Month: August 2008

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Nine Network Videos: Promos

Shouting at Channel Nine. It’s a national pastime.

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“You make me want to shout”.. is not a slogan I would associate with a television network, there are just too many ways to turn it around on them.

But then again this hilariously bad promo for Channel Nine is 18 years old, coming to us from 1990. And perhaps back then, times were simpler, and marketing departments didn’t have to worry about what bloggers would say about them.

– Thanks to Sam for digging this up from the archives.

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Web Asides

Yes, I really like cover versions.

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Videos: Idents

The Hits becomes 4Music, like a kiss with a fist.

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The Hits, a music channel in the UK relaunched itself this month as 4Music. The newly rebranded station joins the fold of sibling networks Channel 4, E4, More4 and Film4 in a multichannel line up that you could only dream of in Australia.

These two videos are promoting the relaunch which occurred on August 15th, with the first video a slow motion spot set to the track “Kiss with a Fist” by Florence and the Machine that’s refreshingly decent for a music channel.

– Cheers to Craig for the videos.

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Seven Network Videos: Openings

Hello Athens. The Games of the XXVIII Olympiad.

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Having covered the Sydney and Beijing games already, it seems only fair to fill in the blank that is Athens 2004. These two videos, produced for the Seven Network and the Athens Olympic Broadcasting organisation respectively, prove that the timeless formula of “athletes + cultural imagery = Olympic opener” will apparently never go out of fashion.

– Another big thanks to Christian for the videos.

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Seven Network Videos: Openings

Hello Sydney. The Games of the XXVII Olympiad.

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These two opening titles for the Sydney 2000 games (aka “the best Olympics games ever“) show just how little creative progress has been made in the field of Olympic television branding. And while they’re not bad, you have to wonder how many more Olympics broadcasts are going to open with video of a guy jumping up and kicking a soccer ball before somebody thinks up a new idea.

The first video is from the Seven network, the Australian broadcaster of the 2000 games, and the second video is the “official” opening sequence, produced by the Sydney Olympic Broadcasting Organisation for international telecasts.

– Huge thanks to Alex and Christian for the videos.

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Web Asides

Scrubs is moving to ABC.

Two minute promo for the new season of Scrubs, making the move to ABC.

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European TV Videos: Openings

The Olympics on Germany’s ZDF.

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Germany’s ZDF (aka Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen) combines the Chinese landscape with Olympic athleticism, along with the obligatory cultural reference in the form of a flying dragon for this slick branding of their Games coverage.

– Big thanks to Ulrich for the video.

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Web Asides

Little America

Little Britain USA is on its way to HBO.

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European TV Videos: Openings

The Olympics on Norway’s NRK.

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Olympics broadcast branding has been a bucket full of cliches so far. And while the BBC’s incredibly unique take on the Games has been a much needed dose of fresh air, Norway’s national broadcaster NRK have delivered a nice spin on the usual slow motion althetes imagery with this Heroes-meets-300 inspired spot.

– Thanks to Hans for the video.

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Asian TV Videos: Openings

The official opening sequence of the Olympics.

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UPDATE: Added the “making of” video above.

Designed by BDA Singapore, this is the “official opening title sequence to the Beijing Olympic Games 2008”. Official because its the sequence used by Beijing Olympic Broadcasting, the host broadcaster of the games set up to provide television signals of the games to the rest of the world.

The video is a combination of live action and 3D animation, and is based around the “Chinese elements of nature – metal, wood, water, fire & earth”.

Read more about the spot here and here, and thanks to Nick for the video.