If they're squashing up the credits, and promoting something, e'g' a program that night, then they're basically making it so that they can't reuse it on ABC2 without the need to go back to the original source, and then the next thing to happen might be ABC2 dissappearing, if they decide to be like a commercial station.

Glad I'm no longer around to witness the continued decline, although I must report that Radio National hasn't been spared the "commercialism" infecting in the ABC. Was a bit of a haven for me as I reduced my TV viewing, but recently, programs have begun being interrupted to cross-promote other RN programs, and even ABC TV shows. In a sense, it's worse than what they're doing with TV - imagine 7:30 Report and Enough Rope segments being separated by promos for Lateline and Kath & Kim.

Will be interesting when this mentality hits the publishing industry. TV viewers and radio listeners seem prepared to take it up the bum - will the latte-sipping bookworms be so tolerant? Most of the stuff I read is decades old, but from what I hear, product placement has been cropping up current books. And e-books, when they take off, will give publishers the excuse to try some new, "innovative" business models (shoving ads in the books, tighter usage restrictions, etc.).

I have just returned from a month in England. I was able to watch the full channel range of Sky satellite (well over 600 channels - mostly crap) and also free to air digital. BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, CH4 and CH5 do NOT have watermarks whether shown free to air or through Sky... IF they don't see the need for it why does SBS and ABC?

I still find the SBS logo to be too bright and obtrusive during darker scenes in movies and docos. At least the ABC logo is more glass like, but it is still there and it still bugs me.

Has this been mentioned here before? ABC 'HD' watermark, it only appeared for a few moments so I assume they're just testing it:

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/3310/abchdwm1ol.jpg

I don't like that it says HD in the watermark as it may give people a false impression that the 'upconversion' is native HD.

EDIT: Having read some other threads... it may be in anticipation for the rumoured switch to 720p maybe?

Thats a pretty objectionable 'watermark'. I sure hope they don't intend to make it permanent.

Given how little attention they payed to their viewers on the standard shytemark, and given how much they wasted on those obnoxious 3rd-rate undergraduate animation sequences (programme lead-ins), its probably what we'll get.

Good on the ABC!

Finally offer HD, but take a dump on it before serving it up, nice and steaming!

If they REALLY have to add the HD notation to their existing logo, surely they could be a little more subtle? Like this, maybe?

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2803/abchdwm23ht.th.jpg

I had been thinking of upgrading to HD and one of the main selling points was the lack of a watermark on ABC. It seems thought that the future is bigger and uglier watermarks. I don't think I will bother now and stick to watching all of my favourite programmes on DVD!

The ABC has very little HD content.

And that is shytemarked.


Depending on where you live, the commercials have various levels of PQ and shytemarking, with some previously fortunate locations (like Perth, with Nine) likely to head to shytesville, but Syd & Melb at least getting HD on Seven...

Don't know if anyone else watches jtv but now it too has its own watermark well within the 4:3 safe area and it stands out like dogs balls.

http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/5171/jtvwatermarkoz9.jpg

Absolutely disgraceful.

Came home late on Sunday night and flicking through the channels I noticed something missing during a documentary on the Shroud of Turin.
Ahh it was good ,a very natural picture . This was on ABC TV Perth . ABC2 still had its mark.

There is no technical reason why all the networks could not place their SD watermarks in the corner of the 16:9 area. I note that Ch 7 Brisbane now do this. All the others still have it right in the guts of the widescreen image in the '4:3 safe' viewing area. Let's start a campaign to have them change this...

Also, the sooner they turn off analogue the better - why not have the government force all analogue channels to carry a warning notice scrolling across the bottom of the screen from 1 Jan 2009: 'ANALOGUE TV WILL BE SWITCHED OFF FOREVER IN XXX DAYS - NOW IS THE TIME TO GET A DIGITAL TV OR SET TOP BOX'.

If you thought the 2007 ABC watermarks were bad, the 2008 ones are SHOCKERS! The ABC2 version is a pukey orange colour instead of the usual grey/white. If you wanna change the world, email your complaint to: http://www.abc.net.au/contact/contactabc.htm ... make sure the caplock is on and type "GET RID OF THOSE HIDEOUS WATERMARKS!!!!!"

Whoever is running the ABC doesn't give a damn. Just the usual "we think the viewers are idiots" response.

Thank you for your email regarding the use of watermarks on ABC Television.

The ABC believes that the watermarking of ABC programs is important. Watermarking is a practice that has been well established in Australia across all networks for many years and is standard practice internationally. In a multi-channel environment there is a need to identify the channel for viewers and this identification will become even more necessary as the number of digital stations increase in the coming years.

Secondly, and importantly, the ABC believes it has a duty to copyright owners. Watermarking works against piracy (illegal off-air recording) and for this reason it was adopted in most countries a number of years ago.

In introducing new watermarks, it is necessary to test them on-air to see how they work on a variety of new and old televisions, digital set top boxes, and pay television services, as well as a variety of different aspect ratios. As a result of audience feedback, a number of changes have been made to the watermarks since their introduction, and I can assure you that ABC TV will continue to review and adjust the new watermarks as appropriate to ensure that they are meeting our watermarking requirements as well as the preferences of our audience.


Thank you for taking the time to write.


Kind regards

The audience overwhelmingly prefers no 'watermarking', yet the 'watermark' persists. ABC needs to actually admit that its not about identifying what channel is being watched (press the "I" button on the remote!) and its not about copyright (because it makes no difference!) its all about branding and marketing.

You know that Dr.P.
I know that Dr.P.
But some high paid network executive at the ABC, (and all the commercials for that matter), either don't get it, or as you say, know the truth about why they are there, but keep using the same old lies to justify them.

While I'm here:

Anyone able to do clean removal of the ABC's coloured logos?

Must write and ask why RAGE doesn't require copyright protection; considering it's more likely to be illegally recorded than anything else.