BBC Choice Idents - The Ident Review

Summary

This 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

00:00

📺 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.

05:00

🎉 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.

10:01

🌟 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.

Keywords

💡Ident

An 'ident' refers to a short piece of content, often a video clip or animation, that is used to identify a television channel or program. In the context of this video, idents are the visual and auditory signatures of BBC Choice, reflecting the channel's branding and identity over the years. The script discusses various idents used by BBC Choice, highlighting their evolution and the creative themes they represent.

💡BBC Choice

BBC Choice was a digital television channel launched by the British Broadcasting Corporation in 1998. It was known for its diverse programming aimed at different demographics. The channel's idents are central to the video's narrative, showcasing the channel's branding and thematic changes over time. BBC Choice eventually evolved into BBC Three, marking a significant shift in the BBC's digital strategy.

💡Digital Landscape

The 'digital landscape' refers to the media environment characterized by digital technology and distribution methods. The script mentions moving 'back into the digital landscape,' indicating a focus on how BBC Choice was part of the transition from traditional broadcast to digital television, which was a significant development in the industry during the late 1990s.

💡BBC Prime

BBC Prime was a news channel launched by the BBC in 1995, which is mentioned in the script to illustrate the expansion of the BBC's operations beyond its traditional channels. It serves as an example of the BBC's early steps into the digital broadcasting space, which eventually led to the creation of channels like BBC Choice.

💡Programming

In the context of television, 'programming' refers to the content broadcast on a channel. The script discusses how BBC Choice had a 'wide mix in programming,' which changed over its five years of operation to appeal to different audiences. This highlights the channel's strategy to adapt its content to attract a variety of viewers.

💡Visual Identity

A 'visual identity' is the visual representation of a brand or channel, often including logos, color schemes, and design motifs. The script describes the idents of BBC Choice as having one of the most interesting visual identities, with themes of patterns and imagery that were central to the channel's branding and recognition.

💡Pattern of Three

The 'pattern of three' is a creative motif used in the idents of BBC Choice, where imagery and animations are structured around the number three. This concept is mentioned in the script as a recurring theme in the channel's idents, which could symbolize the channel's name or serve as a memorable design element.

💡Generic Beats

In the script, 'generic beats' refers to the unremarkable and nondescript musical accompaniment used in some of the idents. The term is used critically to describe the soundtrack of the 2000 idents, which the narrator finds to be a 'mindless array of generic beats,' suggesting a lack of creativity or effort in the audio design.

💡Foreshadowing

The term 'foreshadowing' is used in the script to describe how the presence of three blocks in the 2001 idents could be seen as a hint or prediction of the channel's eventual replacement by BBC Three. It illustrates the concept of using elements within a narrative to suggest future events or developments.

💡Phasing Out

'Phasing out' refers to the process of gradually discontinuing or replacing something. In the context of the video, it is used to describe how BBC Choice was replaced by BBC Three. The script praises the BBC for doing so with 'fun quirky and very on-the-nose idents,' indicating a smooth transition that was communicated effectively to the audience.

💡Benchmark

A 'benchmark' is a standard or point of reference against which things are compared. The script mentions BBC Choice as marking the first real time the BBC went exclusively digital, setting a 'benchmark for what they would go on to expand and achieve over the next 20 years.' This highlights the channel's significance in the history of digital broadcasting for the BBC.

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]

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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

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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

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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

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[Applause]

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[Applause]

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[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

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