Tag: ABC1

Categories
ABC1 Videos: Idents

The network that would be ABC1.

idents

> Quicktime H.264
(15.2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(5.4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(6.1mb progressive)

idents

> Quicktime H.264
(23.7mb)
> iPod Compatible
(11.8mb)
> Watch in Flash
(6.5mb progressive)

idents

> Quicktime H.264
(5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(2.6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(1.3mb progressive)

idents

> Quicktime H.264
(6.7mb)
> iPod Compatible
(2.8mb)
> Watch in Flash
(1.7mb progressive)

The ABC launched its current “There’s more to..” campaign on December 21st 2005, and with tomorrows impending shake up and name change it seemed the time was right for a short retrospective.

The above videos are just a selection of the many, many variations on the theme that have been broadcast over the past few years, including the original 60 second video that began the rebrand back in 2005.

While there have certainly been varying levels of quality, some of the stand outs from the series include the “genre collection” released early last year, and of course The Chaser’s directors commentary, noting the series obscurity and pretension.

Categories
ABC1 Videos: Idents

Wrapping up Christmas on the ABC.

abcxmas07 - Twango

> Quicktime H.264
(7.1mb)
> iPod Compatible
(3.6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.1mb progressive)

abcxmas07 - Twango

> Quicktime H.264
(7.4mb)
> iPod Compatible
(3.6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(2.1mb progressive)

Well I’m going to Queensland for the rest of this week, so posting may slow down more than usual. I thought it was about time I shared some of that Australian Christmas cheer, so here is the ABC’s seasons greetings from various people within the broadcaster and around the world.

Categories
ABC1 Videos: Promos

The curious, and potentially exciting ABC Now.

abcnoww - Twango

> Quicktime H.264
(10.9mb)
> iPod Compatible
(5.8mb)
> Watch in Flash
(3mb progressive)

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has just flicked the switch on its new software offering ABC Now. Currently only available on PC (with Mac on the way) the desktop client is an audio/video hub for ABC content that allows you to stream and download programs and listen to live radio. And while comparisions are bound to be made to the BBC’s iPlayer this isn’t quite it, not yet at least.

The software is currently pretty basic, and doesn’t offer anything you can’t already get through the ABC’s website. What I find exciting about this is the potential it has. The fact that the ABC is building its own software is great, and its promise to be cross platform is also nice, what it needs though is much more content, much better quality streams and downloads, an integrated media player and library for your downloads, live streaming of ABC television channels, and a huge video back catalogue of every ABC production they have the rights to give away or sell to us.

And while my wish list is probably a bit of a stretch, I think this very first release is a nice start, with a lot of room to grow. Try it out for yourself here.

In related news: The ABC have announced that vodcasts are being downloaded at a rate of 327,000 per week, with over 14 million video downloads so far this year.

Categories
ABC1 Web Misc

Sneaking a peek at the new ABC News online.

Back in January I was sent a screenshot of the new abc.net.au/news, and while it was very much still a draft, it gave us some idea of what was coming.

The relaunched site is due to go live tomorrow, and from what I’ve seen its damn good. As you can see from the before and afters above, it is a much needed leap forward and has the most elegant and useful integration of video and audio I have seen on a news site. With simple audio and video flash players that appear and disappear thanks to the magic of ajax, it has Google Maps built right into the articles, which I immediately thought would be useless, until I realised how geographically challeneged I was and actually had no idea where Caloundra was (turns out its in Queensland).

The weather page is a brilliant, and even in fullscreen all the videos are more then enough, they load without any of the buffering that comes with the inconvenient WindowsMedia and RealPlayer formats that most news sites still use.

There is tons more to explore of the new site, but the incredibly simple and useful execution of audio/video and maps really are the top story of this news relaunch.

More screenshots below.. or visit abc.net.au/news sometime Monday.

Continue reading “Sneaking a peek at the new ABC News online.”
Categories
ABC1 Web Misc

Will abc.net.au get ads?

abc.net.au with ads

The Managing Director of the ABC unvieled a new plan for the national broadcasters digital future yesterday. While I look forward to more video content online and expanded podcasting (apparently the ABC is the “largest creator of podcasting material in the world “) I’m less enthusiastic at the idea of the ABC carrying ads online.

I know there is the obvious argument that it will bring in revenue with very little effort, but I just believe that we are so fortunate to have a commercial-free national broadcaster. To quote Crikey the ABC needs to remain a “non-commercial public meeting space – a town square rather than a shopping mall”, its something other countries aren’t lucky enough to have and I think we should protect it.

Categories
ABC1 Web Misc

Is this the new abc.net.au/news?

the new abc.net.au/news?

The ABC has been talking about relaunching their news site for a while now, and if the above screenshot I recently received in my email is to be believed you could be looking at a draft of the national broadcasters new news frontpage.

Only time will tell I guess.. click the screenshot for a better look.