The countdown since 2005 has shown the elements of journalism and production involved in bringing news stories to air (Huw Edwards in April 2008 version).

Excerpt of the 2007 BBC News theme

An excerpt from the 2007 BBC News theme by David Lowe

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An important part of the channel's presentation since launch has been the top of the hour countdown sequence, since there is no presentation system with continuity announcers so the countdown provides a link to the beginning of the next hour. A similar musical device is used on BBC Radio Five Live, and mirrors the pips on BBC Radio 4.

Previous styles have included a series of fictional flags set to music between 1997 and 1999 before the major relaunch, incorporating the new contemporary music composed by David Lowe, and graphics developed by Lambie-Nairn. Various images, originally ivory numbers fully animated against a deep red background, were designed to fit the pace of the channel, and the music soon gained notoriety, and was often satirised and parodied in popular culture, perhaps most famously by comic Bill Bailey who likened the theme music to an "apocalyptic rave". Images of life around the UK were added in replacement later with the same music, together with footage of the newsroom and exterior of Television Centre. The 2003 relaunch saw a small change to this style with less of a metropolitan feel to the footage.

The countdown sequence was radically altered on 28 March 2005 when a new version designed and created by BBC Broadcast and directed by Mark Chaudoir was launched. The full version runs for 60 seconds, though only around 30 seconds are shown on air. The music was revised completely but the biggest change came in the footage used — it now reflects the methods and nature of newsgathering, while a strong emphasis is placed on the BBC logo itself. Satellite dishes are shown transmitting and receiving red "data streams". In production of the countdown sequence, Clive Norman filmed images around the United Kingdom, Richard Jopson in the United States, while BBC News cameramen filmed images from Iraq, Beijing, Shanghai, Africa, as well as areas affected by the 2004 Asian Tsunami and others.

On June 18, 2007, the countdown sequence was altered to put the countdown timer on the right side, with the usual channel BBC News 24 logo. Also, the footage shown is mostly news related, showing the main reporters and presenters such as Huw Edwards during his stay in Iraq or Kate Silverton in London.

The accompanying music was remixed on 16 May 2006 with no change of the visuals. A full three minute version by composer David Lowe was later pasted on the BBC News website and his own.^[26]

An international version of the countdown launched on sister channel BBC World News on 5 September 2005 with added international content and a similar musical accompaniment.

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See also

BBC Portal

• Sky News
• ITV News Channel
• BBC World News

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References

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External links

• BBC News at bbc.co.uk
  • BBC News Channel stream (available to UK & Ireland viewers only)
• TV Newsroom presentation coverage
• MP3 tracks of BBC News music: 1997, 1999 and 2003 - See the David Lowe article for more.
• BBC News at TV Ark