BBC HD

Background
BBC HD was a high-definition television channel provided by the BBC. The service was initially run as a trial from May 15, 2006 until becoming a full service on December 1, 2007. It broadcast only during the afternoon and evening and only broadcast programming shot in high definition, either in a simulcast with another channel or by inserting a repeat of an HD programme. BBC HD closed on March 26, 2013 and was replaced by a HD simulcast of BBC Two, partly as a result of budget cuts affecting the BBC, but also because most content on the BBC was now being produced in HD, eliminating the need for a specific HD-only channel.

1st Logo (December 1, 2007-July 25, 2008)
Logo: On a black background, we see a black diamond with an orange glow emitting from behind it, with the BBC HD logo beneath. The diamond turns to a glossy blue, before spinning around and sinking into the background, revealing a diamond-shaped hole. As this happens, the camera begins to zoom into the hole, causing the BBC HD logo to fade out. Inside the hole, we see a strikingly blue tunnel, and as the camera zooms deeper, the diamond shifts colors from blue to red. Suddenly, it explodes into orange dust, scattering across the screen and creating a smokey effect. Crystals begin to emerge from the explosion, turning into shiny cubes containing clips of programs as the camera starts to spin around. We zoom through the crystals, revealing one of them is a blue diamond, and as it comes to the center of the screen the BBC HD logo fades in at the bottom again. The blue diamond glitters and shines, before the blue color fades away and the orange glow reappears again, creating a perfect loop.

Variants: Sometimes, a shorter version is used. This version begins right when the explosion happens, and the rest of the animation plays out as usual.

Technique: Stunning CGI animation that still holds up today.

Music/Sounds: The ident starts with a distinct rumbling sound, before an ambience of strings and a choir begins to build up. As the explosion happens, a loud explosion sound is heard, followed by a distinct wavy pulsating noise, and sharp twinkling noises when the crystals appear on screen. The sounds end with the ambience fading out as a synthetic four note jingle is played, with a 'thud' sound on the final note. After the music plays, a low rumbling can still be heard, alongside the distinct wavy pulsating noise from earlier. At this point, an announcer would typically begin to speak.

Availability: Extinct.

2nd Logo (2007-201?)
Logo: On a black background, we see the BBC HD logo with a sharp blue glowing effect behind it, and a blue smoke trail emitting from the HD diamond. Suddenly, the color of the glow changes from blue to orange, and a large sphere with a subtle orange glow emitting from it (like how the atmosphere of a planet looks) fades in, intersecting the HD diamond. The glow color changes once again, this time fading back to blue as the smoke trail begins to return, and then the logo fades to black.

Technique: Similar CGI to the first ident.

Music/Sounds: Starting out with a low rumbling sound, a reverse cymbal is heard in the buildup to the glow changing color to orange. As the glow changes color, the same wavy pulsating effect from the first ident can be heard, before a distinct ambience begins to build up. When the glow changes color again, a synth string is heard, before fading out to silence.

Availability: Extinct on TV, as it was used only as a sting during 2007 in tandem with the first ident. It can be found on BBC-branded Blu-rays and HD-DVDs from around 2007.

3rd Logo (July 26, 2008-April 5, 2009)
Logo: TBA.

Technique: TBA.

Music/Sounds: TBA.

Availability: Extinct.

4th Logo (April 6, 2009-March 26, 2013)
Logo: Taking place in the same park setting in each variant, we see an everyday action turned into a dramatic event as a glossy diamond shape appears, offering a different perspective on the events happening. The BBC HD logo then forms on screen, with the HD diamond spinning around rapidly before the BBC logo fades in.

Variants:
 * Cat: TBA
 * Dog Walker: TBA
 * Music: TBA
 * Carousel: TBA
 * Ice Cream: TBA
 * The Catch: TBA

Technique: Dynamic mixture of live action and CGI events created by Red Bee Media.

Music/Sounds: TBA.

Availability: Extinct.

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