Not quite, but as part of the previously mentionned ‘Continuous News Centre’, the ABC is planning to launch a breakfast news service on ABC2. This service, which will be quite distinct from ‘Sunrise’ and ‘Today’ will essentially use new means to deliver existing news content to the channel.
An example would be broadcasting an interview whcih aired on ABC Radio’s ‘AM’ programme. This type of delivery will be essential, as the ABC is funding all its new ventures from existing revenue.
Regardless, it will be an interesting development, and could be a stepping stone to a fuller service down the track.
ABC television has relaunched as ‘ABC1′ and ‘ABC2′ today, with brand new presentation graphics, designed by ‘Zspace’, and new programmes heralding the changes.
For viewers, the changes are all explained on a special website set up at: www.abc.net.au/tv/newtv
ABC1 has the following logo:
The network idents match people giving short stories, with stylish animation, to give a surreal and magical story scene.
The new slogan for the channel is ‘It Begins With 1′
ABC2 has been rebranded also.
It’s idents feature people often in eerily connected actions, with the colour yellow featured somewhere on the person, similar to the use of red by BBC ONE.
The new slogan for the channel is ‘It Connects To’ (which creates a continuity with the ABC1 slogan, resulting in the full slogan being: ‘It begins with 1, it connects to 2′
The channels are now also located at new positions on the digital platform, with ABC1 taking ABC2’s previous location.
And new promos have launched announcing not only the changes, but highlighting new drama and documentary programmes for the coming year. New promos use the coloured logo box on screen, as do the idents, in another element reminiscent of the BBC.
Finally, the ABC television website has relaunched, with new areas and a colour scheme identical to the on screen identity, although a full rollout of changes online is not expected for several months.
Overall, a very exciting and fresh new look for the National Broadcaster.
UPDATE: below are some videos of the new look (with thanks to John at idents.tv)
Above: an ABC1 ident featuring Collectors host, Andy Muirhead
Above: an ABC1 ident featuring a firefighter
Above: a collection of the new idents for ABC1
Above: a collection of the new ABC2 idents
UPDATE#2 – while overall the new package has been warmly received, there have been anrgy responses to the new watermarks on both channels. It will be interesting to see if changes are made, as has previously been the case to past unpopular ABC watermarks.
More news on the relaunch tomorrow, this time on ABC2.
The channel will have a logo almost identical to the new ABC1 logo, but with a yellow background instead of a blue one.
ABC2 will also feature newly made exclusive programming, following the establishment of successful partnerships with the Australian Film Commission, Opera Australia, and the Australian Ballet, and arts programming will be dominant within it’s schedule.
It will also air a new half hour program hosted by Walkley Award winning journalist Steve Cannane called Hackfest, an extension fo the Triple J current affairs programme, Hack.
Overall the network will broadcast far more music following the relaunch, as well as dance and theatre. In addition, it will screen more than 40 Triple J concerts.
Reports are coming in from the press launch today of the ABC’s television relaunch, which will take place on Friday immediately before the start of The Midday Report.
Kim Dalton, the Head of ABC Television said: “We are helping to reshape the way people use and interact with television by giving them more programs, more ways to view them and more flexibility around when and how they watch them, we have deliberately chosen an alternative path to other Australian networks – embracing true multi-channelling. Increasingly much of this content will be available on demand, online, as downloads, and streamed.”
The new onscreen identity has been developed by ZSPACE, an award winning design house, which has been responsible for many of the ABC’s on screen packages for a variety of programmes.
At the same time, new programmes for ABC1 have been announced. These include:
The Cut - a 6 part drama series starring John Wood.
Dirt Game – a 6 part drama series set in a mining town.
The Gruen Transfer – a 10 part expose on the advertising industry, hosted by Wil Anderson.
Lawrence Leung’s Choose Your Own Adventure - a new comedy series written by popular comic Lawrence Leung and produced by The Chaser team.
The Howard Years - a 4 part documentary.
Q&A – a new current affairs programme hosted by Lateline presenter Tony Jones.
The ABC also announced it will launch an internet TV platform later in the year, as well as a high speed online programme dowload site, called ABC Playback.
The Director of ABC Television, Kim Dalton, has moved swiftly to refute a story on page 1 of today’s Australian, which suggested that when the new logo for ABC1 launches next week, it will see the end of the iconic Lissajous (known also as ‘the worm’).
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Dalton said: “We’re announcing next week a new look for both ABC television and what’s at the present known as ABC2.
“That’s going to involve a new onscreen look. But the worm will absolutely retained as part of the branding for both of our channels.”
“It will have the same sort of primacy as it has at the moment. It’s the most important logo for the ABC … and we will continue to use it.”
Well, thanks to the ABC we now have 2 new dates for the relaunch. Speaking to ‘The Australian’ today, an ABC Spokesperson said the relaunch was confirmed for ‘the 7th or 8th of Feburary’.
So which is it? And is this the first time a channel has rebranded on a Thursday?
Given that the new schedules appear from Monday the 11th, it would seem that the ABC decided to launch a few days early, in order to show promos, but decided not to allow a week for this (which would have been the 4th).
Still, one week to go, and the buzz only gets bigger.
Not only is ABCtv rebranding as ABC1, as well as getting a new logo (seen above) but it is moving to a new location on the digital platform in some metropolitan areas.
From the beginning of Feburary, you will find ABC1 located on LCN (channel) 21 on digital. This is currently the home of ABC2, but don’t worry, because ABC2 is moving to LCN 22.
The Full ABC digital channel lineup from Feburary will be:
02 – ABC1 SD (relay)
20 – ABC1 HD (720p – selected programming, refer to guides)
21 – ABC1 SD
22 – ABC2
200 – DIG Radio – info at abc.net.au/dig
201 – DIG Jazz Radio – info at abc.net.au/dig/jazz
From Monday, 4th February, ABCtv is undergoing one of its most fundamental changes in its 52 years: changing it’s name! The channel will be known as ‘ABC1′ and will be relaunching an all new presentation package to coincide with the renaming, timed for the start of the official ratings period.
The purpose of the revamp was to acknowledge the increasingly dominant digital environment, as well as to emphasise the presence of ABC2, as well as the forthcoming ABC3.
ABC2 will also be getting a refresh on the same day, with new logo, presentation and schedule.
ABC1’s slogan will be ‘It Begins With a 1′, while ABC2 goes with ‘Bring Out The 2 In You’
UPDATE:It is now appearing more likely that the relaunch will take place on Monday the 11th Feburary. (2 dates from 2 sources!) I will bring you more confirmation as soon as it happens.
Posted by Andy 
Posted by Andy 
Posted by Andy 
