Clock ident
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A clock ident is a form of Channel ID in which a clock is displayed with current time and station logo. Clock idents are typically used before news bulletins and closedown.
Appearance
Clock idents are typically displayed as an analogue clock, although some broadcasters have occasionally experimented with digital clocks.[1] In particular, during the 1970s and 80s, many ITV regions in the UK have adopted digital clock designs which are overlaid onto a coloured card using CSO. The backgrounds were generally static, but some clocks had movement. For example, Associated-Rediffusion, had a spinning Adastral - and the final clocks from '95-'98, used by RTÉ One and RTÉ Two, were overlaid onto a video background.
The first station clocks were mechanical, but were converted to an electronically generated format in the 1980s.[2]
A clock will usually visually match a television channel's normal ident or idents; TVP from Poland is an exception.
Usage
Europe
Traditionally, clock idents were used before news bulletins to ensure that the bulletin begins at the exact time dictated by the schedule.[3] Clocks could also appear at closedown or startup.
In the late '90s and early '00s, digital television became commonplace and clocks began to drop out of mainstream use - delays caused by digital systems meant that clocks were a few seconds slow. Most television channels no longer sign off at night, thus eliminating the need for clocks. BBC One stopped using a clock at Easter 2002 when it changed its idents from the balloon to the dancers. One notable exception is Welsh-language channel S4C, which used a clock until 2007 at closedown and before news bulletins.
In the UK, the clocks usually have a background voice broadcasting the next program, and the current time.
In Portugal, analogue clock idents were used in both the public RTP channels; until a major rebranding on Jan 28th 2002, when they were replaced by less obtrusive digital clocks. Clock idents in Portugal have mostly been used before newscasts, although they were sometimes used in RTP channels to align programming with the schedule for continuity.
In Scandinavia, except Iceland, clock idents typically come before the news program or sign-off/on. Sweden, since 1980, has always had background music. In Denmark and Norway, clocks don't have music; however, they beep every 10 seconds. Iceland does not broadcast clocks.
In Eastern Europe, clocks usually don't match the idents and the sound is usually quiet. Soviet Union had clocks, but today only Ukraine and Lithuania have clocks. Poland uses the old clock from 1979, but with small changes. Czech Republic and Slovakia have never had clocks.
Hungary had only two TV stations in the same network until 1992, which is MTV, MTV had no clocks until 1998. Duna TV introduced clocks to Hungary in 1994.
Asia
Clocks usually not used in Asia and Americas, except in some countries.
East Asia
In Japan, NHK had the famous clock from 1969–1985, which is in the blue background, with white clock, the most famous part of the clock is 3, 6, 9, 12 has two bars, while other has one bar. There is also NHK logo near the clock. This clock have only 2 colors. This clock is also used in some countries such as Sweden (1970–1980), Myanmar (1995-today) and Thailand (2008–2010). NHK has many other clocks after that, but no one copied them. NHK still broadcasts clocks prior to 7am news, but does not use during sign-on or sign-off as it broadcasts 24 hours a day since 1989.
In China, every program comes on time, The programs usually play with 10 minutes at the last to make next program come on time, after the program schedule, CCTV fills to the time with the clocks.
In Hong Kong, clock idents were used in between programmes, especially news bulletins, although they were not used during signoffs or startups, contrary to the example shown above.
South East Asia
In South East Asia, clock idents are broadcasted in almost all countries, but only few channels. The countries that broadcast the clock idents are: Thailand, Cambodia (formerly), Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei and Vietnam.
In Indonesia, which is one of three earliest countries in South East Asia to have the clock idents, the rest are Malaysia.
In Malaysia, which is one of three earliest countries in South East Asia to have the clock idents
In Vietnam, clocks were introduced in 1970, on Vietnam Television. VTV used to broadcast only in the sign-off until 2003. Since 2003 clocks are broadcast before main news program and in the breaks when there are no commercials.
In Thailand, Channel 3 used to air a digital clock video counting up to 8:00am and 6:00pm for the national anthem. This practice has ceased since 2009.
In Cambodia, there are no local channels that broadcast clocks, there is an international channel, CTN, which is in the US, broadcasts the clock ident, however it's not in the sign-on or sign-off sequences as it broadcasts 24 hours a day, but they broadcast clocks prior to 5pm and 11pm, which are times for National Anthem.