1989 is probably my very first I remember. I was about 4 years old and it would terrify me! 1993 I'm very familiar with as it's the same as the 6 o'clock news. Every weekday evening without fail my father would watch the 6 o'clock news after tea... I wasn't allowed to interrupt him until it was finished! LOL So many memories came flooding back from those two indents. Thank you for sharing.
1989 one is the first one i remember, its probably the best one, along with the 1993 one. They both put you in a heightened state of anxiety, which is what you need for the news.
Good description. The 1989 one is the first I really remember, and when it came on, as a child you knew this was adult time. Something serious was about to happen.
Awesome! 1993 was my favourite! I remember being gutted when they replaced such an elctro tune which actually had a motif, with all those drums and little more than two chords with that beep....beep....beep
88-93 TV Mast ident was for me the best cos it represented all that was good and powerful about the BBC. Its mast receiving news from all corners of the world and then transmitting it back to the masses in an explosion of lightning and a shockwave of cataclysmic radio waves. The little lighning flashes at the end seemed to represent that the BBC was always listening, always poised ready to break important news to the world when it came.
1989 - 1993 is very much the "Sit your ass down and listen, because it's the News" theme. Remember this from my very early childhood, that damned logo gave me nightmares, though. Much nostalgia. Fun fact: The 1993 rebrand was the first to use an entirely CGI-rendered (virtual reality) studio.
The 81-86 titles were quite good I think. Didn't think the 86-89 titles were too bad, but going for the corporate look in the late 80's was surely the pinnacle for BBC News idents and themes.
I remember the 1973 music and watching the good newscasters as they were known then like Peter Woods and Richard Baker. The music gives like a newsroom typewriter/telex machine effect
Growing up in the 80's I prefer the1981 and 1988 tunes. The tunes were so powerful in those days whereas the current ones are soooo wishy washy. At least Sky News has something vaguely powerful still...
Same ones for me except the '89 one was the same theme tune at 6pm and when i heard it i knew it was nearly my bed time. This was in the days when i knew i'd been aloud to stay up really late if i'd seen 'the bill' haha
The 1970s and the 1981 music is most resonant for me. I think I took less notice of the changes after that, but the music since 2001 has been dreadful. I can't wait until they have an overhaul and get shut of it. I'd like to see the 1960s one reappear with a few tweaks.
I find it highly amusing that up until the point when Labour came to power (2000 plus or minus 3 years), their theme was mostly blue. Then, they changed it all to red. I guess that was because it became Blair's / Brown's Broadcast Corporation.
eeek! so much as I was alive for some earlier ones, I only remember from 1989 onwards... which I believe used to come on straight after Casualty on a Saturday!
@nakedmambo "get shut of it"! I haven't heard that phrase for years Thanks! And for me the 60/s early seventies version of the theme was the best, although I dislike none of them. I think using the time countdown pips was a good idea - ties in with BBC radio.
wow that brings so many memory's back from a teenager I remember that BBC news one from 1989 they should of kept it like that I liked that one I don't know why exactlety but it just sounded and looked great at the start of the news why don't the BBc re-do it again make a modern form of it and then put it back on the news then it'll be just like the old days but a bit more modern that's what I recon they should do the BBC myself what do you all think to what I'm saying then folks??. Stephen BSc.
For me i think its time for a new fresh look with a new BBC logo as it hasn't changed since October 1997, a new BBC news ident and theme with the round clock on the BBC one ident before the news starts which the BBC Stopped showing end of March 2002
@DdlyHeadshot What do I do if I'm from America? I'd like to watch BBC, but I only have BBC America, I don't think that does news D: (It does have Doctor Who though :3)
the presant BBC News themes (first used in 2008) is just crap there is just melody in it what so ever & has anyone heard the ITV news theme reasantly it's almost the same as the BBC's
1989 is probably my very first I remember. I was about 4 years old and it would terrify me! 1993 I'm very familiar with as it's the same as the 6 o'clock news. Every weekday evening without fail my father would watch the 6 o'clock news after tea... I wasn't allowed to interrupt him until it was finished! LOL So many memories came flooding back from those two indents. Thank you for sharing.
1989 and 1993 versions gave me goosebumps and threw me right back to my childhood! Love 'em
1989 one is the first one i remember, its probably the best one, along with the 1993 one. They both put you in a heightened state of anxiety, which is what you need for the news.
Good description. The 1989 one is the first I really remember, and when it came on, as a child you knew this was adult time. Something serious was about to happen.
The beeps are the Greenwich Mean Time pips. I think the current theme is brilliant.
Awesome! 1993 was my favourite! I remember being gutted when they replaced such an elctro tune which actually had a motif, with all those drums and little more than two chords with that beep....beep....beep
88-93 TV Mast ident was for me the best cos it represented all that was good and powerful about the BBC. Its mast receiving news from all corners of the world and then transmitting it back to the masses in an explosion of lightning and a shockwave of cataclysmic radio waves. The little lighning flashes at the end seemed to represent that the BBC was always listening, always poised ready to break important news to the world when it came.
thank you so much i've been looking for the 1981 for ages
1989 - 1993 is very much the "Sit your ass down and listen, because it's the News" theme. Remember this from my very early childhood, that damned logo gave me nightmares, though. Much nostalgia.
Fun fact: The 1993 rebrand was the first to use an entirely CGI-rendered (virtual reality) studio.
I've always hated the modern one, because iit was always the precursor to "PANIC ABOUT THIS NOW" right before I went to bed.
The 81-86 titles were quite good I think. Didn't think the 86-89 titles were too bad, but going for the corporate look in the late 80's was surely the pinnacle for BBC News idents and themes.
I remember the 1973 music and watching the good newscasters as they were known then like Peter Woods and Richard Baker. The music gives like a newsroom typewriter/telex machine effect
just imagine taking the title graphics and soundtrack from 2008 back in time to the 1960's and using it , you change the world
There was a slight mistake in there as the Nine o'clock news transmitter titles were first aried in 1988 not 1989.
super video, thank you. I love the BBC News theme we have had for a while now. It's awesome.
Growing up in the 80's I prefer the1981 and 1988 tunes. The tunes were so powerful in those days whereas the current ones are soooo wishy washy. At least Sky News has something vaguely powerful still...
Moira Stewart was around back in 1988!
I'll always remember '89 and '93, my lord! :)
@FeelinErie i remember 1993 onwards
The originals definitely the best, I remember it well with the rotating "BBC News"
Everyone seems to have forgotten the news theme from 1962. See this - th-cam.com/video/EvaD8IYiyoc/w-d-xo.html
Same ones for me except the '89 one was the same theme tune at 6pm and when i heard it i knew it was nearly my bed time. This was in the days when i knew i'd been aloud to stay up really late if i'd seen 'the bill' haha
1993 theme was for the 6pm news and not 9pm.
1981 1989 and 1993 since you can sing "SIT YOUR ARSE RIGHT DOWN AND WATCH THE NEWS" to them.
the one with all the thunder and lightning was by far and away the best news theme anywhere in the world ever
Love the music to the 1989 one. Powerful
The themes are definitely better than the news they announce and less depressing!
My god I remember all the way from 1989, Man I'm old lol!
I remember before that - 1981 and prior! Now aged 54.
The 1989 theme is so Scary and Intense but at the same time it truely depicts a tragic or devasting News Report
I miss the 60s and 70s version
The 1970s and the 1981 music is most resonant for me. I think I took less notice of the changes after that, but the music since 2001 has been dreadful. I can't wait until they have an overhaul and get shut of it. I'd like to see the 1960s one reappear with a few tweaks.
1989, the best, a homage to the past. "This is London, this is the BBC".
New to. BBC news music and that is just in 2000s
1956 Old Days
I find it highly amusing that up until the point when Labour came to power (2000 plus or minus 3 years), their theme was mostly blue. Then, they changed it all to red. I guess that was because it became Blair's / Brown's Broadcast Corporation.
eeek! so much as I was alive for some earlier ones, I only remember from 1989 onwards... which I believe used to come on straight after Casualty on a Saturday!
Why does 1988, 1989 and 1993 sound so badass? Wtf was happening back then?
4 new idents in 7 years?
Here's some more TV licence money!
'nosh-nosh-nosh'
Yes, I prefer that music. You could tell something important was on its way.
I like the 1989 one the best. Cant stand the new ones though!
so 2001 - now is basically the same tune with a bit of tweaking?!
I'm not britain, but i like the BBC News 1989... sounds Great!! 1:42
@nakedmambo "get shut of it"! I haven't heard that phrase for years
Thanks!
And for me the 60/s early seventies version of the theme was the best, although I dislike none of them. I think using the time countdown pips was a good idea - ties in with BBC radio.
Digging the 1973 kitsch gaudy orange basic text!
Auntie beeb had one thing going for it way back when but now most news is so convoluted with improbabilities and misconceptions in reportive narration
I'm sure I heard the BBC News was moved to 10 on the 2nd October 2000!
New BBC logo in 1997 and here in 2015
love the 1989 version the most !
The 2001 ones actually aren't too bad, very nice colours.
I remember the bum-bum-bum-bum. Bum-bum-bum-bum music until it changed in 1981
Love 1993 one remember that from when I was a kid
Ever since the BBC moved their night time news from 9 to 10 the music went all crummy.
wow that brings so many memory's back from a teenager I remember that BBC news one from 1989 they should of kept it like that I liked that one I don't know why exactlety but it just sounded and looked great at the start of the news why don't the BBc re-do it again make a modern form of it and then put it back on the news then it'll be just like the old days but a bit more modern that's what I recon they should do the BBC myself what do you all think to what I'm saying then folks??. Stephen BSc.
2008 FTW
i thought the 93 music was powerful even verging on aggressive
I was expecting more than just Stills to be honest.
For me i think its time for a new fresh look with a new BBC logo as it hasn't changed since October 1997, a new BBC news ident and theme with the round clock on the BBC one ident before the news starts which the BBC Stopped showing end of March 2002
it's impossible to have a clock these days because of decoding delays on digital TV
Where you download the 1993 themes?
Jacob Davis I think he recorded it off another video here on TH-cam. The 1993 theme is for the 6 O'Clock News, not the 9 O'Clock News
@DdlyHeadshot What do I do if I'm from America? I'd like to watch BBC, but I only have BBC America, I don't think that does news D: (It does have Doctor Who though :3)
Yeah back when news was important and it considered of more than 'Swine flu, swine flu, and some more swine flu'!
the best was 1981. but since 2001 it hasnt changed that much.
1993 definately the best
Nice video
The current one is the best!
1989 best!
2001 is my favourite!
1989 wins this poll hands down - wtf was the 1988 one all about ? no wonder it only lasted a year
@DdlyHeadshot You legend :) And so is Bill
For me -> 1989 the best, 1954 second place
Ghana!!!! Braap
1993 was the best
It's "its" and not "it's".
I prefer 1993
the presant BBC News themes (first used in 2008) is just crap there is just melody in it what so ever & has anyone heard the ITV news theme reasantly it's almost the same as the BBC's