Recently the nature of television production and broadcasting has evolved at a rapid pace. The expansion of cable, satellite and digital television broadcasting has led to a growth in the number of television channels as well as the amount of televisual content required by the new multi-channel industry. In this ever-expanding market, the corporate identity of television production and broadcasting companies is perhaps more important than ever. With viewers being offered such a vast choice, it is of vital to ensure that the look and tone of all onscreen content is instantly recognisable and appealing to a target audience.
Within the industry, there is a great demand for individuals with both the imaginative understanding to work with a company’s image and the technical ability to realise their needs. The power of a unified onscreen image is well recognised and opportunities for specialist freelance and in-house designers are wide ranging.
This unit has taught and introduced me to the professional techniques for the creative design and effective production of onscreen graphics and idents for television. It includes aesthetic and technical challenges in television, the needs of the viewer, the creative negotiation of a brief, team roles and related skills. In addition, the unit provides an opportunity to research the potential of the relevant technologies of image manipulation and production.
From this I have also learnt the opportunities and limitations to being a ident designer.
E4 was launched 19 years after Channel 4, it was created to narrowcast to a target audience aged 15 to 35 of both genders. The younger audience are targeted to programmes such as Inbetweeners and The Big Bang Theory; these programmes are usually shown from 4 -7 pm this is when school children return from school and are most likely to be watching TV before doing their homework. In addition, the older audiences such as unemployed mothers are targeted by showing programmes such as Desperate Housewives during the day when they have dropped their children off to school. By doing this E4 can target the mass audience and gain views from all their programmes all day. To be unique, E4 shows U.S programmes such as Desperate Housewives, The Big Bang Theory and 90210. However the most watched programme is a British show called The Inbetweeners.
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