The BBC says that it has listened to complaints about its use of Digital Oncreen Graphics (DOGs) and will remove them from films and dramas screening on its hi-def channel.
‘I hadn't anticipated that all the emotion we try to concentrate through the HD production process to give you, our audience, the most intense viewing experience we can would however coalesce around the on-screen channel marker,’ admits Danielle Nagler, Head of HDTV for BBC Vision .
On the issue, which has been a bone of contention with viewers for years, Nagler says she’s ‘decided to go for a halfway house.’
‘From this weekend the BBC HD DOG will be removed from all films shown on the channel and the majority of the drama content. For other programming, we are turning down the DOG to the lowest level that we can while allowing it to remain visible,’ she says.
‘I'm aiming to make sure that at least some of the programming which really showcases HD quality and experience is DOG-free. Hopefully, the irritation factor on the rest is reduced, while retaining the channel branding across much of the output for the benefit of those who find it valuable. I am not sure that this is the final position on the subject, but I do want to give this arrangement a reasonable period of time to bed down before taking a view on whether there is any further adjustment to be made.’
The makers of E4’s zombie satire Dead Set have requested that all channel branding be removed from the show during its week-long run. For more click here.
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In the latest Home Cinema Choice:
DOGs
Alan Smithee - 27 October 2008 - 2:36pmSo, the arrogant BBC are to relent on DOGs on its HD channel? Well, that's a start, though that particular logo is, at least, a 'soft' one.
The ones that they really should be addressing are the 'hard' ones that are displayed on their other channels, which 'burn holes' in a viewer's expensive plasma screen.
How dumb and shortsighted can the BBC be, if they find it surprising that people are irritated by a plethora of gaudy on screen graphics.
On-screen logos
Alan Smithee - 29 October 2008 - 3:08amThe key phrase here that makes me mad is 'while retaining the channel branding across much of the output for the benefit of those who find it valuable'.
Name one person who 'finds it valuable'. Such silly statements show the disconnect between programme makers and ordinary viewers.
Why not have some honesty here? If programme makers came out and said that they like the on-screen channel logos because:
1. It advertises their channel
2. That they assume their viewers are too stupid to remember what channel they are watching
...that, whilst insulting, would at least be honest. But to tell us we find it 'valuable'. Gimme a break!