1974 - September 1981
Idents/Clocks [1]
In late-December 1974, the world got brighter, when BBC One introduced a new colour scheme to its familiar globe ident device. The bold futura 'BBC 1' logo that had been appearing in promotional trails for some time, had now been adopted as the logo on the channel ident.
Programme holding captions remained unchanged initially. However, the design had been updated by c. 1976; the futura 'BBC 1' logo was nowhere to be seen though; the captions featured striped 'BBC 1' lettering. This would remain the design for BBC One programme holding captions until early-1985.
It is our understanding that the English regions and National regions did not update their idents initially. However, locally-branded versions of the orange/blue/white Network ident were gradually phased in c. 1976.
Programme holding captions remained unchanged initially. However, the design had been updated by c. 1976; the futura 'BBC 1' logo was nowhere to be seen though; the captions featured striped 'BBC 1' lettering. This would remain the design for BBC One programme holding captions until early-1985.
It is our understanding that the English regions and National regions did not update their idents initially. However, locally-branded versions of the orange/blue/white Network ident were gradually phased in c. 1976.
Above: BBC One ident. The example shown here is from 1975.
The ident introduced in late-1974 used the same mechanical globe device as before; the colour changes were applied electronically; the old channel logo was removed from the mechanical model and replaced with the new futura lettering. A new globe model was brought in c. 1978; however, apart from some very minor modifications, the ident looked the same, more or less.
Above: BBC One ident. The mechanical device introduced c. 1978.
Above: BBC One clock [1].
Above: BBC One clock [2].
Above: the BBC One symbol in the regions [1].
Above: the BBC One symbol in the regions [2].
Above: the BBC One symbol in the regions [3].
Above: the BBC One symbol in the regions [4].
Above: the BBC One clock in the regions [1].
Above: the BBC One clock in the regions [2]. Not quite sure why the BBC Scotland clock is coloured in this way.
Above: the BBC One clock in the regions [3].
Above: BBC One clock - Schools & Colleges [1975 - 1978]. The BBC One logo was displayed in orange during the early-morning 'Schools and Colleges' strand. However, this practice ceased in autumn 1978; the standard BBC One clock with white logo was used from this point.
Above: BBC One ident - Schools & Colleges [1975 - 1978]. This mechanical device produced the effect of animating lines. It was broadcast live in the sixty seconds leading up to the next programme. This symbol replaced the globe device during the 'Schools and Colleges' strand.
Above: BBC One ident - Schools & Colleges [1978 - 1979].
Around autumn 1978, the schools countdown 'dots' made their first appearance on BBC One; the 'BBC 1' logo also changed to white for the 'Schools and Colleges' strand. The 'Schools and Colleges' logo in the centre of the countdown device would animate before resolving near the end of the countdown (this effect was produced by a mechanical device). The 'dots' appeared one minute before the next programme was due to start.
In 1978, when the 'dots' replaced the diamond, 'BBC Scotland' became 'BBC 1 Scotland'. For the next three years or so, local schools intervals followed the same basic style as Network, except for the same old schools clock instead of the dots during the one minute countdown (although, obviously, the logo had been modified).
In 1978, when the 'dots' replaced the diamond, 'BBC Scotland' became 'BBC 1 Scotland'. For the next three years or so, local schools intervals followed the same basic style as Network, except for the same old schools clock instead of the dots during the one minute countdown (although, obviously, the logo had been modified).
Above: BBC One ident - Schools & Colleges [1979 - 1981]. From late-1979, the 'Schools and Colleges' logo remained static; the mechanical device that caused this to animate is thought to have broken down and apparently was never repaired.
Above: BBC Northern Ireland ident - Schools & Colleges [1976 - 1981]. BBC Northern Ireland used this clock/countdown device in the sixty seconds before local schools programming.
