Following the successful launch of the exciting and dynamic television channel Dave, whose rapidly rising audience share is wholly reliant on endless Top Gear repeats, the bosses of UKTV are at it again.
Having signed the incredibly talented Richard and Judy (Alan Partridge and Lynn) to the network, they have decided the change the name of one of their other channels to Watch. According to the Guardian, David Abraham, the boss of UKTV, says the reason for this is to ensure the channel does
like it says on the tin.
Forgive me for pointing out the effing obvious, but couldn’t the same style-over-substance branding crackpotism be applied to any TV channel, since, in essence, all television is “watched”? Radio 4 has so far resisted the temptation to change its name to Listen but it can, surely, only be a matter of time.
At the same time as Watch hits the airwaves, UKTV is launching Alibi (the new name for UKTV Drama) and GOLD (the new name for UKTV Gold and supposedly an acronym standing for “Go On Laugh Daily”. Hnnnggh). UKTV Food is the obvious candidate for similar treatment in the future. But which name will they opt for? Scotch Egg? Spam Fritter? Or perhaps that perennial British favourite Tikka Masala Pot Noodle? We may never know.
Meanwhile, UKTV’s own in-house branding department is to be renamed Bollocks – to ensure it does what it says on the tin, natch.
The Conversation {2 comments}
There’s a strange phenomenon in media land where a small group of about 42 individuals are responsible for all received wisdom when it comes to media, PR, internet, branding and marketing, irrespective of whether it makes any sense.
These people are also responsible for squashing the end titles of programmes so that continuity people can shout all over them; the belief that any news aimed at people younger than 35 needs a soundtrack; and the conviction that anyone who has ever watched an advert is fundamentally brainless.
…And also the concept of sensationalist programme titles that grab the attention of idiots on the EPG.
Leave Your Own Comment
You can follow any responses to this entry via its RSS comments feed. You can also leave a trackback if you want.