> Quicktime H.264
(11.8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(6.1mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3.3mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(26.4mb)
> iPod Compatible
(13.2mb)
> Watch in Flash
(7.3mb progressive)
BBC World is now BBC World News, and BBC News 24 is now just BBC News. The renamed networks got a not particularly dramatic brand refresh as you can see.
UPDATE: Check out the rest of the new look BBC News here.
For a look at the before videos check out my previous post here.
> Quicktime H.264
(11.6mb)
> iPod Compatible
(7.6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(6.5mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(11.5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(6.3mb)
> Watch in Flash
(6mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(8.8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(4.6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.5mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(19.2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(9.6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(5.3mb progressive)
In a branding move where apparently “more is more” the BBC’s international news channel, BBC World will change its name tomorrow to BBC World News.
Proving its ability at being truly impartial however, the Beeb is giving BBC News 24 a facelift as well, this time taking the “less is more” approach by dropping the 24 from its name and relaunching as simple BBC News.
Along with the new names will come a new look designed by Lambie-Nairn.
For now though, a look back at the old branding, with videos from BBC News 24 and BBC World, on the eve of their rebrand. And for more from BBC News have a look at their earlier looks from 2006 and 2007.
– Thanks for the BBC News 24 videos Craig.
> Quicktime H.264
(18.4mb)
> iPod Compatible
(6.4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(4.3mb progressive)
BBC Four launched its season of Medieval programming last week, linking a series of documentaries, dramas and other shows around the central theme of Medieval history. This detailed, and creative trailer for the season, accompanied by a cover version of Purple Haze brands the season as a “trip into the Medieval mind”.
The concept of creating a programming season, dedicated to exploring a specific topic seems a rewarding exercise for not only the broadcaster to promote itself, and its schedule, but also to engage viewers on a wider basis, something that is sorely lacking at times on Australian screens.
The UK seem to embrace the concept more than others, with the promo for BBC Two’s ‘White Season’ earlier this year generating a touch of controversy, and the beautiful trailer for ‘The State of Russia’ season on More4 winning a Promax.
The closest things you see to a themed “season” of programming on Australian television would be Ten’s current retrospective on Jazz Funk Hip Hop, also known as So You Think You Can Dance.
> Quicktime H.264
(27mb)
> iPod Compatible
(19.4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(10.6mb progressive)
At the intersection of comedy and tragedy lives documentary film maker Louis Theroux. His engaging, funny, heartbreaking and intelligent documentaries have only recently been introduced to me, but I haven’t been able to stop watching.
For the uninitiated (like myself until recently) Louis Theroux is a British broadcaster who started his television career on Michael Moore’s TV Nation before moving onto his own shows with Weird Weekends and When Louis Met.., and more recently a new series of one hour documentaries.
His programs generally involve investigating a curious subculture such as the life of swingers, rappers, televangelists, Thai brides, or white separatists. But what makes the programs so involving is Louis himself, who leads you into these sometimes abhorrent environments and allows you to see through his eyes, sharing the shock, laughter or heartbreak with him.
Although his style has been criticised as “faux-naïf” I find his disarming, often comedic, and sometimes baffled demeanor to be his greatest quality, he is almost Jim Halpert-esque at times, especially useful when entering as intense environments as San Quentin prison or the home of a Neo Nazi.
And while other film makers may chose to only observe, Louis often forms what appear to be quite genuine connections to the people he is investigating, whether it be his fondness for a particular prostitute in his program about a Nevada brothel, his impassioned attempt to bring clarity to a member of the Westboro Baptist Church or the truly incredible and bizarre turn of events that occurred during the filming of When Louis met the Hamiltons.
The comedic elements of his films are at times on par with the best of modern sitcoms, from the subtle to slapstick, the humour flows from the most unusual of situations, and is further intensified by Theroux’s own thoroughly likable self.
I haven’t been this taken by a personality or program since I first watched Top Gear or discovered The Office. His work transcends the gap between traditional documentary and scripted sitcom or drama, creating a narrative where at times I have completely forgotten I was watching real people.
Whereas many modern sitcoms are fake documentaries, at times Louis Theroux has managed to create the exact opposite, a real sitcom, or a real drama, an incredible achievement and a genre melding exercise that has left me giddy, enthralled and unable to think of anything else for days.
> Quicktime H.264
(6.5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.9mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(4.8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(2.2mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(7.1mb)
> iPod Compatible
(3.7mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3.2mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(7mb)
> iPod Compatible
(3.8mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(7.3mb)
> iPod Compatible
(4.6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3.2mb progressive)
The Office, Scrubs and 30 Rock are three of the best shows on television, they’re all broadcast by NBC on Thursday nights, and they all made their post-strike returns to our screens just a few days ago.
These three shows have all received Peabody Awards in recent years, and given the chance I’ll happily go on about how important good comedy is.
NBC has a strange place in my heart, and although its unfair to judge any network by the sum of its parts, its undeniable that NBC has some amazing individual programs, and from this outsiders opinion appears to foster quality in its programming, sometimes at the expense of immediate ratings gratification.
Whether its The Office, 30 Rock, Scrubs, Friday Night Lights, or Saturday Night Live, no other network delivers as much of my television content as NBC, which is quite an achievement, and also a little sad that its not an Australian channel.
> Quicktime H.264
(17.7mb)
> iPod Compatible
(8.7mb)
> Watch in Flash
(6.3mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(24mb)
> iPod Compatible
(11.1mb)
> Watch in Flash
(8.3mb progressive)
Mitchell and Webb poke fun at the maddening world of television news “interactivity”, because really..
What possible reason could there be for you not to email us, certainly ignorance shouldn’t be a bar.
News parody has filled many posts on this site, including Jeremy Clarkson’s commentary on the state of news, Melanie Bellamy with the standing news, Dead Ringers high brow jab at Newsnight, and of course all that Chaser stuff.
While I was recently reminded of, and amused by the success of the BBC’s video-on-demand iPlayer service in the UK, it did get me thinking about the ABC’s digital ambitions, in particular the National Broadcaster’s recently beta launched iPlayer-like service ABC Playback.
What follows is my take on the ABC’s latest step into the future…
Download the whole H264 bunch in one swoop here (104mb *.zip).
> Quicktime H.264
(4.2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1.2mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.3mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(3.7mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.3mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(3.3mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1.7mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.4mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(3.2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1.2mb)
> Watch in Flash
(1.9mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(3mb)
> iPod Compatible
(1.4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(3.8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(2.6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.3mb progressive)
BBC Three got a complete rebrand in February, dumping the old logo and the beloved and iconic blobs. The new look was developed by Red Bee, and although on first glance the whole feel could be mistaken for an SMS ad, on further viewings a depth begins to appear, and you kind of start to like it.
The £380,000 rebrand is part of the channels repositioning to take itself beyond being just a television broadcaster. Red Bee say the idents are meant to “make it feel a more populated and alive place”, basically a visual representation of Facebook-like communities, including their own Sims like characters.
And while the idea of big media embracing user-generated content, and saying stuff like “web 2.0” usually drives me crazy, BBC Three seem to be pulling off a nice balance, and at least their taking a risk, and in the process appearing incredibly progressive.
The six new idents are above, but ten more videos await you after the jump, including promos, the 60 second news and viewer uploaded intros.
> Quicktime H.264
(22mb)
> iPod Compatible
(11.5mb)
> Watch in Flash
(8.3mb progressive)
> Quicktime H.264
(13mb)
> iPod Compatible
(10mb)
> Watch in Flash
(11mb progressive)
UPDATE: Added the “making of” video above.
While the ABC is still busy getting its Playback service off the ground, the BBC’s iPlayer is already a huge success with over 17 million downloads and streams since its Christmas day launch.
To celebrate April Fools Day and further promote the iPlayer platform the BBC produced this very funny and creative promotion that ran yesterday across BBC television, and generated the kind of 1st of April newspaper stories we’ve all come to expect, with the Mirror reporting: First-ever images of the world’s only flying penguins.
The Guardian has reported that the spot was likely well worth the money for the coverage it received, and while the BBC is certainly raising the bar on the digital future, I can’t wait to see what the ABC delivers.
– Thanks to Craig for the video.
This is admittedly a very small and fairly simple new feature of the site, but since its a fairly small and simple blog I figured it probably warranted a mention.
Try clicking on an image from the last few posts, and a full size screenshot will appear in one of those fancy lightboxes. Enjoy!