Pre-Launch BBC News: Studio B Refit

[Steve Williams]

The corporate rebrand is a similar example; whilst I think it looks rather nice, I’ve quite honestly never known such a messy rebrand. By the time it has completed, some element of the branding will almost certainly have been updated in the time that has passed, taking the corporation back to square one in terms of consistency. 

In many ways, a commercial organisation simply would not act like it. The BBC has got a lot to learn by 2027, that’s for sure.

NTL became Virgin Media fifteen years ago. It's Virgin Media O2 now. I've still got an NTL email address.

[DTV]

While I understand the frustration at some impatient members of the forum constantly asking for a date of the new launch, I think it is quite legitimate to ask questions about how competently the BBC News rebrand has been managed. The decision to Reithify the BBC News logo, launch the new studio and launch the new titles etc. on three different dates months apart is simply baffling and clearly speaks to poor project management (which, to be fair, isn't solely seen in News).

The decision to go down the new set route was clearly taken quite late - insiders were still emphatically saying that B was permanently mothballed a matter of days before the refit was revealed - but if parts of the rebrand aren't ready, then the whole rebrand should be delayed rather than this dribs and drabs approach. People are saying 'what of the tabloids', well having three mini-rebrands in the space of a year means that they can run the rebrand 'money wasting' story multiple times.

[all new Phil]

I’m kind of over this ‘what will the right wing press say about it’ argument to be honest. I think it’s been overplayed. I don’t think decisions should be made on the basis that it might cause a negative article or two in the Daily Mail (nor do I think this actually happens).

[Andrew]

I’m kind of over this ‘what will the right wing press say about it’ argument to be honest. I think it’s been overplayed. I don’t think decisions should be made on the basis that it might cause a negative article or two in the Daily Mail (nor do I think this actually happens).

Did the right leaning tabloids run a high profile campaign against the new BBC One idents like some here said they would?

[neonemesis]

I’m kind of over this ‘what will the right wing press say about it’ argument to be honest. I think it’s been overplayed. I don’t think decisions should be made on the basis that it might cause a negative article or two in the Daily Mail (nor do I think this actually happens).

Did the right leaning tabloids run a high profile campaign against the new BBC One idents like some here said they would?

Overplayed or not, there is a risk to discussing plans in public and no risk to keeping those plans to themselves.

The balance is clear...

[Newsroom]

Oh my goodness, can we all just look forward to some exciting changes? Whenever they arrive? I can't get my head around why there so many unease and argument over what is essentially a few programmes relocating to a new set.

[natashajacobs]

I’m kind of over this ‘what will the right wing press say about it’ argument to be honest. I think it’s been overplayed. I don’t think decisions should be made on the basis that it might cause a negative article or two in the Daily Mail (nor do I think this actually happens).

For me that’s not the core issue though, it’s the waste of money rebranding news to reith the first time before doing it again just a few months later with a new logo. They should have just waited until the master brand was released

[Spencer]

I’m kind of over this ‘what will the right wing press say about it’ argument to be honest. I think it’s been overplayed. I don’t think decisions should be made on the basis that it might cause a negative article or two in the Daily Mail (nor do I think this actually happens).

For me that’s not the core issue though, it’s the waste of money rebranding news to reith the first time before doing it again just a few months later with a new logo. They should have just waited until the master brand was released

From a branding point of view, yes, it’s a bit odd, but do we know that extra money has been spent on this? Or is it all just being done by an in-house graphics team who are being paid anyway?

[Rob]

Oh my goodness, can we all just look forward to some exciting changes? Whenever they arrive? I can't get my head around why there so many unease and argument over what is essentially a few programmes relocating to a new set.

I concur. Can we please calm things down a bit?

[CATV]

I think what people need to remember is this change to Studio B has not been announced by the BBC. The only reason we know is because of the insiders and there has never been a official date just estimated. I guessing they are making sure everything is ok before it's announced and used. Wait and chill people.

In terms of the BBC the main problem is the BBC is not as one. For example the BBC News department is separate from BBC Sport department. So to get them to all come to work together can be a nightmare which is what I guess BBC Creative is going through.

I also think the rebrand has been delayed by Covid but the DG probably want something to show at the start of the 100th anniversary celebrations so could not be pushed back. That's why the rebrand seems all over the place. It's not ideal but it's the way it is.

[natashajacobs]

I’m kind of over this ‘what will the right wing press say about it’ argument to be honest. I think it’s been overplayed. I don’t think decisions should be made on the basis that it might cause a negative article or two in the Daily Mail (nor do I think this actually happens).

For me that’s not the core issue though, it’s the waste of money rebranding news to reith the first time before doing it again just a few months later with a new logo. They should have just waited until the master brand was released

From a branding point of view, yes, it’s a bit odd, but do we know that extra money has been spent on this? Or is it all just being done by an in-house graphics team who are being paid anyway?

It’s not just the graphics team in Londons time though. They had to go round all the regions with the old Aston machines and update all of them, so they would have had to do all of that all over again. So pointless

[Spencer]

I’m kind of over this ‘what will the right wing press say about it’ argument to be honest. I think it’s been overplayed. I don’t think decisions should be made on the basis that it might cause a negative article or two in the Daily Mail (nor do I think this actually happens).

For me that’s not the core issue though, it’s the waste of money rebranding news to reith the first time before doing it again just a few months later with a new logo. They should have just waited until the master brand was released

From a branding point of view, yes, it’s a bit odd, but do we know that extra money has been spent on this? Or is it all just being done by an in-house graphics team who are being paid anyway?

It’s not just the graphics team in Londons time though. They had to go round all the regions with the old Aston machines and update all of them, so they would have had to do all of that all over again. So pointless

I'd agree it's not the best way of doing it, and possibly a waste of effort, but I still don't see how it's a waste of money if salaried BBC staff in London or elsewhere are doing it all.

[harshy]

From a branding point of view, yes, it’s a bit odd, but do we know that extra money has been spent on this? Or is it all just being done by an in-house graphics team who are being paid anyway?

It’s not just the graphics team in Londons time though. They had to go round all the regions with the old Aston machines and update all of them, so they would have had to do all of that all over again. So pointless

Couldn’t they just Remote Desktop in too be honest this job sounds perfect for me going around the Uk changing the graphics, where do I apply?

[deejay]

Just to say, no one goes around the regions to update Astons. There are staff in each region who are perfectly capable of updating them. Network graphics send out the style guide, the kit of parts and anything else each region might need, local teams do the work.

The number of Astons left in the regions is slowly decreasing and as new gallery automation is rolled out, it will eventually die out.

[natashajacobs]

Just to say, no one goes around the regions to update Astons.  There are staff in each region who are perfectly capable of updating them.  Network graphics send out the style guide, the kit of parts and anything else each region might need, local teams do the work.

The number of Astons left in the regions is slowly decreasing and as new gallery automation is rolled out, it will eventually die out.

Ok can concede that point but the bbc asks for criticism when its approach to project management is as poorly joined up as it seems to have been recently. I used to work for a company which changed its branding, logo and design virtually every year because people needed something to do and upper echelons of management needed something to ‘change’. I mean even in local radio, why on earth did they go for the purple mic muffs and studio updates and vinyled vehicles when the logo was going to change, did somebody not think to tell them to wait?