BBC One

On-screen identity

BBC One's identity has been symbolised by a globe for most of its existence. In the early 1960s a map of the UK was shown between programmes, but in 1963 the globe first appeared, changing in style and appearance over the next 39 years.

Related Topics:
1960s - 1963

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• From 15 November 1969 it became a 'mirror-globe' in several colours and sizes (a globe in front of a curved mirror which reflected a distorted view of the reverse).
• On 18 February 1985 the COW (Computer Originated World) debuted. This was a computer-animated globe with the land coloured gold and the sea a transparent blue, giving the impression of a glass globe.
• On 16 February 1991, on the same day that BBC2 rebranded, an ethereal crystal-ball-type globe appeared, which was played out on air from laserdisc.
• On 4 October 1997, the revolving aspect disappeared as the globe became a red, orange and yellow globe-patterned hot-air balloon flying around various places in the UK. This was the first BBC1 identity to appear in multiple versions; the balloon was seen floating over numerous British landscapes, and in later variations, superimposed on more distant locations including Sydney (during the 2000 Summer Olympics) and even prehistoric Earth (when Walking with Dinosaurs was broadcast). See BBC balloon.
• On 29 March 2002, the globe finally disappeared from screens to be replaced by the current ident sequences, consisting of people dressed in red and dancing in various styles (see BBC 'Rhythm & Movement' idents).

Instead of the globe, a clock was sometimes displayed (usually before the news). This disappeared along with the balloon in 2002. For schools programmes a countdown clock with one-minute countdown was shown, with music. Various special idents have been used over the years at Christmas.

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