Categories
Asian TV Videos: Idents

Taiwan says hello to HiHD.

> Quicktime H.264
(15mb)
> iPod Compatible
(6.1mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3.2mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(10.8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(3.7mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(15.8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3.1mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(11.2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(3.9mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2mb progressive)

Taiwan’s first high definition station recently launched, and these abstract and dark idents for HiHD are meant to represent the “Lifeless, chaotic SD world” and its transformation into the “new era where a HD generation arrives.”

– Thanks to Johnason from JL Design for the videos.

Categories
Videos: Idents Web Asides

From the director of Borat.

Watch the trailer for Religulous, a new doco from Larry Charles and Bill Maher.

Categories
Web Asides

Six years of According to Jim in 90 secs.

Six years of According to Jim in 90 secs.

Categories
Web Asides

It’s a business doing pleasure with you

Showtime’s cool new slogan: It’s a business doing pleasure with you.

Categories
BBC (Other) Videos: Promos

The cinematic promise of BBC HD.

> Quicktime H.264
(12.5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(7.5mb)
> Watch in Flash
(6mb progressive)

Fiona Bruce stars as the action hero, in this advert for the BBC HD service, available in the UK through Sky, Virgin, and Freesat, and now also available in Australia through Foxtel HD, with further international expansion expected.

The spot was developed by agency Fallon, and produced by Red Bee, and while the Antiques Roadshow inspired action sequences are fun and all, its the first few seconds with the BBC logo that most caught my attention.

– Thanks to Craig for the video.

Categories
Web Asides

Top Gear season 11 back June 22nd.

Top Gear season 11 begins June 22nd.

Categories
Web Asides

ABC2 getting its ‘Breakfast’ on.

ABC2 to get its ‘Breakfast’ on from September, according to The Australian.

Categories
BBC (Other) Videos: Broadcast News

The eerie calm of a no news day.

> Quicktime H.264
(19mb)
> iPod Compatible
(7.9mb)
> Watch in Flash
(4.7mb progressive)

Jason Arber, a director at the London based motion graphics outfit Wyld Stallyons has created a rather spectacular, and surprisingly profound commentary on the state of telvision news, and all without saying a word. Jason explains that

“for a long time I’ve been obsessed by the look that news presenters have when the other person in a news presenting duo is talking”

And it was this unease that inspired him to create the video.

“I recorded a bunch of footage and then stripped out the talking news presenters and replaced them with non-talking ones. The effect was weird and unsettling, and so I paired it with some wonderful music from the composer Ben Frost that really seemed to suit the mood”.

While its recently been brought to Jason’s attention that a fairly similar video was created by the comedy show Time Trumpet, I think the success of Jason’s video is that its more effective in capturing the vulnerability of the newscasters, and is more subtle and poignant in its approach. Mitchell and Webb also recently did a very funny piece of news parody, exploring the concept that really, everything was just fine.

Jason’s video is beautifully executed on both technical and creative fronts, and its about as close to art I’ve seen television news get.

Categories
BBC Three Videos: Promos

Summer Heights High gets BBC Three’d

> Quicktime H.264
(10.5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(4.7mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3.1mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(6.9mb)
> iPod Compatible
(2.5mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2mb progressive)

Summer Heights High will have its UK premiere on BBC Three later this month. The show which had a successful run on ABC1 last year, went on to become this countries highest selling television series on DVD ever.

BBC Three, along with HBO in the United States acquired the rights to the show earlier this year, with both networks keen to point out the shows cult status and high profile fans, with the BBC’s press release noting that “fans include Kylie and Dannii Minogue, Nicole Kidman, Barry Humphries, Rachel Griffiths and Trey Parker.”

Having recently finished watching the BBC Three comedy Gavin and Stacey I’m confident that Summer Heights will fit perfectly onto the networks schedule, and with its target audience.

– And thanks to Andy for the video.

Categories
Channel 4 Videos: TV

Channel 4 goes live for a Honda advert.

> Quicktime H.264
(27.1mb)
> iPod Compatible
(23.6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(21mb progressive)

A few hours ago Channel 4 broadcast what The Guardian is calling Britain’s first ever live commercial during a break in the reality show Come Dine With Me. The three minute ad came live from the skies above Spain and featured a team of professional skydivers demonstrating Honda’s latest tagline “Difficult Is Worth Doing”.

The live nature of television is one of its biggest redeeming features, and while this commercial is certainly full of the novelty factor, its an example of the innovation that not only the advertising industry will have to adopt, but also the whole television sector in general.

For more advertising fun check out a new show that started this week on ABC1 called The Gruen Transfer, a very funny and interesting look into the industry. Or just check out some of my favourite ads, here and here.

– Thanks for the video Craig