Hasta La Motion!

> Quicktime H.264
(27.5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(18mb)
> Watch in Flash
(24mb progressive)

“You make me want to shout”.. is not a slogan I would associate with a television network, there are just too many ways to turn it around on them.

But then again this hilariously bad promo for Channel Nine is 18 years old, coming to us from 1990. And perhaps back then, times were simpler, and marketing departments didn’t have to worry about what bloggers would say about them.

– Thanks to Sam for digging this up from the archives.

> Quicktime H.264
(25.8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(9.9mb)
> Watch in Flash
(6.7mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(7.9mb)
> iPod Compatible
(5.9mb)
> Watch in Flash
(4.1mb progressive)

Having covered the Sydney and Beijing games already, it seems only fair to fill in the blank that is Athens 2004. These two videos, produced for the Seven Network and the Athens Olympic Broadcasting organisation respectively, prove that the timeless formula of “athletes + cultural imagery = Olympic opener” will apparently never go out of fashion.

– Another big thanks to Christian for the videos.

> Quicktime H.264
(6.6mb)
> iPod Compatible
(4.5mb)
> Watch in Flash
(4mb progressive)

Germany’s ZDF (aka Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen) combines the Chinese landscape with Olympic athleticism, along with the obligatory cultural reference in the form of a flying dragon for this slick branding of their Games coverage.

– Big thanks to Ulrich for the video.

> Quicktime H.264
(17mb)
> iPod Compatible
(6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(5.5mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(47.5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(18.7mb)
> Watch in Flash
(16.2mb progressive)

UPDATE: Added the “making of” video above.

Designed by BDA Singapore, this is the “official opening title sequence to the Beijing Olympic Games 2008″. Official because its the sequence used by Beijing Olympic Broadcasting, the host broadcaster of the games set up to provide television signals of the games to the rest of the world.

The video is a combination of live action and 3D animation, and is based around the “Chinese elements of nature – metal, wood, water, fire & earth”.

Read more about the spot here and here, and thanks to Nick for the video.

> Quicktime H.264
(123mb)
> iPod Compatible
(85.9mb)
> Watch in Flash
(70mb progressive)

David Mitchell, from That Mitchell and Webb Look recently narrated a Channel 4 series called TV is Dead? all about the “challenges the television industry is currently facing as a result of the digital revolution”.

One part of the series looked at the often over looked importance of television idents, something Australian television loves to dismiss, and something that this site is all about promoting. The clip should serve as an interesting introduction to the world of idents, and also offers a great peek into the UK television industry.

– Enormous thanks to Andy for the video.