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When ABC2 switches off at around midnight each night, this somewhat cutesy, yet charming footage rolls. And while there’s probably more creative ideas than this one, at least they’re doing something.

As ultimately useless as it is (like the entire contents of this blog), its the little things about how a channel operates, whether its some awesome idents, a mesmerising test pattern, or some creative programming that creates the connection with a viewer that makes a channel special, and not just a vending machine of trash.

UPDATE: It turns out they have a pretty similar video for when ABC2 turns back on in the morning around 7am, check it out below.

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While I was a fan of some of the old ABC2 idents, and am still getting used to the new ones, something about the network that always left me unimpressed was the murky-green-water theme that dominated their promos and other on-air branding. The new ABC2 however has got a fresh coat of paint, and with its bold use of red, green and orange gives a distinctive look, that for me at least gives the network a feeling of independence, and some even footing with ABC1.

The new look was developed by Tactic, check out what they did to ABC1 here.

UPDATE: It turns out the ABC has never had a unifying channel brand like they’ve just adopted, and whats on-air right now isn’t the gold standard that was intended (the third video above for example), so while whats on-air catches up with what was intended, check out the screenshots below for an idea of what we should expect soon.

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ABC2 got its best bit of PR to date on Friday when ABC TV formally became ABC1 and reminded, or alerted people for the first time that there was in fact a whole other channel available from the National Broadcaster.

Like everything the ABC does, the old look of ABC2 had its hits and misses, some of my favourites from the previous set of idents are here, but again they were far outweighed by all the ordinary ones.

Now though we have a whole new on-air look to dissect, and the first thing I thought when I saw these was… hey, its ITV4! Back in 2005 ITV4 used a similar split screen device to create visual puns, ABC2 on the other hand seem to be using the split screen to highlight various juxtapositions, city-nature, young-old, casual-professional etc. Which is fine, although it completely falls apart about half way through and I find myself wondering what two girls drinking a milkshake is meant to represent..

Comments in a previous post have already pointed out the similarities that the first of these ABC2 idents above have to the video clip of “Concrete Boots” by After The Fall, check it out and see what you think. It’s a good song either way.

Then finally, to dislocate the entire series a little more they’ve introduced two other idents (below) that are based on “parkour“, the ‘art of displacement’ which again is a fine concept for a series of idents, but why only throw in two of them.

I guess what I’m saying is that I like consistency and a central theme to my idents, something that can be explored and developed, not just random images linked at times, but then not at others.

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(The idents were produced by zspace, who also did the new look ABC1.)

Check out the new look ABC1 and ABC2 above, they’re taken from the national broadcasters new TV website here. Also on the site, check out Kim Dalton’s video introducing a “redefined” ABC.

Broadcast quality versions of all of the new ABC1 idents are now available here.

Broadcast quality versions of all of the new ABC2 idents are now available here.

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ABC2, the digital sibling of Australia’s national broadcaster launched on March 7th 2005. Although originally restricted in the content it was able to play, those limitations were removed in 2006 allowing the network to expand its programming options and broadcast “comedy, drama, national news, sport and entertainment”.

Tomorrow, ABC2 will turn another page in the history of Australian multichanneling, as it is rebranded and repositioned as a network focusing on Australian arts delivering unique programming and completely different content to that of ABC1.

The quality of ABC2 branding has been mixed, with idents and on-air looks ranging from the subtle, to the bizarre. The basic premise however that the idents of ABC2 are built on has always been solid, and its delivered some of the most entertaining spots on any Australian network.. above are a selection of those.

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It’s Australia Day today, which means its time to count down the 100 best songs of last year with Triple J. The hottest 100 is one of the largest song polls in the world, and while last year the amazing ‘One Crowded Hour’ took out the top spot, this year perhaps my favourite song of 2007 came in at number ten.

The song is ‘Don’t Fight It’ by Perth band The Panics, you might just like it too.

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I’m not too sure what these promos running on ABC2 are all about, but I can only hope they’ve something to do with a refresh for the network, along with the anticipated rebranding of the original ABC channel to formally become “ABC1″.

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The Australia Network (formerly ABC Asia Pacific) is a free to air satellite television station operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Its available to over 20 million homes across Asia, the Pacific, and India, and although technically not broadcast in Australia, some of its programming is available on ABC2.

The above video comparison shows the opening sequences of ABC News as broadcast locally, and ABC News Asia Pacific produced for the Australia Network.

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The Great Global Warming Swindle, a controversial documentary that disputes the popular belief over climate change is being aired on the ABC tonight, as well as being simulcast on ABC2 and NewsRadio.

For whatever reason the ABC is playing this documentary, at least they aren’t presenting it in isolation. It will be introduced by Lateline presenter Tony Jones, followed by interview by Jones with the films director, Martin Durkin and then a panel discussion.

I’m looking forward to the Tony Jones interview, which will hopefully question Durkin’s own motives throughly enough to compensate for the film being played in the first place.

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Thanks to this comment from Sam at zspace I’m able to clear up some self induced confusion. The above three idents are part of a new Cross Platform collection created for the ABC, and are separate to the now christened “Genre” collection (still my favourite Australian idents).

All round brilliant stuff from both collections, and the best the ABC has looked in my (albeit short) living memory. And, if there’s anymore to come they’ll end up on this post.

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ABC2, the digital sibling of Australia’s national broadcaster launched one year ago today.

Personally I watch it more then some free to air channels, and the idents that accompanied the launch were the catalyst for me finally starting this blog. Currently the station doesn’t have any live telecasts, and is still restricted in its content (thanks to legislation), but even with its problems; the Sunday morning Rage’s, every state’s Stateline, Lateline in the morning, and never missing a Media Watch have made ABC2′s first year in existance more then worth it for me.

Its shown just a small taste of what multichanneling can bring, and I can’t wait for ABC Three or ABCNews 24, when/if they should ever arrive.

I captured this promo for abc.net.au on ABC2 this afternoon.

For more videos check out the ABC2 category of this blog.

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This one looks cool, but the music is a bit too ‘colonial’ for me, much prefer the music they use in this ident, but maybe thats just the 20-year-old coming out in me.

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Nice, short ABC2 ident, very cool scenery, I like the use of the white-on-black “2″ at the end. Enjoy (all 14 seconds of it).

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Just another ABC2 ident, unlike all the others though, this one ends with a white 2 on a black background (as opposed to white on white) and I think the execution of the big 2 (being lit up from within itself) is very cool.

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Yet another ABC2 ident, I’m kind of surprised how many of these they have made, but i’m not complaining, this one is simple but cool.

For those of you that don’t know ABC2 is a digital only channel offered by the ABC. The ABC is funded by the Australian government and under current legislation, ABC2 is only allowed to broadcast specific genres of TV, such as arts and regional programs, and for some bizarre reason is not allowed to broadcast national news, comedy, national sport and drama which is kind of a kill joy which means most of ABC’s cool programming can’t be repeated on ABC2.

The Minister for Communications Senator Helen Coonan is currently considering reforms which would allow a greater range of programming on digital television and I certainly hope they go through with it.

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This is one of my favoure ABC2 idents to date. Its really well filmed and although the CGI on the ‘big 2′ won’t win an Oscar the whole look of the promo is very very cool and I like the direction this series of ABC2 idents is going.

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Just another ABC2 ident, not my favourite, it may seem like there all country themed but they’re not, will post the Sydney Harbour Bridge one soon.

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Very simple, the image doesn’t even move, it could be a photo, but still short and kinda cool.

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Only thing that moves in this one is the old guy walking up the path, music is annoying but appropriate.

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The most exciting of the three. Good music, good setting.

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After my inital shock from the less then ordinary first ident from ABC2 a whole series of rather cool ones has come out. This is the first one I’ve seen in the new series and while its a really simple idea I think the variations that could come of it are endless.

If you’ve seent the BBC2 Idents its kind of like that logo has escaped its yellow box and is touring Australia.

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Since the launch ABC2, the digital only channel has been getting promoted on ABC1 and on pay tv which it is also broadcast on. This is one of the promos telling people who don’t have digital tv what there missing out on (but much more subtle then that). There are a few more of these ads, all shot from inside a car and I’ll post them soon.

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ABC2 is the new digital channel of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and was launched on March 7 2005. The channel is completley automated which allows for no live programming but helps cut down on operating costs. The channel runs a variety of programs including an extensive range of repeated shows originally aired on ABC1 from throughout the week.

This ident was one of the first aired on the network and is honestly pretty ordinary. The ABC2 logo is very similair to the BBC2 logo but they go in different directions with it and when I post the newer (and much much better) ABC2 idents you’ll see how.