TV Logos Of Ireland
Part 3 - New Channels, New Emblems - by Eamonn Hanratty
Spotlight
When it was announced in early-1988 that RTÉ Two was to be replaced by a new structure, the search began for a new name, and of course, a new channel emblem. The name chosen for the re-brand was 'Network 2'. It came on air, complete with a new programme schedule and format, on October 03 1988.
Above: first, fade into the smooth stone background, then the word 'NETWORK' fades in five times, one by one. With the arrival of the fourth 'NETWORK', quickly come the three brushstrokes in red, green and blue.
This masterwork - by RTÉ designer Hilliard Hayden - introduced the new successor channel to the original RTÉ Two [1978 - 1988]. The identification was further enhanced whenever Irish-language programmes were introduced by the announcer: shortly after the '2' appeared, the word 'NETWORK' quickly faded out. This enhanced ident was used mainly just before An Nuacht.
Above: September 1989 saw another new identification for RTÉ One - the first of two in which RTÉ designers Hilliard Hayden, Fióna Burke and Alan Pleass were all involved. Here we see the 1989 RTÉ One ident step-by-step.
Above: here we see a screenshot of the identification's equivalent still slide.
In 1990, a competition was organised by RTÉ for designers to create a new channel logo for the first TV channel. The standards were found be so high that no firm decision was taken. However, at the start of the autumn/winter programme season in September 1993, a new animated ident saw the stone of the burial mound at Newgrange in Co. Meath in the background, and sailing gently over it was, at long last, the Saint Brigid's Cross, in its original Édith Cusack design, floating across from the left-hand side. The silver lettering 'RTE' in a Serif type would then appear, before zooming back to sit beneath a large Serif numeral '1'.
Above: the 'Newgrange' ident introduced in 1993.
This identification was in service up until September 1995, when the multi-award-winning graphic artist Neasa Hardiman of RTÉ Design created a clean and striking piece of modern design [below], which is especially effective for on-screen branding - an essential pre-requisite in modern broadcasting. The uncluttered image, shown in its full colour version on a white background, has the lettering in dark blue, with the distinctive síneadh fada mark denoting the long vowel in traditional green, located above the letter 'E'.
Above: the corporate logo introduced in 1995.
As a result, ever since 1995, the initials for Radio Telefís Éireann are always printed as they should be - 'RTÉ'. Even on its stationery, the original Édith Cusack design for the Saint Brigid's Cross is also used - albeit subtly - as part of the public broadcaster's own house style.
As well as this masterpiece of on-screen branding, Neasa, along with Hilliard Hayden, Alan Pleass and Fióna Burke, created distinctive identifications for the two television networks which were both spectacularly animated on-screen. The RTÉ One ident (note the move from the numeric '1') started briefly in the mist with a revolving Saint Brigid's Cross, before we see the now familiar logotype, followed by the appearance of the word 'ONE'.
As well as this masterpiece of on-screen branding, Neasa, along with Hilliard Hayden, Alan Pleass and Fióna Burke, created distinctive identifications for the two television networks which were both spectacularly animated on-screen. The RTÉ One ident (note the move from the numeric '1') started briefly in the mist with a revolving Saint Brigid's Cross, before we see the now familiar logotype, followed by the appearance of the word 'ONE'.
Above: the RTÉ One ident introduced in September 1995.
We now see how the 1995 identification of Network 2 was computer-animated - again to spectacular effect. There were four elemental versions - 'Earth', 'Fire', 'Air', and 'Water'.
Above: the form-up of each of the Network 2 idents.
Note the use in the bottom left corner of the new RTÉ logo, signifying that the channel is here to complement RTÉ One - which the old RTÉ Two [1978 - 1988] sadly failed to do during its tenure.
These Network 2 identification symbols were in service between September 1995 and November 1997, when a brand new logo design emerged.
1996 saw the long-awaited final approval from the Irish Government for the establishment of the country's new national Irish-language service. On the date of 'Oíche Shamhna' which most people know as Hallowe'en [October 31] - a day still revered spiritually in the Celtic lands - Teilifís na Gaeilge came on air for the first time. The then President of Ireland, Máire Nic Róibín (Mary Robinson), officially declared the new network open.
These days, most of the channel's Irish-language programming carries on-screen English subtitles, with additional English-language output providing even further choice and perspective for the viewers.
These Network 2 identification symbols were in service between September 1995 and November 1997, when a brand new logo design emerged.
1996 saw the long-awaited final approval from the Irish Government for the establishment of the country's new national Irish-language service. On the date of 'Oíche Shamhna' which most people know as Hallowe'en [October 31] - a day still revered spiritually in the Celtic lands - Teilifís na Gaeilge came on air for the first time. The then President of Ireland, Máire Nic Róibín (Mary Robinson), officially declared the new network open.
These days, most of the channel's Irish-language programming carries on-screen English subtitles, with additional English-language output providing even further choice and perspective for the viewers.
Above: the lighthouse which 'blinked' the station logo of T na G on to the screen, from launch in 1996 up until September 1999 when it was re-named and the channel re-launched. The logo was designed by Dublin company Dynamo Teoranta.
That's almost a year before another new national network took to the airwaves, with its animated logo, also designed by Dublin company Dynamo Teoranta. After ten years of trying, and under regulation by the then IRTC (now known as the BCI (Broadcasting Council of Ireland)), the TV Three Television Network officially opened on September 20 1998, from its headquarters at Ballymount in Dublin.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern threw the switch that kicked off the on-screen countdown to the opening day's programmes. The main TV Room website has more pictures from the launch of TV Three, along with the original and current station identification symbols, all of them featuring the distinctive '3' station logo [below]. Also featured is the award-winning 'Three is a magic number' animation which can still be seen at the start and end of the broadcasting day. The music from this short sequence is a remix of the Bob Dorough song from the famous American Schoolhouse Rock TV project album Multiplication Rock, from 1973.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern threw the switch that kicked off the on-screen countdown to the opening day's programmes. The main TV Room website has more pictures from the launch of TV Three, along with the original and current station identification symbols, all of them featuring the distinctive '3' station logo [below]. Also featured is the award-winning 'Three is a magic number' animation which can still be seen at the start and end of the broadcasting day. The music from this short sequence is a remix of the Bob Dorough song from the famous American Schoolhouse Rock TV project album Multiplication Rock, from 1973.
Above: the station logo of TV Three - Ireland's first, and thus far, only national, independent, commercial television network - on air since September 1998. Logo designed by Dynamo Teoranta, Dublin.
Above: one example of the many Network 2 state-of-the-art animations featuring the new 'N2' logo, introduced in late-1997. You can see all of the others on the main TV Room website. Known officially since September 2003 as 'RTÉ Network 2', the channel was firmly re-positioned to become a youth-orientated channel in 1997. Although its logo was designed in-house, its identification animations from this period were provided by outside companies.
Above: in 1998, it was all change again for RTÉ One, with a new lettering for the "ONE" on the premier network.
In September 1999, the public service T na G was re-launched, with a new name - TG 4 - re-positioning it as the Republic's fourth national television network, alongside the two other public networks - RTÉ One and Network 2 - and the fully-commercial and independent TV Three.
A USEFUL NOTE: as is the case with most other European countries, public service broadcasting in Ireland is funded by an annual television licence fee, supplemented by advertising.
A USEFUL NOTE: as is the case with most other European countries, public service broadcasting in Ireland is funded by an annual television licence fee, supplemented by advertising.
Above: an example from the start-of-day sequence from T na G (later TG 4), Ireland's national public service, Irish-speaking television network, which also broadcasts an additional range of public service programming in English.
Most of the Irish-language programme output on TG 4 is shown again with on-screen English subtitles, thus ensuring the network reaches the biggest possible audience in Ireland. Its slogan 'Súil Eile' tells the viewer that on TG 4 there's always something different and original to enjoy.
Above: one of the many TG 4 idents.
Next we have a prime example of one of the many identifications in use on the main public service network, RTÉ One, between 2003 and 2006 - all of them featuring the corporate RTÉ logo, but this time with the word 'ONE' to the right, directly beside it in a different typeface (an adjusted Futura Medium).
Above: this example features the very heart of Ireland's capital city, at the O'Connell Bridge in Dublin, facing into the main shopping thoroughfare of O'Connell Street and the gleaming new Dublin Spire - or, as Dubliners call it, 'the Stiletto in the Ghetto'. Other idents in this range have been designed by and large to reflect the very best of the old, traditional Ireland against the new, modern, hi-tech Ireland in this new millennium.
Before we move on, a brief word about the station bugs – also known as Digitally Originated Graphics (DOGs for short). These on-screen devices are designed to clearly position the four Irish television networks in a constantly changing broadcasting environment and to make viewers aware of which channel they are tuned into. Ever since it launched on air in September 1998, TV Three became the first Irish network to use an on-screen DOG. The DOG sits proudly in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen for most of its normal programming, with the exception of news, sport and of course the life-giving commercial breaks. The relaunched and repositioned TG 4 adopted a similar practice in 1999, but with its translucent bug sitting at the top right-hand corner of the screen. Since September 2003, albeit somewhat less translucent, the two RTÉ channels now also have their own prominent station bugs - initially in the top left-hand corner of the screen, but since November 2006, the top right-hand corner. With their introduction, we also saw a slight amendment in name for the second channel - 'Network 2' became 'RTÉ Network 2'. This proved to be a most unpopular move (and quite a mouthful!) - with both broadcaster and audience alike - prompting a further change of name and logo (as you will discover by reading on). The RTÉ DOGs remain on screen for all regular programming, with the exception of news/nuacht programmes.
In October 2004, it was a been a case of 'back to the future' for what was RTÉ Network 2.
As a result of a major review which the public broadcaster RTÉ made into their second channel - which had been performing rather poorly with its audience, up against not just the other three national networks in Ireland but also increased multi-channel competition, especially from the United Kingdom - the word 'Network' was dropped from the channel name in October 2004, thus reverting it to the historic RTÉ Two title (note the word 'Two' instead of the number). New channel idents were also introduced, instilling an increased sense of national, Irish identity. In four different versions, a different aspect of Irish life is cleverly caricatured in crafty animation, before melting into an interior scene where shades of green, white and orange – those of the Republic of Ireland’s national flag – predominate, with the centre screen superimposition of the new 'RTE TWO' logotype. The new range of idents were designed and devised in-house by Derek Ryan of RTÉ Design. It marks a new, further step in the evolutionary heritage which began in the early-1960s and which has had a proud and distinguished history down through the decades.
In October 2004, it was a been a case of 'back to the future' for what was RTÉ Network 2.
As a result of a major review which the public broadcaster RTÉ made into their second channel - which had been performing rather poorly with its audience, up against not just the other three national networks in Ireland but also increased multi-channel competition, especially from the United Kingdom - the word 'Network' was dropped from the channel name in October 2004, thus reverting it to the historic RTÉ Two title (note the word 'Two' instead of the number). New channel idents were also introduced, instilling an increased sense of national, Irish identity. In four different versions, a different aspect of Irish life is cleverly caricatured in crafty animation, before melting into an interior scene where shades of green, white and orange – those of the Republic of Ireland’s national flag – predominate, with the centre screen superimposition of the new 'RTE TWO' logotype. The new range of idents were designed and devised in-house by Derek Ryan of RTÉ Design. It marks a new, further step in the evolutionary heritage which began in the early-1960s and which has had a proud and distinguished history down through the decades.
Above: one of the new RTÉ Two idents.
So that's the story to date on how Ireland's national television logos came about.
But we're not yet through with our story! In our concluding chapter, we will focus on the woman who was the main inspiration for all the classic RTÉ logos - Saint Brigid - and about how her famous cross first came to be an icon of broadcasting, as well as being a strong icon of faith and belief.
But we're not yet through with our story! In our concluding chapter, we will focus on the woman who was the main inspiration for all the classic RTÉ logos - Saint Brigid - and about how her famous cross first came to be an icon of broadcasting, as well as being a strong icon of faith and belief.
