Source identifier
Source identification (or source identification ) on television is the permanent display of a station logo in the form of an insert at the edge of the screen, which is only switched off for television advertising .
history
The source identifier comes from US television. In March 1947 there were only eight TV channels in the United States, three of which were only available in New York. Large cities usually only had one transmitter ( Chicago , Philadelphia , St. Louis and Washington, DC ). Technically, the transmitters were still aerial television , so the range was not very large. For this reason, the viewer could often only receive one program. It was therefore easy for the viewer to recognize the received station without special aids.
The large number of mostly private television stations receivable in a region later made it necessary for the television viewer to distinguish them. Evidence of a first source identification can be found as early as 1951. In the USA, since December 1969, it has even been prescribed by law that radio and television stations must have a "station identification" that is to be broadcast regularly. It must consist of the callsign (like WABC-TV New York ) and the location of the broadcaster.
Germany
Source identification was introduced late in Germany. Instead, the pause signal from the radio of the same station was sent as an acoustic signal on television and the optical transmitter logo ( pause image ) was used visually . With the beginning of private television in January 1984, the television landscape also changed in Germany. Up to now, mostly only three television programs could be received ( first German television , ZDF and the respective third program ), but several channels were added within a few years. The introduction of cable television eliminated the range problems of aerial television and increased the number of receivable stations again. The private television stations in Germany began with a station identification in January 1984.
A legal dispute arose in August 1997 between kabel eins and ARD because of the similarity of source identifiers in both television channels. Since April 15, 1993, the stylized “1” has been permanently faded in as a source identifier in the top left of the TV picture of the “First German Television” of the ARD. It is also used in various other ways within the framework of the ARD ( merchandising ) and has enjoyed trademark protection since March 25, 1993 . Since the end of 1994, "kabel eins" has been bearing his name, whose trademark has been protected since June 12, 1995. On August 21, 1997, "Kabel Eins" was prohibited from continuing to use the trademark by means of an action for an injunction . It consists of a spiral band shown in perspective, the end of which has the shape of a "1". The BGH dismissed the ARD's action in the main proceedings and thus enabled “kabel eins” to continue using it.
Technical design
It is mostly a gray-level, transparent logo source identifier in the upper left or right corner of the image, and this is also occasionally positioned at the lower edge of the image. Technically, this is implemented by a typesetter in Sendestrasse. The source identifier is now an integral part of the "on air style guide" and thus the corporate identity of television stations. It is used for visual orientation when receiving television programs and for identifying the transmitter that is switched on. The ZDF had found that its “visual brand presence was underdeveloped compared to the competition, the design features were not concise enough for successful external communication”. A new umbrella brand was introduced, which is intended to serve as an ordering, overarching model for all communication activities. The station had changed its logo several times. The first was valid from 1962 to 1989, the next until 1992. At ZDF and the other TV stations, the logo is now used from business cards to merchandising. The aim is to strengthen the brand and its core journalistic values. Another motive for the source identification is a certain copyright protection of in-house productions and cinema films on television, because other television stations or private recordings also take over the source identification.