BBC News nostalgia, including BBC World

Some more nostalgic videos:

I remember some not too complimentary posts about Stephen Cole on here (particularly around the time of the 2005 strikes) but I always liked him. A proper old-school type of newscaster.You knew if he appeared you'd be getting a no-nonsense bulletin. A very small touch but love how he calls the main story 'the top story' rather than 'our top story' or 'we begin this hour with'- gives the sense that it's not just a news bulletin, it's THE news so pay attention. The below clip is proper vintage BBC World.


And surprised nobody has yet posted the classic market board. When the market board presentation of all things makes you feel instantly nostalgic you know the presentation was something special:

That music instantly transports me back to simpler times.

I understand 2003 on World isn't regarded as highly as what came before it, but I think the countdown that was used from the relaunch that year is amazing

The absolute winner in terms of BBC World countdowns is this one. So punchy!

I was obsessed with this when it first dropped, still am today.

Some more 2001 World stuff. Love the weather sting!

Absolutely agreed - it has never been bettered, other than the original News 24 countdown. I think they were equally as good as each other and are the gold standard by which to measure all BBC News countdowns.

On the subject of that countdown from 2002, do you recall that the visuals were actually launched in 2001, but with the News 24 countdown music? That arrangement only lasted about 6 months before the theme you can hear in that video was added in April 2002.

My other favourite World countdown was the 10-second one that counted down to an ident. I think I'm right in saying that's why it was ultimately dropped - because it essentially counted down to nothing but an ident into the news. But, it was very cool for a pres fan!

I pretty much lost interest in the BBC News countdowns once they introduced the real life time-lapse footage in 2003. I've always thought they worked best when they were just graphics. They probably tried to make them more 'edgy' and 'immediate' to make a focus group happy, but, for me, they lost something along the way. Plus, the music has never been as good as it was before 2003.

Come to think of it, 2003 was a bad year all round for BBC News presentation: we lost everything that we loved in one year. All the great original David Lowe theme music, the countdowns, the original set designs....all went for a burton in the space of a year.

And nineteen years later earth TV still uses the same music!

Itsrobert, is this what you mean by World using the News 24 music in 2001? You learn something new every day!

I do not recall this on World at all. How odd. I’d always thought it went from the 10 second countdown to the one I’ve posted above.

I’ll probably be lynched for saying this but as much as I like the orginal graphic countdown, my favourite is the 2005, first “reporters” countdown. There’s so much immediacy in the way it is edited and shot - with a slight sepia tone - along with a great version of the music and the introduction of the FPS in the numbers.



The 2013 countdowns are too glossy and pedestrian in comparison.

Again, WORLD tops what News 24 got.

Why did David Lowe always furnish World with much pacier music. There were always more elements to his world music over N24.

Would anyone like to join me on a trip down World Business Report memory lane?







Others will know the timelines better than me, but I believe the order of the titles were 1997-2003, 2003-2007 and 2007-2013. The theme stood the test of time.

That’s not the end of our trip though. Let’s join Lloyd as we go through the keyhole...

The worst countdown has to be the 2008 versions. They didn't even bother to change the visuals. Such a come down after the brilliance of the 2007 countdowns, just like everything else really such as titles, music, graphics, astons etc. The 2010 refresh was a slight improvement but it wasn't until 2013 when the music felt alive again. Now though, after 7 years I find the current countdowns dire beyond belief and as much as they chop and change the reporter shots, it goes without saying they need new music and a new style.