What is an Ident?
Station identification (Ident or Channel ID) is the practice of radio or television stations or networks identifying themselves on air, typically by means of a call sign or brand name (sometimes known, particularly in the United States, as a "sounder" or "stinger", more generally as a station or network ID). This may be to satisfy requirements of licensing authorities, a form of branding or a combination of both. As such it is closely related to production logos used in television and cinema, alike.
Station identification used to be done regularly by an announcer at the halfway point during the presentation of a television program, or in between programs.
UK and Europe
Television
Broadcast stations in Europe do not identify by using a callsign, however most networks use a brand based on their common channel number. A form of station identification clip is played between programmes, traditionally incorporating the channel's logo, and accompanied by a continuity announcer who introduces the upcoming program (and promotes other programs). These idents evolved from mainly being mechanical models (such as the famous BBC globe), to becoming more advanced through the evolution of computer-generated imagery through the 1980s. From the 1960s to the 1990s, most broadcasters only used a single ident, sometimes using special variations for holidays and special events. In the present day, most broadcasters use a set of multiple idents built around a certain theme or branding element, often based on the channel's current overall look.
Source: Wikipedia
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Here are some examples of TV Idents:
Channel 4 idents have always been really creative and clever. They play a lot with the arrangement of the number 4 across the sequence and there is also quite often a lot of depth with their ident designs. I also like how they seem so realistic, by combining the digital media with the use of real life footage and film.
BBC 1 and BBC 2 also create very memorable idents. BBC 2's idents simply use the letter 2 in many different environments. I think the ones that work well are the ones that use the number 2 almost like a window. So each time the 2 has its 'insides removed' something will be revealed. For example like when the tent door is undone and the beach is revealed. I also think that BBC 1's ident where the bikers are inside a spherical wall is really creative. Because they are using video thy can speed it up to effect the lighting, which is where they then add digital work which is the channel name and some shapes. It appears to b quite complicated to do but I think it is a lot easier than it looks. All it is, is the combination of edited video and possibly After Effects work.
These idents for BBC 2 are showing from the 90's till 2001. They are a lot simpler than what they are today because of the technology available to create digital idents. The older ones are really interesting even if they have been kept fairly simple. The first one shown in this video is a 3D number 2 with paint being thrown over it. The one after that is more digital based, with the number 2 waving into an arrangement. There is also a really cool one where they blow up the 2. There are so many different idents for BBC 2 and each one is very unique and quite quirky. They make them fun and very engaging.
This Cartoon Network ident is really fun. They use a series of arrows and patterns that lead you through the sequence and space. They then reach a finishing point by 'filling up' the C and N of Cartoon Network. It looks complicated but in actual fact its quite simple. I think the best bit about it is the amount of detail to begin with that then just turns into the logo. The patterns before hand are showing how much fun goes into Cartoon Network.
The BBC Three idents have changed a lot over the years. The slug idents were kept very simple and light hearted. Im not sure why they chose to create slugs for the ident characters but they work really well. the second ident on this video is one of the more up to date ones for the channel. They are completely digitised and show the world of BBC Three. Im not sure what software would have been used for this ident, it looks quite advanced.
This ident for MTV is really simple and would have been easily created on After Effects. They would have made the illustrations and then taken them into After Effects (possibly) to add motion. I think the colours work well as they are bright and with the combination of the colours and the characters, this ident is very engaging and fun!
Again these sets of MTV idents are very simple. I think that the idents that have been kept simple work best than the ones that are too complicated. Most idents dont last that long, so the last thing you want to be doing as the designer is not making your message clear enough in the time you have.
These idents for Nickelodeon are brilliant! They are so simple and so funny. The characters make it really engaging and it gets the message through within the short space of time.
I think this channel Five ident is a bit longer than some of the other ones that I have looked at. It is also more complex, they have used clips of the TV programmes they air and also digitised animation and motion graphics. As much as I prefer the simpler idents, this one is really exciting and one that you dont want to take your eyes off. There is so much going on but it is arranged in a way that flows well and gets to the point. The purpose of an ident is to give you a snippet of what the channel or a particular programme has to offer and what it is about. This ident does exactly that.
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