> Quicktime H.264
(29mb)
> iOS Compatible
(6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(8mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(31mb)
> iOS Compatible
(6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(8mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(30mb)
> iOS Compatible
(6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(8mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(29mb)
> iOS Compatible
(6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(7mb)

British music and entertainment channel 4Music refreshed its on-air branding this month and introduced four new idents based around dance.

I’m reminded of the old BBC One ‘Rhythm and Movement’ idents that still remain a gold standard for television branding. And having recently seen Pina I still think there is plenty of room to further explore dance in idents.

For more info on the 4Music rebrand read this.

(Thanks for the details Nick)

> Quicktime H.264
(142mb)
> iOS Compatible
(12mb)
> Watch in Flash
(10mb)

This new spot for SBS is not only visually beautifully and perfectly timed, its also surprisingly profound, and layered in meaning that only a broadcaster like this would aim for. Created from a collaboration featuring:

contributions from Animal Logic, playwright Caleb Lewis, Indigenous creative agency Gilimbaa, Jam Sydney and Ghanaian born, Australian performer Dorinda Hafner.

Produced by US Sydney, with full credits here.

> Quicktime H.264
(21.5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(13.3mb)
> Watch in Flash
(9.9mb)

When I was in the states last year I stumbled upon an enjoyable little television programme called Infomania, that was being broadcast on an even littler network called Current TV.

Founded in 2005 by Al Gore, the network felt a bit like what would happen if the Hungry Beast kids were given their own channel (in a good way). The Emmy and Peabody award winning channel was thrust into the spotlight earlier this year with the announcement that Keith Olbermann would join the network.

Along with the arrival of Keith came a refreshed look and a brand new logo. The old logo was pretty ordinary and didn’t really say much. The new look however is simply stunning – and works just as well static or animated. It’s a truly unique channel, now with the branding to match.

Credits: Identity by Wolff Olins and on-air look by Loyalkaspar.

> Quicktime H.264
(24mb)
> iPod Compatible
(13mb)
> Watch in Flash
(12mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(10mb)
> iPod Compatible
(5mb)
> Watch in Flash
(4mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(9mb)
> iPod Compatible
(5mb)
> Watch in Flash
(4mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(7mb)
> iPod Compatible
(4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(6mb)
> iPod Compatible
(4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(5mb)
> Watch in Flash
(4mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(3mb)
> iPod Compatible
(2mb)
> Watch in Flash
(1mb)

The on-air look of ABC2 has ranged from the interesting to the ordinary. While easily the most intriguing channel on free to air television, ABC2 has always struggled with its identity.

Thankfully this new lime-and-pink design is the most mature branding to grace the network, even if the execution of the new idents is a little sporadic (the fish look great, the knitting.. not so much).

> Quicktime H.264
(7mb)
> iPod Compatible
(3.3mb)
> Watch in Flash
(1.9mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(4mb)
> iPod Compatible
(2mb)
> Watch in Flash
(1mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1mb)
> Watch in Flash
(1mb)

Update: More about the who, what, why of the rebrand here.

Australia’s national broadcaster has relaunched the branding of its flagship ABC1 with a focus on elevating the entertainment value of the channel.

ABC1 has had a number of looks since this site first started some six years ago. Starting with the Everyone’s ABC look, followed by There’s More To.. in 2005 and It Begins with 1 in 2008, and now this…

Keep reading for more videos from the new look.

> Quicktime H.264
(2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1mb)
> Watch in Flash
(1mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1mb)
> Watch in Flash
(1mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(18mb)
> iPod Compatible
(10mb)
> Watch in Flash
(8mb)

Launching on January 1st 2011, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network is a natural extension of the hyper-popular daytime talk show, and surely one of the few networks in the world built around a single figure.

With Oprah’s recent visit to Australia, the nation has grown even more enamored with the women and her message, and despite my gender-and-age I’ll happily admit that she produces an incredible show with a relentless message of personal growth, interwoven with philosophy aligned with the likes of Jung or Frankl.

Two years in the making, Philadelphia based BIGSMACK designed the new on-air look through “the numerous branding twists and turns” taken prior to the channel launch. On the technical side, the largely animated look of the network is complimented by a number of organic touches:

To create the on-air look BIGSMACK shot an array of natural elements — including light reflected through a variety of objects like crystal and Plexiglas, as well as water, glitter and particle dust — on a soundstage using a Canon 5D camera. That organic basis was then composited with digital elements animated using Cinema 4D and Adobe After Effects.

The montage gives a taste of the IDs, menus, bumpers and lower thirds created for the network, along with the colour coding of the various dayparts (orange mornings, green afternoons and purple evenings).

> Quicktime H.264
(50mb)
> iPod Compatible
(23mb)
> Watch in Flash
(19mb)

Australia’s newest television station is on the air. Check out the launch and opening minutes of the new channel in this video. Now what’s launching next..

> Quicktime H.264
(19mb)
> iPod Compatible
(12mb)
> Watch in Flash
(11mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(10mb)
> iPod Compatible
(8mb)
> Watch in Flash
(6mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(42mb)
> iPod Compatible
(32mb)
> Watch in Flash
(27mb)

January 11th, 2011 will see the launch of a new free to air Australian television channel aptly enough called Eleven. The new channel will be the last (for now) of the free to air multichannels and the first general entertainment offering from Ten, who currently only offer a sports channel to compliment their main offering.

A joint venture between CBS and Channel Ten the new channel is aimed at the 13-29 year old crowd, and will become the new home of The Simpsons and long suffering soap Neighbours. Eleven is part of a larger strategic change within Ten that includes extending nightly news through primetime slots previously occupied by The Simpsons and Neighbours.

As with all things the Ten Network do, this new channel has fairly spot on branding and targeting along with the programming to back it up. Something that can’t entirely be said for 7mate or GEM.

> Quicktime H.264
(6mb)
> iPod Compatible
(3.1mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3.7mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(3mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1.9mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(3.5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1.7mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.3mb)

Last year it was the Doctor and his TARDIS, this year the BBC gets homely with some Christmas lights to celebrate the festive season. Meanwhile ITV1 and Five deliver some slightly less ambitious holiday idents.

- Big thanks to Craig for the videos.

> Quicktime H.264
(7.2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(4.2mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(5.8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(3.7mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(6.3mb)
> Watch in Flash
(5mb)

Channel 4 have been producing some of the most beautifully executed and conceptually coherent idents on television for nearly six years now.

Yesterday they introduced three new spots (well two if you don’t count the 3D spot) with the clear stand out being the epic airplane graveyard ident.

Again, an absolute triumph in branding and incomparable to local offerings. For the full set of Channel 4 idents stretching back to the beginning look here.

> Quicktime H.264
(8.2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(5mb)
> Watch in Flash
(4.2mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(7.8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(4.8mb)
> Watch in Flash
(4mb)

UPDATE: Fox News have responded with their own “Move Forward” spots.

American cable news network MSNBC recently unveiled a new slogan and brand positioning. Directed by Spike Lee, these new spots ask us to Lean Forward, and suggests that the “the future belongs to the fearless”.

Conceptually its a poignant and aspirational message, likely to be identifiable to those generally offended by Fox News. And while Jon Stewart isn’t thrilled with it, it’s hard not to like the idea, with comparisons to Think Different sure to arise.

Unfortunately I’m not sure the execution of these two promos, filled with stock footage and web clips live up to the gravity of the message trying to be conveyed.

> Quicktime H.264
(58mb)
> iPod Compatible
(18mb)
> Watch in Flash
(12mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(100mb)
> iPod Compatible
(32mb)
> Watch in Flash
(20mb)

Gem from the Nine Network, and 7mate from the Seven Network both launched over the weekend, although not in that order.

Long before digital multichannelling got too interesting in Australia I pondered how the commercial networks would approach the tricky task of extending their brands to multiple channels. Channel 4 have done a great job naming their portfolio of channels under the “4″ brand, while the UKTV group have adopted individual brands for each of their many channels.

These two approaches are currently playing out in Australia, with the Seven Network now extending its brand name and logo to 7two and 7mate, while Channel Nine has launched Go! and Gem. Personally I think the impending launch of Eleven is the best branding we’ve seen on a commercial multichannel yet, but that said I’m pretty hot for any branding Channel Ten comes up with.

As for this weekend Gem looks pretty and is a nice start, although perhaps something you might see on an inflight channel, 7mate on the other hand is less a brand and more of a punchline, so lets just say neither of them bowled me over.

> Quicktime H.264
(3mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1.8mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(6.3mb)
> iPod Compatible
(3.5mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3.8mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(3mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1.8mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2mb)

British network Virgin 1 launched in 2007 as the flagship general entertainment channel of the newly rebranded Virgin Media (formerly NTL Telewest).

However with Virgin Media offloading its channel group to British Sky Broadcasting earlier this year, the new owners decided to ditch the Virgin brand (perhaps understandably from their point of view) and relaunch it as simply Channel One.

Before, after and during videos above.

> Quicktime H.264
(10.6mb)
> iPod Compatible
(5.6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.7mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(10.9mb)
> iPod Compatible
(5.8mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(10.9mb)
> iPod Compatible
(5.8mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.3mb)

Encapsulating the scope and relevance of the national broadcaster is the goal of this new brand campaign, and having people jump into the embrace of the ABC’s famous lissajous is the approach they’ve taken.

Beautifully produced and visually distinct these new spots have the unenviable challenge of trying to represent an organisation with as much history and depth as the ABC, something any thirty second promo will struggle to achieve.

Created by Sydney agency Moon.

> Quicktime H.264
(35mb)
> iPod Compatible
(8.4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(5.7mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(2.4mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1.3mb)
> Watch in Flash
(930kb)

> Quicktime H.264
(10.4mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1.4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(995kb)

> Quicktime H.264
(4.2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1.3mb)
> Watch in Flash
(1mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(3.5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1mb)
> Watch in Flash
(762kb)

One of Australia’s longest running subscription television networks TV1 began broadcasting in widescreen for the first time last week (sounds quaint I know).

To mark the occasion they refreshed their look with a heavy emphasis on branding the various day parts, and further reinforcing the retro yet modern feel.

TV1 have maintained a consistently strong on-air brand without actually straying too far from their core look as you can see in this 2006 post.

- Thanks to Jackie from zspace for the videos.

> Quicktime H.264
(16.9mb)
> iPod Compatible
(9.1mb)
> Watch in Flash
(6.2mb)

Bondi based Where Theres Smoke have updated their previous work for Channel [V], extending the concept while taking the whole thing in a slightly darker direction.

There is a whole set of idents based around this new look and feel, which went on-air yesterday. This is just the directors cut 30 second version.

As for the song in the clip, it’s Solitude is Bliss by Tame Impala.

> Quicktime H.264
(3mb)
> iPod Compatible
(717kb)
> Watch in Flash
(598kb)

> Quicktime H.264
(5.2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1.4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(1mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1mb)
> Watch in Flash
(504kb)

> Quicktime H.264
(2.9mb)
> iPod Compatible
(770kb)
> Watch in Flash
(690kb)

> Quicktime H.264
(5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(688kb)
> Watch in Flash
(537kb)

> Quicktime H.264
(5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1.4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(1.1mb)

Ahh sports.. Yep, it’s that thing I know nothing about, and the reason I’ve never been any good at inter-office small talk. That said, I do genuinely feel like I’m missing out something and wish I was able to appreciate it.

The closest I get to it is an episode of Sports Night, and that’s about as smug as you can get, and unfortunately for its nothing people want to discuss around the office.

But enough about my problems at work. We’ve got six beautiful idents from ONE HD, displaying the grace and beauty of sports, avoiding the crass and overly graphic take some other sports networks adopt.

> Quicktime H.264
(30mb)
> iPod Compatible
(12mb)
> Watch in Flash
(10mb)

Developed by Heavenly and produced by We Are Seventeen, this is the new look being adopted worldwide by the Universal Channel. Available through Latin America, parts of Europe and Southeast Asia it is partially owned by NBC Universal and not surprisingly plays a lot of American content.

The rebrand is bright, slick and inoffensive, with all the hallmarks of a “general entertainment” channel, and exactly the kind of thing I’d expect to find myself watching next time I’m in a Polish hotel.

> Quicktime H.264
(9mb)
> iPod Compatible
(4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2mb)

> Quicktime H.264
(8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3mb)

Lithuanian based motion design studio Korb have created this pair of beautifully crafted idents for MTVN HD in Poland. Globally, MTV have done some amazing on air presentation, from Latin America’s visual break to Australia’s local take on the brand.

And while the idea isn’t entirely original, the unique look and subtle execution of it all creates a powerful and thoughtful take on the otherwise ADHD brand that is MTV.

For a look behind the scenes, and for full credits keep reading below the fold..

> Quicktime H.264
(25mb)
> iPod Compatible
(15mb)
> Watch in Flash
(10mb progressive)

Credits:

Client: MTV Networks Polska
Director: Rimantas Lukavicius
Creative: John Kwoka
Production manager: Agnieszka Klys
CGI: Rimantas Lukavcius, Evaldas Cesnavicius
Music Company: Echolab
Composer, Sound Designer: Gavin Little
Production asistant: STRICTLY PRODUCTION

> Quicktime H.264
(9.3mb)
> iPod Compatible
(6.8mb)
> Watch in Flash
(6.2mb progressive)

Going against all tradition and cliche, the BBC have created one hell of a Winter Olympics promo. No blue ice, no slow motion athletes, and no gold medals.

It’s the Persepolis of Winter Olympics promos and I love it.

> Quicktime H.264
(5.5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3mb progressive)

On February 19th 1985, two days before I was born, a little television programme called EastEnders first hit the airwaves in the UK. Twenty five years later and we’re both going strong. To celebrate, the BBC created this rather ambitious station ident featuring the case of the soap along with a slightly altered Albert Square.

Check out the rest (well most) of the BBC One ‘Circle’ idents here.

- Thanks for the video Craig.

> Quicktime H.264
(46.7mb)
> iPod Compatible
(24mb)
> Watch in Flash
(16mb progressive)

Australian breakfast television news programme Sunrise received a major refresh this morning with new branding and a new set. The new look is neither a great step forward or back from the old, its just different enough that people might notice, but not enough of a significant improvement that anyone will really care.

Next time maybe..

> Quicktime H.264
(52mb)
> iPod Compatible
(26mb)
> Watch in Flash
(14mb progressive)

During a recent episode of Oprah (yeah thats right) I came to the realisation that Denmark might just be the coolest place on Earth, that said I’ve never been.

And if these messed up idents for public broadcaster DR2 are anything to go by, it’s probably also a very creative, perhaps absurd place.

According to Wikipedia the DR2 channel is something of a Danish version of BBC Four which might go someway to explaining the playfully insane and visually pleasing eight idents contained in the video.

- Produced by DR Design. Thanks for the tip Niels.

> Quicktime H.264
(5.5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(2.3mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.8mb progressive)

The good Doctor is having his last outing this Christmas season in his current incarnation, and the BBC have created a special BBC One ident to celebrate.

Previous BBC One Christmas idents have included giant snowballs, skating penguins and even Wallace and Gromit.

> Quicktime H.264
(54mb)
> iPod Compatible
(17mb)
> Watch in Flash
(11mb progressive)

On December 4th this year Australia got a new free to air channel (its been quite a year for that). The launch of ABC3 has been a long way coming, a dedicated children’s channel was officially proposed in 2007 by the government of the time, but had obviously been an ambition for the national broadcaster way before that.

Watch as the Prime Minister flicks the switch on the channel, and look out for a follow up post with more about branding of ABC3 soon.. right here.

> Quicktime H.264
(8.1mb)
> iPod Compatible
(3.8mb)
> Watch in Flash
(5.1mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(8.1mb)
> iPod Compatible
(3.9mb)
> Watch in Flash
(4.7mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(4.3mb)
> iPod Compatible
(2.9mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.4mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(3.9mb)
> iPod Compatible
(2.8mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.5mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(5.1mb)
> iPod Compatible
(3.3mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.7mb progressive)

Last month Channel 4 embraced the 3D television fad with a week of special programming, and some nifty on-air branding to go along with it.

Along with the 3D promos, a special 3D ident was also produced. Check out the rest of the Channel 4 idents here.

> Quicktime H.264
(16.4mb)
> iPod Compatible
(5.9mb)
> Watch in Flash
(4.6mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(40mb)
> iPod Compatible
(17mb)
> Watch in Flash
(14mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(50.6mb)
> iPod Compatible
(16mb)
> Watch in Flash
(13mb progressive)

Continuing my series of blatant bias towards public broadcasters, and blind rage towards commercial networks.. I present you with the new look for PBS.

Although funded differently to the BBC or the ABC, the Public Broadcasting Service of the United States shares a similar mission to “educate, inspire, entertain”. Like other public broadcasters around the world it is also considered its nations “most trusted national institution”.

But enough about the philosophy, what about the brand. Created by Eyeball, the new look is distinctively non-commercial, yet polished, two qualities sometimes considered mutually exclusively, but beautifully executed here.

Sidenote: Carrier is one of the best documentary series I’ve ever seen.

> Quicktime H.264
(39mb)
> iPod Compatible
(14mb)
> Watch in Flash
(9mb progressive)

Channel Nine has again refreshed itself, this time with the tagline ‘Welcome Home’.

There use of the Black Eyed Pea’s track “I Gotta Feeling” comes hot off the heels of CBS doing the same thing, but I guess that’s the price you pay for using overly predictable Top 40 music in your promotions.

For more from the new look check out this.

> Quicktime H.264
(38.1mb)
> iPod Compatible
(23.4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(18mb progressive)

An update to last years 31 Days of Oscar spot produced by Fresh Paint for TCM, a little late after award season I know, but still one of the most creative executions of what is essentially just a collection of clips I’ve seen.

> Quicktime H.264
(31.1mb)
> iPod Compatible
(10.3mb)
> Watch in Flash
(7.5mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(81mb)
> iPod Compatible
(42mb)
> Watch in Flash
(27mb progressive)

One of the great promises of digital multichanneling has always been the ability finally play out series with some regularity and respect to the audience. Channel Nine, the most middle of the road of the Australian networks flicked the switch on its new general entertainment digital channel tonight, with that promise at its core.

And for a broadcaster that hasn’t shown much in the way of innovation lately, its only apt that best name they could come up with was Go! (I’m sure they’re aware of the riotous success the name has had as failed internet portal, and a defunct airline, but third time is a charm I’m sure).

I would’ve loved to have seen the names they rejected..