A round-up of the week’s stories and observations.
- MON 22ND MAY (2.20PM)
BBC News Channel introduces branded news programming - TUE 23RD MAY (10PM)
Channel 4 releases more examples of updated branding - TUE 23RD MAY (11.55PM)
Reappearance of live test card suggests new Saorview capacity - WED 24TH MAY (2.30PM)
Lunchtime BBC London news programme fails to appear - FRI 26TH MAY (12.30AM)
New BBC blocks animation in iPlayer promo - SUN 28TH MAY (7.30PM)
Jeff Stelling retires from Sky Sports
Monday 22nd May
2.20pm BBC News Channel introduces branded news programming
BBC News has today launched three new programme brands on its television news channel.
“The reactive and fast-paced BBC News Now with Lucy Hockings (12pm BST to 3pm BST) will cover several stories throughout the programme, using Lucy’s versatile and accessible style in an immersive format designed to move seamlessly from story to story.
“The best of the BBC’s forensic analysis and journalism will be at the heart of Verified Live with Matthew Amroliwala (3pm BST to 6pm BST). Verified Live will delve into the key stories behind the headlines and work closely with BBC Verify, the BBC’s new verification hub and brand, which will use advanced editorial tools and techniques to investigate, source and verify information, video, and images.
“The Daily Global with Yalda Hakim (6pm BST to 8pmBST) will be a deep-dive into some of the significant stories of the day, using Yalda’s trademark in-depth, news-making interviews combined with a unique global perspective.”
BBC Press Team
Tuesday 23rd May
10pm Channel 4 releases more examples of updated branding
Channel 4 has provided more information about the rebranding of its linear and streaming services.
“Channel 4 is boldly bringing all its digital, social, and linear channels together under one single brand as All 4 becomes ‘Channel 4’, elevating the broadcaster’s streaming-first commitment for the digital age.
“Audiences will enjoy a more seamless and connected viewing experience across all of Channel 4’s services and platforms. Whether they choose to stream or watch live, viewers only need to navigate to one single destination ‘Channel 4’ to easily find and watch the very best free entertainment available in the UK.
“Channel 4 commissioned design consultancy Pentagram to collaborate with its award-winning in-house creative agency 4creative to develop a new cohesive brand identity.
“Amidst an increasingly crowded digital world of available content, this innovative and entirely new design identity stretches across all of Channel 4’s streaming and linear services to help audiences easily recognise and find their favourite content and programmes from the channel.
“As a starting point, Channel 4’s iconic blocks have been brought back together after eight years apart, placing the channel’s iconic Lambie-Nairn ‘4’ logo back at its heart.
“Pentagram and 4creative have reimagined the 4 as a companion to viewers to guide them through Channel 4’s ‘Altogether Different’ content universe. The brand’s touchpoints are anchored by a vibrant green ‘4’, reflecting the alternative spirit of the channel, which navigates the viewer through a wider colour system of immersive gradients and worlds that reflect the rich diversity of Channel 4 content.
“A new iconographic language featuring a set of ‘4mojis’ has also been devised to help give the brand a sense of mischief in even the most functional of communications.“All new brand assets are underpinned by behavioural principles that flex to enable Channel 4 to retain its creative spirit in communications. These principles join a newly defined brand architecture and a sharpened articulation of Channel 4’s distinctive personality and tone of voice.
Channel 4 Press Team (24th May)
“Together, they provide a guiding framework for the broadcaster’s future creative evolution with unlimited scope for new ideas, stories, and imagery.”
11.55pm Reappearance of live test card suggests new Saorview capacity
A live test card has returned to the Saorview/DTT network in Ireland.
The test card was present on Saorview for many years but limited capacity meant it was squeezed out with the addition of Challenge TV in February.
And video has returned to the Saorview Information channel. It was reduced to a basic static graphic as a result of the addition of other TV channels.
So where has this new capacity come from on mux 2?
RELATED ARTICLE: Encoder changes create additional capacity on Saorview.
Wednesday 24th May
2.30pm Lunchtime BBC London news programme fails to appear
BBC London failed to appear at 1.30pm on BBC One London. News Channel output was shown instead (Sportsday).
However, during the BBC News at One handover to the regions/nations, BBC London presenter Thomas Magill could be seen in the BBC London studio. He later tweeted an explanation:
“Hi everyone – we had a technical issue moments before going to air. As you can see I was ready. The shot is completely live so apologies if it caused some confusion. We’ll be back bringing you all the news for London at 6.30 this evening!!”
Friday 26th May
12.30am New BBC blocks animation in iPlayer promo
A new iPlayer trail featuring an animation of the BBC blocks that we’ve not seen before – stretched full screen height – is now airing.
Sunday 28th May
7.30pm Jeff Stelling retires from Sky Sports
Jeff Stelling has retired from Sky Sports after 30 years.
Stelling presented the network’s flagship football results show for over 25 years.
He said his time at Sky had been “absolutely wonderful”.
He added: “It’s been the best job that anybody could possibly wish for.
“My wife Lizzie takes great pleasure in saying ‘you’re the luckiest man ever to take a breath’. And you know what, I don’t tell her this often but she’s right.”
RELATED ARTICLE: Timeline: 2023 Week 20.
RELATED ARTICLE: Timeline: 2023 Week 22.
Acknowledgements
PICTURED: The Daily Global opening titles. COPYRIGHT: BBC.