TVDragon 6 January 2023 8:24pm
The S4C idents have changed this year, after 13 years of the same theme [magnetism/things being pulled].

Similar to the tv set style pres from christmas, these idents started on the 1st.

The tv set flickers from one scene to the next as the view on the wall also changes. Music’s a bit non-descript.

From what I have seen, these are also used before sports programming and the news.

Also, the “S4C~” logo from the Dragon era is back full time, having been reintroduced partway through the Xmas look (the Xmas idents initially launched with the “S4/C” logo in use for the Magnetic era)

Ident here: “prestv.com/s4cnewlook”

Brekkie 6 January 2023 8:30pm
From the caps I don’t get these idents at all - need to see them in full I think.

Never saw any of their Christmas presentation either, completly forgot about it!
Also, Good the old logo’s back


Jez 6 January 2023 9:00pm
They look quite nice - about time S4C updated their idents. Also if anyone was wondering, The Xmas look was TVs stacked up to form a Christmas tree
Permalink

nwtv2003 6 January 2023 9:19pm
They look nice indeed.

Just a quick question, does S4C still use the lines for their Schools programmes?

Joe 6 January 2023 9:26pm
They look very nice, and original as well.

I would have to see them though.


tvarksouthwest 6 January 2023 10:32pm
Brekkie Boy posted:Expand
Never saw any of their Christmas presentation either, completly forgot about it!


http://www.s4c.co.uk/nadolig/llawennadolig2022.mp4

No “Merry Christmas” message in the TX version. Alternative variants showed either the Christmas Tree or static screens.

And no, I don’t get this new look either.

tvarksouthwest 7 January 2023 1:13am
Dunedin posted:Expand
Never really seen the channel’s presentation before, but that’s a really excellent and original ident.

Very understated manner but very Christmassy.

S4C have always “rested” the Magnetic theme over Christmas, like BBC1 and the globe. So I read nothing into the Christmas ident, even if I did think “an old VCR, an empty school hall - what’s that all about?”

In the last several years S4C have used a family of robins (for 2021), a lockdown party (2020), a blizzard (2019), a Fischinger-style abstract animation (2018) and a melting snowman (2017), Then I started noticing the 1995 logo being used more in promos, then was added to the ident on December 12, then on the screen bug on the 16th, I initally thought it was just a late 40th celebration (they didn’t do much to celebrate the 40th in November so I thought this was their way of making up). Write a continuation forum convo asking if there is still leftover presentation from the Magnetic era
nwtv2003 7 January 2023 9:05am
Yes, it seems like a drastic change from the Magnetic era theme. Curious if anyone has spotted any leftovers from that era in the current broadcasts or if they’ve completely overhauled everything?

Brekkie 7 January 2023 9:20am
I did catch some transitional elements that seem reminiscent of the Magnetic theme, especially in some of the lower thirds and background graphics during certain shows. It feels like a blend rather than a complete overhaul in some parts of their broadcasting.

Jez 7 January 2023 10:15am
I thought the same, Brekkie. Also, in some of the promotional material, the animations and the way the graphics move still carry that magnetic pull effect. Looks like they updated it but kept a slight nod to the old theme.

tvmarksouthwest 7 January 2023 11:02am
Would be interesting to see if they gradually phase out those elements or if they intend to keep them as a subtle nod. Does anyone know if any official statement was released about retaining some of the older design cues?

Joe 7 January 2023 11:30am
Haven’t seen any official statements, but it makes sense to transition smoothly rather than a jarring change, especially for a regular viewer base accustomed to the old style. That gradual shift might just be their strategy to modernize while maintaining familiarity.

Dunedin 7 January 2023 12:45pm
Also wondering if this mixing of elements could confuse viewers or if it actually might aid in the transition by not completely alienating the longtime audience. Sometimes a little familiarity goes a long way in accepting new changes.

nwtv2003 7 January 2023 1:15pm
Good points about easing the transition. It’s a delicate balance, maintaining brand identity while also staying fresh and relevant. Would love to see some behind-the-scenes on their branding decisions. Does anyone have more insights or additional sources where we can learn more about the design philosophy behind these updates?
Write a convo thinking it was odd how the Xmas idents followed the new look, but initially launched with the outgoing logo
tvmarksouthwest 7 January 2023 2:00pm
I found it quite odd that the Christmas idents started with the old ‘S4/C’ logo from the Magnetic era before swiftly transitioning to the new/old ‘S4C~’ logo. Almost as if there was a last-minute change in direction or maybe an indecision at the branding level?

Brekkie 7 January 2023 2:10pm
Yes, it did seem a bit disjointed. Launching with one logo and then switching to another midway through the season doesn’t really scream ‘well-planned transition’. Makes you wonder if there were differing opinions internally about which direction to take.

Jez 7 January 2023 2:25pm
That switch could have been a trial to gauge viewer reaction to the reintroduction of the ‘S4C~’ logo. Maybe they wanted to test the waters with the old logo during a high-viewership period like Christmas to see how it was received?

nwtv2003 7 January 2023 2:40pm
That’s a plausible theory, Jez. Christmas does pull in more varied demographics, so it’s a prime time for such experiments. However, it does interrupt the brand consistency, which can be quite critical during major seasonal broadcasts.

Joe 7 January 2023 3:05pm
Absolutely, maintaining brand consistency is key, especially during the holiday season when more people are tuning in. It’s a pivotal time for branding. The mixed signals from the logo swap could potentially confuse viewers or dilute the brand message.

Dunedin 7 January 2023 3:30pm
Also, it could potentially be a logistic oversight, where perhaps the marketing materials were already scheduled or printed before the decision to switch back to the ‘S4C~’ logo was fully made. It wouldn’t be the first time something like this has happened in broadcasting.

tvmarksouthwest 7 January 2023 3:50pm
Good point, Dunedin. Operational hiccups like that do happen, especially in large organizations where communication gaps might exist. Regardless, it’s an interesting case study on how television channels manage their visual identity during transitional periods.
Write a convo where a user says it’s cool the Xmas idents followed the new ident theme
Joe 8 January 2023 9:15am
I actually think it’s pretty cool how the Christmas idents followed the theme of the new idents introduced on January 1st. It feels like a nice bridge between the old and the new, giving us a hint of what was to come.

Brekkie 8 January 2023 9:30am
Yeah, I noticed that too! It gave a bit of visual continuity which is sometimes lacking when channels revamp their look. It must have been an intentional move to start transitioning the audience to the new style.

Jez 8 January 2023 10:00am
You’re right, Joe and Brekkie. It’s a clever way to make the shift less jarring. I’m guessing they used the Christmas idents as a soft launch of the new style. It gave viewers a preview, making the official switch less of a surprise.

nwtv2003 8 January 2023 10:20am
Absolutely, and the subtlety of the transition probably made it easier for the viewers to accept the new look by the time it fully took over in January. Subtle changes during high engagement times like Christmas are a smart move.

tvmarksouthwest 8 January 2023 10:45am
It does show a well-thought-out strategy in brand management and viewer engagement. Using festive periods where more families gather and watch together could maximize the impact of the new idents, making them more memorable when fully launched.

Dunedin 8 January 2023 11:00am
Agreed on all points. Also, it serves to keep the brand fresh in the minds of viewers. By the time the new year rolls in, they’re already somewhat familiar with the new theme, making the overall branding feel more cohesive. Clever use of viewer psychology there.
Write a convo where a user asks what exactly the new ident theme is, a user says the new theme is flickering TVs
tvfan123 8 January 2023 12:00pm
Can someone clarify what exactly the new ident theme for S4C is? I’ve missed the details and heard mixed things about the transition.

ScreenJunkie 8 January 2023 12:05pm
The new theme centers around flickering TVs. Essentially, the idents showcase TV sets flickering from one scene to the next with the views on the wall also changing. It’s a dynamic and somewhat nostalgic nod to classic television.

MediaWatcher 8 January 2023 12:10pm
That’s right, ScreenJunkie. The flickering TVs theme seems to play with the concept of transitioning between different worlds or scenarios, which might reflect the variety of content S4C offers. The TVs themselves act as windows to these different scenes.

PixelPerfect 8 January 2023 12:15pm
Thanks for the info! That actually sounds quite intriguing, using the TVs as a portal of sorts. It’s a visually interesting way to hint at the diversity of programming available on S4C, and a clever use of technology as a theme.

tvfan123 8 January 2023 12:20pm
Definitely sounds clever. Thanks for clarifying, everyone! I’ll have to catch these idents live to see how they actually play out on screen. It’s interesting to see a broadcaster creatively embracing technology not just in content, but in presentation too.
Write a convo where a user says the Xmas ident made a great use of the new TV style pres
MediaFan88 9 January 2023 10:00am
I thought the Christmas ident made excellent use of the new TV style presentation. It provided a seamless transition into the festive season while introducing the fresh visual theme. Really set the mood and tied everything together nicely!

VisualVibe 9 January 2023 10:05am
Absolutely, MediaFan88! The Christmas ident using the flickering TV theme felt both nostalgic and modern at the same time. It was a clever way to integrate the new look and give viewers a taste of what’s to come. Plus, it made the transition feel more special and not just a regular seasonal switch.

PixelEnthusiast 9 January 2023 10:10am
That’s a great point! Using the TV flicker effect added a dynamic element to the festive broadcasts. It was a visually engaging way to draw viewers in and made the content feel fresh and exciting. It’s impressive how they used the concept consistently without it feeling overdone.

Cinephile101 9 January 2023 10:15am
Yes, and it also helped that the content changed with each flicker, offering glimpses into different holiday scenarios. It created a vivid, multi-faceted showcase of what S4C offers during the holiday season. Very smart and effective use of the design concept.

tvfan123 9 January 2023 10:20am
Definitely a fan of how they executed that. It’s not easy to balance new branding with traditional holiday elements, but S4C managed to pull it off brilliantly. The flickering TV set up created anticipation of what’s next, perfect for keeping viewers engaged during the festive break.
Write a convo asking what logo was used on the Christmas highlights PDF released on 21 November
tvbuff123 10 January 2023 8:30am
Quick question for those who might have seen it—does anyone know which logo was used on the Christmas highlights PDF that S4C released on 21 November? Was it the old Magnetic logo or the newly reintroduced ‘S4C~’ logo?

LogoWatcher 10 January 2023 8:35am
I actually checked that PDF when it first came out. They used the ‘S4/C’ logo from the Magnetic era. It seemed a bit out of sync since they switched to the ‘S4C~’ logo during the festive season. Not sure why there was that inconsistency.

PresFanatic 10 January 2023 8:40am
That’s interesting, LogoWatcher. It sounds like perhaps the materials were prepared and distributed before the decision to switch back to the ‘S4C~’ logo was fully implemented across all platforms. Marketing materials like PDFs are often prepped well in advance.
Write a convo where a user asks if the lines are still used for schools programmes and off air