Channel 5 - New Look Feb 11th

Thanks. Must like I like the revised version better.

The first version looks very 'rustic'.

Certainly looks more like a tea stain ring.

I loved everything about the look that Channel 5 launched with.

I'm sure it appeared on at least some early test transmissions around late 96, I remember seeing a screenshot, but can't find it now. Might have been on The TV Room which might be why I can't find it.

I watched some of the launch stuff, and even though it reeks of 1997, it's so fresh and high spirited. You can really tell how aspirational they were. Now they just settle on a loop of 1980s cult movies and benefits documentaries. Even the branding, even though it's arguably far superior to some of the stale rubbish we have to put up with, feels really dumbed down compared to what it used to be. The original set of idents had that "MTV Networks" feel to it, a sense of variety where there were no boundaries instead of following a stiff theme with a shelf life of a loaf of bread. It'd be interesting if something like that comes back given their new owners. I reckon Comedy Central's presentation is pretty spot on and, even though the content knocks me sick, the premise of MTV's look is pretty good too.

The original idents are underrated. Sure, they're not in the BBC Two '2' or Carlton star league but they were fun enough. I was disappointed when they were replaced with celebrities.

Although there was a bit of snobbery about Channel 5 in the early years, things like Hercules and Marshall Law were quite popular in our household. It didn't help that a lot of peoplel couldn't get Channel 5 for some reason. We got it from day one almost perfect from Winter Hill. Not being familiar with transmitters at the time, I didn't understand the hoo hah.

I remember being able to see a grainy image on a portable tv using an indoor aerial that I watched a lot on.
I loved everything from the channel branding, the news (especially having what felt like speedy news updates), even down to the schedule. As we didn't have satellite at the time it seemed to offer something to the other channels that I really enjoyed.

I think we might have been a minority of the population that had no issues, granted it was always poor if you used an indoor aerial, however for our main TV's we had them connected to the outdoor aerial and like you, crystal clear from day one. I remember we tuned in around February 1997, it was exciting when the previews started, obviously you have to remember most of the population didn't have Sky or Cable like us at the time, so it was exciting, where as these channel launches are dull.

We never had problems either, getting our TV from Emley Moor where it there from day one was on the same power as channels 1-4- crystal clear Channel 5 from day 1. Some places near here used Belmont though (which didn't have Channel 5 till several months later, on a different aerial group band and was on much lower power) , so were never able to get clear Channel 5 on analogue.

We got it from Winter Hill and there was always a light sprinkling of snow on Channel 5, even with an outdoor aerial. Not enough to warrant the stuff unwatchable - the content itself did that.

Despite living near the Croydon transmitter, I had horizontal lines across the screen in the early days. It was so bad that when C5 launched on Sky's analogue system, it was the first time I was able to watch properly.