France 5

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

France 5 is a public TV channel owned by France Télévisions. Originally named La Cinquième and launched in 1994, the channel fully integrated France Télévisions in 2000 before being renamed France 5 in 2002. La Cinquième itself served as a replacement for La Cinq, which shut down in 1992, and Télé Emploi, a temporary channel created on La Cinq's vacant slot. France 5's programming is oriented towards education, with a number of shows focusing on health and discovery. The channel also hosts the Okoo programming block, with programming oriented towards much younger audiences than on France 3 or France 4.

1st ID (January-March 2002)


Visuals: There is the names of various journalists that have worked for La Cinquième appearing on a yellow background. The background then turns white while the words turn yellow, circle around and absorb themselves into the 1999 La Cinquième logo (a blue circle with a "5" and an "e"), making the circle green. The circle then spins around while the words "LE NOM CHANGE" ("THE NAME CHANGES") and "LES VISAGES RESTENT LES MEMES" ("THE FACES STAY THE SAME") appear. Then the circle turns into the France 5 logo. This sequence was made to promote the name change from La Cinquième to France 5.

Technique: Computer and CGI animation by Gédéon and View.

Audio: Beeping sounds when the names appear, a whoosh when the background changes color, a droning theme when the words start absorbing themselves into the logo, and an announcer saying "Le nom change. Les visages restent les mêmes. La Cinquième devient France 5." ("The name changes. The faces remain the same. La Cinquième becomes France 5.").

Availability: This sequence only served to promote the name change. It did, however, foreshadow recurring branding elements France 5 would go on to use until 2008.