Yes, GMG regions and Border also introduced those in October 1998, about 11 months before the hearts. The GMG regions and Border also used the hearts breakbumper from October 1998, whereas the UNM regions kept their regional ones until the hearts idents arrived, when they edited regional versions. Carlton, Central & Westcountry didn't initially use any of the hearts package till Carlton brought the star idents in for all the regions in September 1999, when they started using the hearts trailers and breakbumper. Personally, I'm surprised they didn't go for special Carlton ones, considering how different the idents were. Not sure what Channel were doing at the time and it's hard to find continuity on Youtube, especially as 'Channel TV' aren't good search words, but Scottish, Grampian and UTV never implemented any of the hearts look.
I forgot to ask Did Granada pay for this?
No. Pretty sure it was an ITV Network Centre thing and so all ITV companies will have indirectly paid for it, as the idea was that all stations would use the look. Anyway, UNM, Border and Channel used aspects of the hearts presentation from Day One.
In some ways, I feel the move to Leeds would've been an appropriate time to give Granada a new ident that better suited YTV's style but I suppose they wanted as few people to notice any change as possible.
Indeed, although there is still debate as when Granada moved transmission to Leeds, there should have been a new generic ident package for ITV at that time in 1998, but as known the look was never shown and it wasn't until November 1999 that the hearts debuted and announcements were more or less standardized across Granada/Yorkshire/Tyne Tees.
If you fast forward this clip to the Granada ident and turn your headphones up you can hear a half seconds worth of the revolving chevron music before the announcer speaks....
Indeed, although there is still debate as when Granada moved transmission to Leeds, there should have been a new generic ident package for ITV at that time in 1998, but as known the look was never shown and it wasn't until November 1999 that the hearts debuted and announcements were more or less standardized across Granada/Yorkshire/Tyne Tees.
It does seem that the transfer was complete by October 1998 but I've heared a theory that the transmission may have moved earlier in 1998, around Spring or early Summer but that the Manchester-based continuity announcers stayed for a few months longer. I guess if anyone had Colin Weston's personal number, it'd be a lot easier to find out.
Indeed, although there is still debate as when Granada moved transmission to Leeds, there should have been a new generic ident package for ITV at that time in 1998, but as known the look was never shown and it wasn't until November 1999 that the hearts debuted and announcements were more or less standardized across Granada/Yorkshire/Tyne Tees.
It does seem that the transfer was complete by October 1998 but I've heared a theory that the transmission may have moved earlier in 1998, around Spring or early Summer but that the Manchester-based continuity announcers stayed for a few months longer. I guess if anyone had Colin Weston's personal number, it'd be a lot easier to find out.
Colin Weston's took redundancy I believe because he never wanted to move so when was his last day?
Indeed, although there is still debate as when Granada moved transmission to Leeds, there should have been a new generic ident package for ITV at that time in 1998, but as known the look was never shown and it wasn't until November 1999 that the hearts debuted and announcements were more or less standardized across Granada/Yorkshire/Tyne Tees.
It does seem that the transfer was complete by October 1998 but I've heared a theory that the transmission may have moved earlier in 1998, around Spring or early Summer but that the Manchester-based continuity announcers stayed for a few months longer. I guess if anyone had Colin Weston's personal number, it'd be a lot easier to find out.
Colin Weston's took redundancy I believe because he never wanted to move so when was his last day?
Such a shame - has anyone had an update on what he is up to these days ?
Such a shame - has anyone had an update on what he is up to these days ?
Up until a couple of years ago he had a slot on the community based North Manchester Radio, aside that he's been quiet since he left Granada, although here's an interview he did with Transdiffusion at least ten or eleven years ago now...
Indeed, although there is still debate as when Granada moved transmission to Leeds, there should have been a new generic ident package for ITV at that time in 1998, but as known the look was never shown and it wasn't until November 1999 that the hearts debuted and announcements were more or less standardized across Granada/Yorkshire/Tyne Tees.
It does seem that the transfer was complete by October 1998 but I've heared a theory that the transmission may have moved earlier in 1998, around Spring or early Summer but that the Manchester-based continuity announcers stayed for a few months longer. I guess if anyone had Colin Weston's personal number, it'd be a lot easier to find out.
Colin Weston's took redundancy I believe because he never wanted to move so when was his last day?
Such a shame - has anyone had an update on what he is up to these days ?
:-(
A former member
Granada
* Still: 1970
* Computer STill: 1984
* GOLD Still: 1987
* Silver Still: 1988
* moving ident with IBA muisc: 1989 - April 1990
* White ident with blue box ‘Stripe’ : April 1990, it was disused locally by October 1991
* Updated ‘Stripe’ ident: October 1991 - Spring 1994
* FLAGS: Spring 1994 - Dec 1994
* Blue backgroud: Monday 2nd January 1995, 9.25am - 1999 ( after Sept 1996 used mainly for news and important progmrammes)
* weird idents: September 1996, the rest were gradually added between then and 1998.
* hearts Nov 8th 1999 - Oct. 28th 2002
The updated stripe with the grey background was introduced in October 1991 as said, but the one that replaced it, with the bigger G and blue rectangle was in use by April 1992, the flags were never idents, they were more like bumpers that appeared all over the show in 1994.
I'm sure the flags were sometimes used as idents, though they never replaced the proper ident of the time. Also, I seem to remember that the music to the 1995 ident was used beforehand in some promotions. Certainly, I was already aquainted with the music when the ident debuted.
Here's a list of the 'weird' idents that were in use from 1995-1999 from memory...
Rocket - A rocket with a G Arrow-shaped airlock which closes shut. The rocket takes off and leaves scorch marks in the shape of a G Arrow. Was general use.
Train - A model train track shaped like a G Arrow with a toy train on it pulling into a station. Was general use.
Shower - A woman has a shower and a G Arrow appears as some sort of soap block on the wall. Generally used in the mornings, often the first junction after handover from GMTV.
Frost - A person, always looked like he was wearing ski wear, rips something off the camera which makes a G Arrow mark in the frost/condensation. Often used in the daytime. Seemed to be used all year round despite the cold theme.
Glass - Orange glass G Arrows on sticks. Seemed to be used before cultural/high brow programmes. Not very common.
Art - Different pieces of art in a gallery when lined up at an angle make a diagonal G Arrow. Central had a similar ident, if I recall correctly, which I assume Granada copied. Was used before art/cultural programmes and was quite rare.
Fish - A goldfish spits a bubble with a G Arrow in it which rises to the surface, where the G Arrow floats on the waves. General use but most commonly seen in the daytime, particularly afternoons.
Eye - Woman holding a remote control, as the camera zooms into one of her eyes which contains a G Arrow. Quite creepy. Used in the daytime. Don't much remember it being used in the latter years. Probably gave children nightmares.
Football - A G Arrow playing keep ups with a ball in front of a goal. Usually used for sport programmes, most commonly Granada Soccer Night.
Formula 1 - A Forumula 1 car speeds away leaving lots of tiny gold G Arrows as exhaust on the tarmac. Used before Forumula 1 coverage.
Sketch - A canvass with a G Arrow drawn with crayons. Used before childrens' programmes, most notably the junction leading into CITY.
I think that's all of them. When each came into use, I haven't a clue. I think most of them arrived together in 1996. It was a good period for Granada presentation before continuity moved to Leeds.
I totally forgot about the soap ident there Mr Kite, I can add one more to the list, there was one that was always used before The Bill, with a flashing blue light and a fingerprint revealing the G arrow, but from what I remember it was added later on. From memory rocket, football, frost, train and goldfish were introduced in autumn 1996.
