TASK 2: Understand The Design And Purpose Of Television Idents

Introduction To Channel Idents

Channel Idents are short audios and visuals identify themselves using a short clip of 15-30 seconds, which has their name brand in it, before a show starts on their station. They are usually creative and have their own unique logo which represents their station. BBC2 is a well known channel ident, as the '2' is usually shown as a big number. This channel ident makes it easier for the viewers to know what channel they are watching.

Three commonalities of Channel Idents are:

• They all have a brand for their channel ident, so that it is easier for the viewers to recognise what station they are on.
• They all have a little clip before a programme starts

Designs Of Channel Idents

The design of the channel ident is important because this is the main part which will catch the viewers attention to the station that they are watching. When the design of the channel ident is made, you need to make sure that is is entertaining for the viewers to look at.
Also, you need to make sure that the time of the channel ident isn't too long or the viewers will loose interest to the station that they are watching or listening to.

Purposes Of Channel Indents

The purposes of channel idents are:

• To break up a show a bit. Having a channel ident allows another show get ready to be shown up next.
• To advertise their brand. This will make more and more viewers watch this station because it will be become popular when others start watching it. BBC ONE, BBC TWO, BBC THREE & BBC FOUR and also Channel 4 and E4, are similar stations but they each have their own brand, so that the viewers recognise which station they are on. These stations have also been expanded so that their brand can be recognised to more and more viewers.
• To make the station have its own identity, so that people recognise the channel or station that they are listening to or watching. As there are many stations that have their own channel idents, its easier for a channel ident to have its own identity.

Here's an example of one of Channel 4's Idents, shown below:

This channel ident is promoting the channel. The person talking is telling people about the previous show. They then talk about the next show coming up and inform people that the show will contain strong language. As the channel ident is about to come to an end, you see the number '4' which is created using lights and parts of the building.



Here's an example of one of BBC Three's Idents, shown below:



This channel ident is promoting the channel and talking about when the next episode, of the previous show, will be on. It is also announcing the next show. The 'BBC Three' logo has been used to show people what station they are on. They have also used animated characters so that people will remember this station.



Here's an example of one of BBC Two's Idents, shown below:



This channel ident is promoting the channel and talking about the previous show. It is also talking about the next show that is about to come on. The 'BBC Two' logo has been used at the bottom of the screen, to show people what station they are watching. They have also been creative by having the number '2' shown in a cup.