ABC hints at change
This mysterious teaser arrived today. Looks like the ABC is getting into the makeover department too. What does it mean? Is the ABC about to “heart TV” too? What about “ABC: Imperiously”?
This could be a chance for the ABC to shake up its image. Clearly they need more SMS-style voting shows. Media Watch should be doing more stories about comparing margarines and shonky builders. When do we get late night quiz shows hosted by Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton? Bananas in Pyjamas Uncut! Compass: 20 to 1 Confessions!
In all seriousness there will indeed be change coming to the ABC because we have a new federal government and a new Minister for Communications who has plans for the national broadcaster (none of which yet officially include ABC3, the children’s channel).
Somehow I don’t think that’s the change this teaser is hinting at.
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ABC is rebranding as ABC1 like the BBC has BBC1,2,3 etc… word is for the launch in early feb so prob at start of ratings season
David, I think that the ABC is going to change it’s logo. Why? The current logo has been used in various shapes and forms for nearly fifty years. and last year being the ABC’s 75th anniversary, they most likely developed a new image which would look just as good in HD as it does in analogue.
They certainly need more HD. Perhaps it needs to be legislated.
I hate to say it but I suspect both Will and Kuttsywood may be right. To rebrand ABC as ABC1/ABC2, they would need a logo that lends itself to that. ABC2 currently uses what is essentially two logos side by side, the ABC squiggle and the “2″ logo. By creating a new “ABC” logo they can have it read ABC1 and ABC2 in the same way as the Beeb does.
David, I left you a “Tip Off” regarding this ABC change back on January 13th when you were talking about “We (heart) new looks”.
I’d love if they had a re-brand ABC1, ABC2, ABC3..
I wondered if it wasn’t ABC3 related, then perhaps they might be about to offer more via their Digital TV services.
I’m sure I’ve read of many other features of digital television which none of our broadcasters are using, I think ABC should be made the most cashed up to lead these changes and help drive further uptake of digital services.
I always feel sad when I see ABC has probably the lowest quality HD channel of all the broadcasters, something I hope they’ll change.
I’d love if all the ABC Radio channels came onto digital first, ahead of all the radio stations going digital, I’d love if they gave us the BBC World Service radio channel too..
(Something I only hear past midnight on SBS Radio (digital) following end of transmissions for the day).
I agree with Kuttsywood, as in that clip, the logo disapears and fades away down the screen. Hinting at the old logo leaving, and new is coming.
Based on the way the abc logo ‘drops’ off the screen at the end, it certainly hints at them dropping the old logo and going with a new look.
Hmm… personally I would doubt they would change such an iconic logo. There is nothing wrong with it, just like Nine’s balls logo - and though Nine changed their logo to the horrible 9 in a box, they reverted back two years later. That said, ABC might update their logo though (but not change it altogether). And if they had any sense they would scrap the current ABC2 logo (that massive “2″ doesn’t go well together next to the ABC logo)
ABC rebranding as ABC1 is great though, I hope Will is right.
I love a bit of comedy in the afternoon, nice work.
That would make sense kuttsywood, given the way the logo fades away at the end of that ad.
that teaser is really vauge. i hope theyh didnt spend a long time on it because it would have been easier (and more appealing) if they had just sent an email!
I think it would be a big mistake to get rid of their iconic logo. It has to be one of the most recognisable corporate logos in Austrlia. Any of the other networks would kill to have something like it.
Having said that, I think there is a need to align all the ABC networks and I totally agree that the ABC 2 logo just looks absolutely shocking. I think they might keep the logo but maybe just add the words at the bottom: ONE, TWO, THREE/KIDS etc…
times change people and change is a good thing!!
ffs its just a logo sheesh!
I saw the “change” thing on my TV but I do not remember it fading down at the end like that. I won’t be suprised if the ABC change it logo and make new HD channels. As for its first channel being rebranded ABC1, I’m not sure about that. When this change happens, I hope that ABC isn’t going to pull a SBS, by broadcasting ads and promos between programs.
What a promo… it’s all very haunting isn’t it!!?
I think it’s great that Aunty is coming in for a reworking… but let’s hope it’s not an ‘Extreme Makeover’!! Whilst change is good, it shouldn’t come at the expense of what currently makes the ABC great.
Back a week or so ago, a poster on a popular TV forum hinted that this might not all be sweetness and light:
“…by the way, wiat till you see the horrors the ABC has in store from February with ABC1 and ABC2. Cant say anymore.”
This was in a thread talking about the abomination that is the new Nine HD watermark.
Hopefully the ABC will take this opportunity to move ABC1’s watermark to the corner of the 16:9 screen, not right in the middle.
By the way, Luke, the ABC’s HD channel is by no means the “lowest quality of all the broadcasters”. SBS takes that honour easily, for one thing. And the ABC’s 720p channel not only looks just fine with HD material like Rain Shadow, but also does excellent upscaling of all the other ABC programming - with no watermark (though I bet that is about to change, sadly).
Great idea to brand ABC1/2/etc but I can’t see them dropping the iconic logo. Also, the ABC logo doesn’t just represent TV, it represents the entire ABC organisation and I can’t imagine them re-branding the whole corporation just for the sake of TV
Maybe if the ABC want to re-brand like the BBC with ABC1, ABC2, etc, then they can drop the watermark just like BBC1 and BBC2?
Oooh…look. A flock of pigs overhead.
Seriously though, are Australian broadcasters becoming more and more irrelevant? They seem to be trying to alienate their viewers. Ten dumps Torchwood, which I hear got off to a fine start last week on BBC2. Even when they do bother to show some good shows, they plaster stupid watermarks all over them and then re-schedule them randomly so that nobody can remember to watch the shows.
There are just so many better options out there nowdays.
Oh God I hope the marketing dept hasn’t gone crazy and they are going to do “pop up messages” and squeeze down the end credits like channel 7.
I agree with J Bar… it would be best for the ABC to retain the current iconic logo but I’d say place the words ABC ONE/ABC TWO under it. I hope to god that’s the case, but I too have seen the post Neon Kitten refers to and unfortunately I fear the worst.
According to the ABC, Foreign Correspondent…
“returns to ABC 1 on Tuesday the fifth of February at 9.25pm”.
Hi David,
I doubt it would be a logo change - that’s far too important. It might be about ‘branding’ - the digital channel has been called ABC2 for ages - so ABC TV may become ABC 1. They’ve already promoted ABC Now, so I doubt it’s that.
Do you really think people will stop watching a channel because they changed there logo??
Way to much over analysis and in 2 months no ones even gonna care regardless.
Look the word on the street is that the BBC have purchased the ABC and it will be rebranded accordingly…
Sorry, but there is not way to much over analysis - this is a TELEVISION blog, to talk about TELEVISION issues. Why else would we be here?
That noice is freaky. It’s gonna give me nightmares. But seriously. The logo is gonna get dumped.sapears. Abc1 here we come!
I cannot locate ABC 2 on my telivision which is a new one and I thought was equipped with the nessary to do so. Will you tell me what the frequncy is? I live in the Hope Valley area
If you have any questions about free to air digital TV or the equipment you need to receive it, go to http://abc.net.au/reception/digital/ or Digital Broadcasting Australia’s website at http://dba.org.au/ for detailed information. Visit http://abc.net.au/tv/abc2/ for further program and reception information.