end but before we go
the final words from our broadcaster
ah there we go everything is packed
I've got carrots for the rabbit I've got
all your pictures all your post cards
birthday cards I've got the Tweedy's the
Teletubbies the play days all your
favorites and we're ready to move to
CBeebies tomorrow yes I'm very pleased
all start 6:00 a.m. and I'm gonna be
watching with you guys as well we're
gonna meet some new friends and have
lots and lots of fun there but for me
goodbye
[Music]
you're watching BBC choice and if you
stick around as if by magic
you'll be watching part 2 of the
EastEnders omnibus going up
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
the new CD B's digital channel launches
tomorrow play times all the time
that was all this week for this
installment of the ident review I hope
you all enjoyed watching it and we hope
that you tune in next week you could
tune into all the regular programs which
will be available for you to view at
their usual days and times and it's our
aim that the new shows will also see
their time in the spotlight for you as
well but until then have a good week and
we hope that you'll join us again soon
good night
[Music]
Посмотреть больше похожих видео
100 Years of the BBC | A Centenary of Celebrations | BBC History
“TV Licence Is Here To Stay”
Drake vs Kendrick: The biggest rap beef of all time? - The Global Story podcast, BBC World Service
English Rewind - 6 Minute English: Formality at work
A Level Media - Newsbeat - Industry
Queen Elizabeth II has died Buckingham Palace announces - BBC News
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)