BBC News titles 1998-1999

Some clips from late on in the virtual 'cut glass' era of BBC News in 1998, with theme tunes composed by George Fenton, followed by clips from the early days of the radical 'drums and beeps' revamp in May 1999, with music by David Lowe.
More on BBC News presentation at Des and Mick - TV & Radio: desandmicktv.w...

[@aldomir]

0:37 the best one in my opinion I'd love it if they brought it back

[@jacksugden8190]

All very good

[@betacamsx-dallevhsallehdv11601]

Indeed. Proper for the real BBC News

[@jacksugden8190]

We have since lost George and Peter as newsreaders

[@johnking5174]

1:30 - Whoops, someone forgot to light one of the panels behind the presenter and it was quickly switched on here

[@jacksugden8190]

John King - interesting observation.

[@johnking5174]

0:12 - I have always noticed the change in the lighting when they moved out of N2 in 1998 and into the BBC News Centre. You can see the difference in this clip compared to the Six O'Clock News from a year before in 1997.

[@jacksugden8190]

John King - I noticed that right away, I used to go into N2 well over 21 years ago, N1 next door had better lighting.

[@adamwithey4746]

I like my BBC NEWS titles from 1999-2004. Nice music.

[@jacksugden8190]

Adam Withey - mine was 1993-1999

[@adamwithey4746]

Jack Sugden brilliant. George Fenton composed it.

[@k2playpedroariel481]

@@adamwithey4746 Yes, but the 1999-2003 themes were nice too, David Lowe did a great job in composing them to the new and modern era of BBC News! But I agree with you, the 1989-1993 and 1993-1999 themes are the best of all news themes from the BBC. It makes you feel that you are watching more like american news than british news! George Fenton was one HELL of a composer and orchestrator, he was behind in so many BBC themes of the 80s and 90s!

[@adamwithey4746]

@@k2playpedroariel481 correct

[@betacamsx-dallevhsallehdv11601]

​@@k2playpedroariel481 Indeed. Top of all: the 9 O'Clock NEWS theme

[@chr2810gt]

I remember this one when I first came over the UK 25 years ago. I remember watching the old logo when watching the Death of Diana/funeral footage in my home country and then watching this presentation here. Good times indeed. Much better than the garbage they have now at the BBC.

[@johnking5174]

God the virtual set was showing its age and limitations in 1998/1999 - the clear copy and paste in section in the opening titles is really seen here when they moved to the news centre, compared to when they used N2.

[@sporkfindus4777]

I think it looked beautiful

[@pidlive]

Bring back the George Fenton theme PLEASE, BBC.

[@jacksugden8190]

PidLive - can’t see it now after so many years after 1999.

[@stephenemmett9753]

That theme George Fenton did makes more sense in the wake of, let's say, terrorist attacks.

[@adamwithey4746]

On Monday 15th July 2019, bbc news makes a new look. Now in reith font! For the BBC Regional services, we like the new titles and new music.

[@johnking5174]

The new sets though at BBC Broadcasting House remains unchanged though. They have kept the 2013 sets.

[@adamwithey4746]

@@johnking5174 Good, that is nice.

[@johnking5174]

@@adamwithey4746 Do you like the current sets or do you think a refresh is needed there too?

[@adamwithey4746]

@@johnking5174 both.

[@jacksugden8190]

Adam Withey - the change made no impression on me, although using that Reith meant not paying out on a licence to use other types of lettering, this reduced the burden on the budget and licence fee payers.

[@adamwithey4746]

You have got 500 subscribers! (Tuesday 14th May 2019)

[@adamwithey4746]

To skip the bbc regional services output, from spotlight, south east today, newsroom South East and East Midlands today, click at: 03:11.

[@Joyousmicor]

Times of Studio N6, since N1 and N2 became TC10 and TC11

[@danegel]

0:03 3:45 That escalated quickly

[@MQsCues]

I was going to say, very poignant to have those two clips from so close to each other in time... but yes, you could also put it like that. Still very, very sad...

[@jacksugden8190]

Up to 1:37 were composed by George Fenton.

[@myaoeo]

after then, a new music theme age from David Lowe

[@jacksugden8190]

@@myaoeo Correct

[@betacamsx-dallevhsallehdv11601]

The best ever theme for BBC news, especially the 9 o'clock one

[@Greenpoloboy3]

The first 2 are too good for TV nowadays. So dramatic. The effects are better in the 2nd but the music in the 1st is ace!!

[@VFMTVTRUYENHINHTHETHAOVIETNAM]

3:05

[@johnking5174]

1:12 - I think my argument about the appalling "copy and paste" approach is seen perfectly here in this little segment. Just look at the proportions and it sticks out a mile. I am glad 1999 saw the change to a real set.

[@jacksugden8190]

John King - not copy and paste as such onto those three 1 meter panels, that was the live image feed onto a template on the Virtigo computer which distorted the image.

[@armandoenriquez1104]

Four episodes were virtual and three episodes are both.

[@Joyousmicor]

BBC News at Nine was recorded at 21st May 1999

[@adamwithey4746]

Yes.

[@adamwithey4746]

You have got 4,200 views! (Monday 1st April 2019)

[@KNIGH7]

Lol

[@adamwithey4746]

@@KNIGH7 Yeah.

[@k2playpedroariel481]

Who cares?

[@adamwithey4746]

While we’ve been on air, you may have well heard that the BBC Regional services will no longer broadcasts for our breakfast bulletins. We’ve been watching this nearly four decades. It’s according to our daily mail website. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8159271/amp/BBC-local-news-Breakfast-bulletins-axed-Monday

[@adamwithey4746]

@@peterwilliamskelhorn6675 I know, ask yourselves!

[@elbecko7969]

At one minute fifty five, I stopped watching. I typed that in words, not digits, because I don't want to create a link to it. Everything before that was stellar.

[@adamwithey4746]

You now have 777 subscribers! (Wednesday 2nd September 2020)

[@wesleycracknell1623]

0.01 bbc and c4s ben edwards on the mic for the six

[@wesleycracknell1623]

no it isnt he moved then wasnt think straight

[@wesleycracknell1623]

it sounds like crispin glover annoucing the 6 back then

[@wesleycracknell1623]

1.12 anna ford and the late jill dando at the end

[@15hl]

I think it's Jenny Bond actually

[@wesleycracknell1623]

thoughi it might

[@wesleycracknell1623]

jennie bond not jenny bond

[@15hl]

Yes sorry

[@javierarcadioespinalrodrig2293]

0:06

[@Joyousmicor]

Recorded from London? From Crystal Palace?

[@Ravinder2220]

BBC Television Centre London

[@adamwithey4746]

Ask yourselves, it’s late May. Is Sarah Farmer makes her cringe-making moments to host the weather on BBC SOUTH TODAY?

[@tonycen9607]

1:25 2:59 0:18 0:39 0:48

[@martynbarrett64]

Fiona 😗