Year: 2008

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Nine Network Videos: Idents

You’re (finally) watching Nine HD.

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Last week Channel Nine became the last of the commercial networks to begin broadcasting breakaway programming on their HD channel.

Nine HD joins the heavily promoted Ten HD, and the first on the scene 7HD.

While its very much early days for multichanneling in Australia, the real fun should begin January 1st next year when the networks get the chance to start broadcasting additional SD channels, and finally fulfilling the promise of digital television by hopefully embracing UK style multichanneling… e7, TenTwo, 9b etc.

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New Zealand TV Videos: Idents

The light surrounding you on New Zealand’s ONE.

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TV ONE is part of New Zealand’s largest free to air broadcaster TVNZ, which among other channels includes the previously mentioned TV2.

The first video is a 90 second brand spot for the network, while the second video is a 2008 season promo, both videos heavily feature Evermore’s track Light Surrounding You. The third video is a timelapse ident for the channel, and the last video is a promo for its netball coverage feature the song Dream Catch Me by Newton Faulkner.

– Thanks again to TVNZ for supplying the videos.

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Nine Network Videos: Openings

Nine gets nostalgic with WWOS relaunch.

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Channel Nine rebooted its Wide World of Sports franchise last Sunday and opened its first episode back in a over a decade with a look back at the shows history and various opening sequences.

– Big thanks to Christian for the video, much appreciated.

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Videos: Top Gear

Top Ground Gear Force.

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If you thought mash ups were only good for combining The Killers with The Clash, think again! Top Gear has again collided head on with another show for charity. Last year it was Top Gear of the Pops for Red Nose Day, and now we have the comedic train wreck that is Top Ground Gear Force, all in the name of raising money for Sports Relief (over £19 million so far).

Top Gear again shows its amazing range and breadth in this comedy of errors, I can’t think of another show scripted or otherwise that so seamlessly switches one episode to another between comedy, drama, slapstick, visual beauty and adventure the way this show does.

I’ve said it before, but I love the one-off formats and genre transcending content that comes out of British television in the name of charity, its not always great, but at least its kinda fun and inventive (just like that Killers mash up).

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S4/C (Welsh) Videos: Idents

All the new S4/C idents, plus how they did it.

Download the whole H264 bunch in one swoop here (97.4mb *.zip).

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s4cCrane - Twango

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s4cCrane - Twango

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s4cCrane - Twango

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s4cCrane - Twango

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s4cCrane - Twango

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s4cCrane - Twango

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s4cLights - Twango

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s4cMuseum - Twango

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s4cCrane - Twango

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I first gushed all over these ‘audio reactive’ idents back in December last year, and that was when I’d only seen three of them. Now I’m happy to present the whole collection, along with a making-of video. And while my absolute favourite of the bunch remains the “lamp store” spot, some of the new inclusions such as “welding” and “power lines” are just as excellent.

And while the concept for these idents continue to blow me away, I think the more successful spots tend to be the ones that have the voice altering the environment in a more natural and realistic way. For example the “car park” ident doesn’t have the same impact when the visual reaction to the voice is quite so surreal. And as for the “ice cream truck” spot, I’ve been told its used during children’s programming, which makes sense, because compared to the rest its straight out bizarre.

Check out the making of video below, and a big thanks to folks at Proud Creative and Minivegas for the videos.

s4cCrane - Twango

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ABC1 Videos: Promos

Hello Future: The ABC’s digital ambitions.

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The ABC made some big announcements about its digital future today, including the launch of an iPlayer-esque service called ABC Playback, a for-pay download store, and the groundwork for the long anticipated 24 hour news channel.

And while theres plenty of time to talk about the need for platform agnosticism and critique the interface and branding, the one thing that is entirely clear is that the national broadcaster is leading the way among Australian broadcasters, and further demonstrating its relevance during this digital revolution.

Read all the details here or check out some of the action in the video above.

Categories
New Zealand TV Videos: Idents

The Elementary Particles of New Zealand’s TV2.

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I’ve previously posted about New Zealand’s TV2 here, but since I’ve got my hands on some more of their stuff I thought it was probably time for one of those big posts were I just dump it all together. All the videos are accompanied by the song Aire of Good Feeling by NZ band The Quincy Conserve.

Above are three idents from TV2, with the first video being a 60 second montage of the “particles” look. And below is a 2008 promo for the new slate of programming.

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– Thanks again to the whole TVNZ team for supplying the videos.

Categories
Videos: TV

The beautiful escape of carbon dioxide.

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Captured at 10,000 frames per second, and shot in Australia, this ad for Schweppes by agency George Patterson Y&R is simply stunning. Accompanied by the track “To Build A Home” by The Cinematic Orchestra the 90 second spot creates the kind of inspiring, engaging, memorable and beautiful imagery that drove me to start this site.

Long time readers of this blog may have figured out by now that I have a strong belief that the commercial aspects of idents detract greatly from the creation of a successful spot. Which is why my most favorable comments are generally left to public broadcasters, or more progressive commercial stations who are willing to take the risk to create something beautiful and artistic.

From that you can probably gather that there are even fewer advertisements (purely commercial devices) that I feel strive for or attain the kind of artistic levels that some idents do. The “bouncing balls” of Sony Bravia for example is exceptionally well crafted, and traverses the gap between between ad and art, as does this amazing spot from Schweppes.

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Seven Network Videos: Promos

The monolithic Gladiators.

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Gladiators is making its return to Australian television after a decade off-air, and while I do have fond memories of the show as an 11 year old in primary school, I’m probably less excited about it this time around.

I am however pretty impressed with the epic-of-a-promo thats been on-air recently, there are two versions of the spot, the first is for metro markets and ends with the monolithic Seven logo, and the other ends with the big G for regional networks.

The promo was filmed around Kiama, New South Wales, and was created by Motion Foundry, Tim Barrett, and Graham Donald.

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European TV Videos: Broadcast News Videos: Openings

Norway’s News Network: TV2 Nyhetskanalen.

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TV2 Nyhetskanalen is Norway’s first round the clock news network, its operated by commercial broadcaster TV2 and has been on the air just over one year.

The above is a selection of the stations on-air look, but compared to the outstanding branding of Norway’s national broadcaster NRK, aren’t really that great.

And while I know Australia does have its own news network in Sky News, surely its time a free-to-air alternative launched, and if the ABC doesn’t get the funding to launch one, perhaps its time Seven launched a news channel, the name itself is crying out for some word play.. Seven 24?

Even New Zealand is about to get a free to air news channel at the end of the month.

– Thanks for the videos Hans!