The BBC spent over £7million of licence charge funds to create new logos for its ‘digital rebranding,’ an investigation has revealed.
Final 12 months, the broadcaster unveiled new logos for its fundamental TV channels – BBC One, Two and 4 – and extra providers together with iPlayer, Sounds, Climate, Sport and Bitesize.
Critics mocked the rebrand, claiming the brand new ‘trendy’ designs appeared barely completely different from the broadcaster’s earlier emblem.
At the moment of the rollout, BBC didn’t disclose the price of the revamp, however an organization spokesperson denied the price of the brand new logos was ‘vital’.
Now, information obtained by the Every day Specific via the Freedom of Data Act has confirmed BBC spent £7,261,039 of taxpayer funds on the challenge over a ‘variety of years.’
The BBC spent over £7million of licence charge funds to create new logos for its ‘digital rebranding,’ an investigation has revealed
Final 12 months, the agency unveiled new logos for its fundamental TV channels – BBC One, Two and 4 – and extra providers together with iPlayer, Sounds, Climate, Sport and Bitesize. New information obtained by the Every day Specific via the Freedom of Data Act has confirmed BBC spent £7,261,039 of taxpayer funds on the challenge over a ‘variety of years’
BBC informed the newspaper the funds had been spent in a three-year effort to ‘reengineer’ its digital platforms.
The challenge was a ‘full modernisation’ of all providers, platforms and channels and meant to ‘assist audiences to recognise and entry BBC content material seamlessly throughout this wide selection of channels and providers.’
The company mentioned the challenge would ‘allow the general public to eat extra of what they pay for and supply most profit for the licence charge.’
Nonetheless, {industry} consultants allege the price of the rebrand won’t sit properly with taxpayers, particularly for the reason that broadcaster has closed some regional information retailers.
BBC has argued bosses usually are not ‘closing down regional information retailers to economize’ however as a substitute are altering the best way it delivers content material to its audiences.
Critics mocked the rebrand, claiming the brand new ‘trendy’ design (proper) appeared barely completely different from the broadcaster’s earlier emblem (left)
BBC rolled out the brand new logos in October 2021 after claiming its viewers had complained that a few of its providers ‘look quaint and old-fashioned.’ It had been in use since 1997
The brand new emblem included the corporate’s block BBC letters, however utilised the brand new bespoke ‘BBC Reith’ font, named after the company’s first director-general. The letters ‘BBC’ are barely smaller within the new emblem and positioned in blocks with marginally larger gaps between them
Specialists additionally declare the general public could also be delay by the truth that some over-75s are compelled to pay the licence charge that reportedly funded the rebrand.
The companies funds licences for viewers older than 75 who’re eligible for the Pension Credit score profit. BBC estimated that offering licences for all over-75s would value roughly £745million.
The broadcaster can also be mentioned to have saved greater than £1billion over the course of the final 5 years, the newspaper reported. The company’s preliminary financial savings goal was £800million.
BBC claims its overhead prices are about 5 p.c of its complete prices, which it alleges is at ‘industry-leading ranges.’ The broadcaster alleged the 95 per cent of complete prices is directed to programme-making and providers.
MailOnline has approached BBC for remark.
BBC rolled out the brand new logos in October 2021 after claiming its viewers had complained that a few of its providers ‘look quaint and old-fashioned.’ It had been in use since 1997.
The company, alongside prime promoting company Wolff Olins, changed its fundamental emblem with one which viewers thought was minimally completely different.
It’s the sixth emblem BBC has had after the primary one on this format was utilized in 1958.
The brand new emblem included the company’s block BBC letters, however utilised the brand new bespoke ‘BBC Reith’ font, named after the company’s first director-general.
The letters ‘BBC’ are barely smaller within the new emblem and positioned in blocks with marginally larger gaps between them.
The brand new static icons for iPlayer, Sounds, Sport, Information, Climate and Bitesize now not embrace the letters BBC.
However when used interactively, the BBC letters seem after which reform to make up the three blocks used within the new logos.
