BBC Family Clock

[Steve in Pudsey]

Wasn't there a problem with the R&M clock that the red box with the logo was in slightly the wrong position so transitions to the clock from other pres elements would have looked wrong?

[Mike]

That's a weird image with the BBC Ribbons era background, I'm not convinced it's real either, either way it needs a little bit of de-interlacing though!

It isn't a mock; before he died I had an email exchange with Martin Lambie-Nairn where we discussed it. It was a simple idea created by one of his staff (Sandy MacMillan) at the time and used a tank full of water with dyed ribbons to produce. The original plan was to use it as a pan BBC identity in times of serious obit use or national emergency. The clock I was told was a static frame and the ident itself was the ribbons on a 60 second loop without the logo fading on screen and without a soundtrack. It ended up being used by all different departments in different ways (on desktop wallpapers, ID cards, mousemats, the internal intranet and even flags at BBC Centres) - somehow BBC Worldwide ended up using it for Video and later DVD prints too.

As others have said it was never used and when the time came to use it plans had changed, probably because individual channels still wanted their brand heard over the corporations.

I know they wouldn't but you imagine today they'd freeze frame and mute 'skinny dippers' or whichever dull noneness ident is in use to lead in to when HM eventually passes away.

[Mike]

Wasn't there a problem with the R&M clock that the red box with the logo was in slightly the wrong position so transitions to the clock from other pres elements would have looked wrong?

I find this doubtful as the position of the box could be changed easily by 2002 and if worst came to the worst just keyed in with an Aston. I think it was just seen as an outmoded design and idea in the days of EPGs, the internet and such.

[Robert Williams]

I always thought the digital delay reasoning was an excuse. Wasn’t it because a silent clock was seen an outdated method of presentation?

Yes, I agree with this, it's essentially the same reason why we no longer have the announcer talking over silent static slides (which were phased out around the same time) and menus any more - they're seen as outdated presentation devices that aren't seen as able to grab viewers' attentions any more.

[Steve in Pudsey]

There is an updated version which occasionally slips out when one of the nations have a bit of finger trouble

https://youtu.be/WuErNOFIoCI

Wasn't that also used on the temporary red button streams for the Olympics etc?

[Steve in Pudsey]

I always thought the digital delay reasoning was an excuse. Wasn’t it because a silent clock was seen an outdated method of presentation?

Yes, I agree with this, it's essentially the same reason why we no longer have the announcer talking over silent static slides (which were phased out around the same time) and menus any more - they're seen as outdated presentation devices that aren't seen as able to grab viewers' attentions any more.

I have to put the alternative view here that the first thunderclap of the BBC News headlines loses its impact as an attention grabber off the back of music as in the R&M and Circles packages.

Silence itself can command attention, that couple of seconds as the clock ticks around to 6.00 and the authoritative "This is BBC 1" always had a "sit up and listen" feel to it. Perhaps due to the contrast with the pratting around in the preceding junction.

[lobster]

It isn't a mock; before he died I had an email exchange with Martin Lambie-Nairn where we discussed it. It was a simple idea created by one of his staff (Sandy MacMillan) at the time and used a tank full of water with dyed ribbons to produce.

that has really amazed me is that this was a practical effect - I would have assumed it would have been cgi - even in 1997 this wouldn't have been mega hard to produce, and today, you could do it in your bedroom in blender, fully rendered out in 4k in just a few hours - an amazing nugget of trivia.

it actually amazes me just how much of the MLN stuff was practical - the BBC smokey globe just blew my mind.

[Mort]

A clock would highlight the slightly fluid nature of the start of some news bulletins ;-) Recently I've noticed the six sometimes not starting until a minute, occasionally two or even three minutes past the hour. Presumably it's either due to what's going on in playout, whether either channel is running long due to prior output, some special live/breaking event where they're picking the right time to join, or even just delays in studio or gallery.

Breakfast on-screen clocks are accurate, but the playout chain pushes eventual display of output back by as much as ten seconds after real time. Little benefit of a second hand in the brave new world for the moment.

[DTV]

There is an updated version which occasionally slips out when one of the nations have a bit of finger trouble

https://youtu.be/WuErNOFIoCI

Shame we haven't seen that more often, a clear spiritual successor to the ribbons.

For all the arguments over boxes and stripped logos, I've always felt that the 1997 BBC logo just looks so much better on its own. It has a certain pristine beauty that is lost when put alongside text.

It's also great to hear more about the Ribbons ident which holds a special place in my heart as the first piece of branding I can remember being fascinated with.

[Steve in Pudsey]

[mention]Mort[/mention] is that on occasions when there has been a Covid briefing, when you can expect the schedule to be disrupted, or more generally?

[Ben]

it actually amazes me just how much of the MLN stuff was practical - the BBC smokey globe just blew my mind.

I honestly believe all the better for it too.

[Inspector Sands]

I'm enjoying this thread 8-)

I had that screen grab for ages and was waiting for a special occasion or a particular reason to unleash it


It was never used of course, it would only be for a joining of the networks in event of a royal death, but the only time that happened was 2 months before that logo came in. The Queen Mum's death was after the procedures changed to not require it

[Nini]

it actually amazes me just how much of the MLN stuff was practical - the BBC smokey globe just blew my mind.

It was? That does make sense, a lot of L-N stuff was practical by necessity but that is fascinating to learn.

[Roger Darthwell]

I'm enjoying this thread 8-)

I had that screen grab for ages and was waiting for a special occasion or a particular reason to unleash it


It was never used of course, it would only be for a joining of the networks in event of a royal death, but the only time that happened was 2 months before that logo came in. The Queen Mum's death was after the procedures changed to not require it

A question that has come to my mind, when Princess Diana died, did BBC One and BBC Two used a single clock,or each channel kept it's own usual clock ident?

[UTVLifer]

Here is a full, longer version I found of the ribbons loop
https://youtu.be/Shvn7NtTY10