BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Channel Islands. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but it tends towards more the 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio channels, it is funded by the television license and is therefore commercial-free. It is a comparatively well-funded public service network, regularly attaining a much higher audience share than most public service networks worldwide.
Over the years, BBC Two have had a number of different idents which advertise upcoming shows on the channel, and the channel itself. Nearly all of the identity packages used since the channel's launch in 1964 have featured a prominent numeral '2' in the design. Before this design, the word 'TWO' was the official logo.
This was the BBC Two logo of 1986. I think it's incredibly basic, and has almost been unedited. The RGB makes it very scripted, and the drop shadow makes it look cheap and a little bit tacky. The key to a good ident, in my eyes, is lots of movement throughout both the foreground and the background, and this is very still. It's not very memorable at all, and the lack of excitement is a real let down.
When former controller of the BBC, Alan Yentob, read the research, and realised the audience perception of BBC2, it confirmed in his mind the need for a new identity as quickly as possible. Audience researched revealed that the packaging for BBC2 had not kept pace with the changing product. 'Quiet', 'middle-class', 'snobbish' and 'boring' were the words that came to mind with viewers. The BBC2 identity, a 'TWO' logo, did nothing to convey the channel's newly-developing, more pluralistic personality.
"I realised that the TWO identity was a problem as soon as I took over the channel. It was obvious that the logo made absolutely no impact. It was singularly unmemorable and it told you nothing about the channel... I think people love the new '2'. It has received lots of fan mail and correspondence. We will definitely be renewing its contract!" - Alan Yentob: Former controller of BBC2 - now director of programmes, BBC Television.
After the new '2' logos and idents were launched in 1991, the public took a shine to them and started believing in BBC2 a lot more than they used to with the old TWO logo. The 1991 '2's featured a serif numeral '2' being at the centre of an initially art-related scene; however the idents moved away from this style later on as the station's style changed. Although highly praised, this expansive set of idents was ended in November 2001. The BBC corporate logo was updated within the idents in October 1997, though the idents moved away from the original viridian colour scheme in these latter years.
"The BBC2 identity was mould-breaking. Everyone warmed to it. It was a six-lane highway that could take you anywhere you wanted to go. It offered no limit to what you could achieve. BBC1 was much more difficult. The flagship. It really was where angels feared to tread. It was like the designer being assigned to the next series of Dr Who. Who would dare update the original titles?" - John Aston: Former head of graphic design, BBC Television.
The new look for BBC2 was launched on 16 February 1991. Just a few months before, the new piper identity for British Telecom by Wolff Olins had leaked out and received a universally awful press. It was sneered at by the broadsheets and mauled by the tabloids. The Sunday Times had published a feature on bow-tied, corporate-identity con-men taking gullible corporations for an expensive ride. It was not a great time for the BBC to be launching new identities and we were frankly awaiting the hostile fallout. The BBC decided this would be a low-key launch. Three journalists turned up to the launch announcement and one of them was the BBC's own media correspondent.
The BBC" figure because a talking point, perceived as sophisticated, witty and stylish. The BBC's own designers were swift to see the creative opportunity of the character that ran with it. They were encouraged to make their own films, many of them destined to be award winners over the next few years.
I really like the modernized BBC2 idents and logos as I feel each one is very unique in its own way. On 18 February 2007, BBC2 launched their new set of titles called Window on the World. By 2007, BBC2 needed another thorough rebrand as the previous idents were starting to lose their purpose. A new set of idents were therefore commissioned by advertising agency Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, and was produced by Red Bee Media, who made the current idents for BBC One. The new design needed to work, both on television, but also online, as a website and as live streaming feed.
Overall, I really like the way BBC2 have changed their logos and idents throughout the years. The change from TWO to 2 was a really good idea as it completely changed the image of the channel for the better, and it's been proved by the audience themselves that it worked in the BBCs favour.
- O
The new look for BBC2 was launched on 16 February 1991. Just a few months before, the new piper identity for British Telecom by Wolff Olins had leaked out and received a universally awful press. It was sneered at by the broadsheets and mauled by the tabloids. The Sunday Times had published a feature on bow-tied, corporate-identity con-men taking gullible corporations for an expensive ride. It was not a great time for the BBC to be launching new identities and we were frankly awaiting the hostile fallout. The BBC decided this would be a low-key launch. Three journalists turned up to the launch announcement and one of them was the BBC's own media correspondent.
The BBC" figure because a talking point, perceived as sophisticated, witty and stylish. The BBC's own designers were swift to see the creative opportunity of the character that ran with it. They were encouraged to make their own films, many of them destined to be award winners over the next few years.
I really like the modernized BBC2 idents and logos as I feel each one is very unique in its own way. On 18 February 2007, BBC2 launched their new set of titles called Window on the World. By 2007, BBC2 needed another thorough rebrand as the previous idents were starting to lose their purpose. A new set of idents were therefore commissioned by advertising agency Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, and was produced by Red Bee Media, who made the current idents for BBC One. The new design needed to work, both on television, but also online, as a website and as live streaming feed.
Overall, I really like the way BBC2 have changed their logos and idents throughout the years. The change from TWO to 2 was a really good idea as it completely changed the image of the channel for the better, and it's been proved by the audience themselves that it worked in the BBCs favour.
- O
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