Month: September 2006

BBC One Videos: Idents

The new BBC One idents (dodge showreel version)

Post author By John Beohm
Post date September 30, 2006
12 Comments on The new BBC One idents (dodge showreel version)

Update: Broadcast quality versions available here.

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Update: Broadcast quality versions available here.

The new BBC idents have been unveiled, for more info about the concept read the press release, but for now until they launch on screen in October these 4:3 versions from the promo reel will have to do.

I really liked the old dancer idents, and I’m not sure I’m quite as excited about these. I think Channel 4 has officially won me over.

BBC One Videos: Promos

Radio 3 is to ABC Classic FM as Radio 2 is to…?

Post author By John Beohm
Post date September 28, 2006
10 Comments on Radio 3 is to ABC Classic FM as Radio 2 is to…?

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BBC Radio 2 is apparently the UK’s most popular radio station. If anyone knows about the original footage of this promo or how it was put together I’d be interested to hear, because the concept for it could have been such a failure if it wasn’t executed properly, but it seems to work pretty well.

Also, whats the British or American equivalent of Triple J? Radio 6? KCRW?

For more BBC radio check out the Zane Lowe and Chris Moyle television spots.bbc

ABC1 Videos: TV

Overthinking a timeslot. Jack and Bobby.

Post author By John Beohm
Post date September 26, 2006
5 Comments on Overthinking a timeslot. Jack and Bobby.

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Jack and Bobby is a high concept drama about “two brothers, one of whom grows up to become the President of the United States and one of whom dies before his time”. It’s from the producer of The West Wing, and was broadcast on the teen centric WB Network (now The CW) in the US for one season in 2004.

Its only ~~the second US drama I can think~~ one of a few US dramas to air on the ABC in recent years (Carnivale and Angels in America miniseries), and unlike its grown up counterpart The West Wing, it got no promotion (that I saw) and has been placed in the 11.40pm Monday night timeslot.

Its my understanding the show was probably acquired in a deal when the ABC got The West Wing, I’m not sure if the ABC just isn’t that keen on it, but I can’t understand the total lack of promotion, and if it wasn’t for my prior knowledge of the show I doubt I would have even noticed it in the TV guide.

Having only seen the first episode I’m yet to make my mind up, it is interesting though the mental weight I’ve placed on the show purely because its airing on the national broadcaster, and while the timeslot may show the ABC doesn’t have much faith in it, I think it might just be interesting to see where this of-course-now-cancelled show takes us.

BBC One Videos: Top Gear

Richard Hammond out of intensive care

Post author By John Beohm
Post date September 22, 2006
3 Comments on Richard Hammond out of intensive care

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According to the BBC Richard Hammond is out of intensive care and is making “satisfactory progress”. He’s suffered signficant brain injury (which I can only hope is different to brain damage). The above video is from last nights BBC Ten O’Clock news about the accident.

Videos: Top Gear Web Misc

Richard Hammond

Richard Hammond has been seriously hurt while filming a segment for the upcoming season of Top Gear. For more read this, and lets hope he recovers.

BBC One Videos: Broadcast News Videos: Openings

Breakfast, and the other Sunrise.

Post author By John Beohm
Post date September 20, 2006
12 Comments on Breakfast, and the other Sunrise.

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The opening sequence of BBC Breakfast (on the same set as Newsnight?) and Sky Sunrise, some of what Britain wakes up to in the morning. These clips are a few months old so you’ll have to tell me if things have changed in the world of UK morning television.

I’m not sure if the UK has the same “judge a person by what breakfast television they watch” (or don’t watch) that we seem to have in Australia, but it would be interesting to hear whats the most popular in the UK.

Check out the Today show and Australian Sunrise openers as well.

ABC1 Videos: TV

Like a Version: Such Great Heights.

Post author By John Beohm
Post date September 17, 2006
8 Comments on Like a Version: Such Great Heights.

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UPDATE: The Kooks sing MGMT with their version of Kids (2.7mb).

I love cover versions of songs. Good ones can be awesome and I think the reinterpretation of an existing text is something that has so much potential, whether its music, literature, movies or television. The above video is this week’s like a version from triple j with Ben Folds doing a piano and percussion heavy cover of The Postal Service’s ‘Such Great Heights’.

Random and sometimes surprising covers often turn up on Hype Machine, so check it out. Along with the Ben Folds cover mp3 here is some tracks I’ve stumbled upon lately.

> Ben Folds sings The Postal Service with Such Great Heights (5.1mb)
> David Gray sings The Killers with Smile Like You Mean It (3.3mb)
> Mystery Jets sing Bloc Party with The Pioneers (4.4mb)
> Editors sing Gorillaz with Feel Good Inc (4.1mb)

Tags ben folds, covers, triple j

Nine Network Seven Network Videos: TV

The Real Story vs. The Real Story

Post author By John Beohm
Post date September 15, 2006
35 Comments on The Real Story vs. The Real Story

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The Chaser may do a good job putting A Current Affair and Today Tonight in its place, but nothing is quite as fun as the crap these two shows come out with themselves.

So with Naomi Robson being deported from Indonesia while trying to save Wa Wa from cannibals, lets have a look at how the two rival networks covered the event.

And be sure to see the story following the Wa Wa report, its good to see so much diversity.

ABC1 Videos: Promos

Basically, just get digital already.

Post author By John Beohm
Post date September 12, 2006
6 Comments on Basically, just get digital already.

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So its not the best promo I’ve ever seen, but it is simple, makes the point and hopefully will be succinct enough to appeal to people who might otherwise have no idea about digital television.

That’s Australia, but as for the UK check out the BBC’s Freeview push and Digit Al.

Nine Network Seven Network Videos: Promos Videos: TV

Electronically program this!

Post author By John Beohm
Post date September 10, 2006
3 Comments on Electronically program this!

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Like I’ve said before Canberra only gets the SBS EPG, but on my recent night in Sydney I managed to capture Nine’s new guide, and Seven’s as well. Ten’s remains embarrassingly out of date so I didn’t bother with it.