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ITV launches unified channels branding

Ahead of the launch of AVoD service ITVX , commercial broadcaster ITV ’ s channels have been given a fresh look , with new channel branding , on-screen presentation and idents launching across all on air channels .

ITV Creative and brand agency DixonBaxi have partnered on the work , as well as the creation of the new brand identity for ITVX . The name and branding for ITV ’ s digital destination streaming service was produced by DixonBaxi , and turns streaming conventions on their head , or more accurately rotates them 45 degrees , with an X in place of in the more commonly used +.
“ We are using the launch of ITVX this Autumn as a moment to give ITV ’ s broadcast channels a modern and fresh update too ,” explained Jane Stiller , ITV ’ s chief marketing officer . “ This is all driven by a future where both broadcast and streaming will be equally crucial parts of how viewers engage with us .”
“ Viewers will see what we do in broadcast and streaming as much more joined up and we will be able to seamlessly cross promote across the platforms enabling greater content discovery . Everything will look and feel modern and relevant , with each platform or channel having a simple twist . This approach will flow into our new idents too , which are created to reflect and connect with modern Britain .”
“ We have an exciting autumn in store for
“ We are using the launch of ITVX this Autumn as a moment to give ITV ’ s broadcast channels a modern and fresh update too .” viewers , whether that ’ s I ’ m A Celebrity , The World Cup or the launch of ITVX with more new free content than anywhere else , so it feels like no better time to refresh our branding across the breadth of what we do .”
We think this a brilliant opportunity ,
through branding , design and motion to have the most contemporary broadcast branding in the UK , while allowing us to move more seamlessly between broadcast and streaming ,” she concluded .
“ It ’ s been an amazing experience working with ITV Marketing and ITV Creative on this ambitious refresh ,” added Jed Carter , design director , DixonBaxi . “ A single coherent design system – bursting with personality – unites ITVX and ITV ’ s channels . A unified approach to logos , colour , typography , voice and motion connects the family of brands to create one connected brand experience while allowing each brand to express its own unique personality .”
Motion principles and digital gestures inform the new on-screen presentation across channels , thematically linked but all individual , in keeping with the channel personalities . A bespoke suite of typefaces were created by DixonBaxi in collaboration with type studio F37 Foundry , for ITV ’ s channels and its new streaming service , ITVX . In addition , a bold new suite of channel audio beds were crafted by London music and sound house The Futz Butler to be used across all channels to further continue a consistent brand experience .
As part of the refresh , ITV returns to ITV1 , to give more equal footing to broadcast and streaming , with ITV1 and ITVX as ITV ’ s key viewer destinations .
“ With everything we ’ ve done with the On Screen Presentation , we ’ ve tried to make sure it ’ s one brand-with a twist of personality for each channel or service ,” said ITV Creative ECD Tony Pipes .
“ With the idents , we ’ ve done the same , creating an ITV Multiverse , where depending on what channel you view it on , you see the same scenes but with a different view . This gave us the chance to reflect each channel ’ s tone , using specially shot scenes , animation and CGI and give the viewer a new surprise depending on where they view the idents . A simple device that is full of creative potential ,” he suggested .
In what it says is an innovative break from tradition , the concept for ITV ’ s new idents spans the entire network , rather than just one channel . Shot in five archetypal locations across the UK , each channel ’ s logo ‘ swipes ’ our viewpoint , leading the viewer to that channel ’ s own spin on the scene .
Analysis : How resilient is European DTT ?
As more than 90m households ,
or 30 % of European TV
homes , still rely exclusively
on FTA channels for their TV
consumption , the ongoing
evolution of DTT transmission
standards could be seen as
a way to rejuvenate a TV
access mode which does not
appear as prosperous as it
was in the past , suggests Sa
Eva Nébié , head of research
at Dataxis , who asks whether
the implementation of
new DTT standards can successfully strengthen these infrastructures .
Although the penetration of digital terrestrial television has been steadily declining in Europe over the past few years , standards have evolved , as 28 countries have already made the second generation of DVB system for terrestrial broadcasting available to their population . “ DVB-T2 enables a more efficient use of spectrum and allows viewers to access a wider range of services , in SD and in HD ,” she advises .
At the moment , the two standards coexist in a range of countries , however a complete switchover is expected , to achieve the region ’ s plans to free up frequencies for 5G .
Poland , Italy , and Spain are the three latest countries to have completed their transition to DVBT-2 .
Many European households continue to count on traditional terrestrial or satellite infrastructure to watch linear TV .
Most of these FTA households use DTT networks ,
as they currently represent around two-thirds of total FTA households . Around 20 % of TV households in Europe need terrestrial television for their primary TV consumption . Infrastructure networks can also work as a complement to other distribution modes , and provide FTA channels efficiently and at lower costs . As a reliable , costefficient and widely-available free TV option , DTT platforms using the latest standard should remain an important distribution option for many years in European countries .
6 EUROMEDIA