The BBC News through the ages

[ThePacmanClassic]

1993 one scared me as a child ;-0

[parkamark]

I find it highly amusing that up until the point when Labour came to power (2000 plus or minus 3 years), their theme was mostly blue. Then, they changed it all to red. I guess that was because it became Blair's / Brown's Broadcast Corporation.

[IRememberTheOldDays]

The current one is the best!

[TheMcooper17]

so the beeping is 5 years old. wonder what the next chang is

[AidanLunn]

@TheMcooper17 It's actually 12 years old - it began in 1999

[TheMcooper17]

@AidanLunn i meant the one that started in '06 

[AidanLunn]

@TheMcooper17 But you said "the beeping", though, which led me to believe that you meant the beeping as a whole, not just the current re-mix of the original beeping theme.

[nakedmambo]

The 1970s and the 1981 music is most resonant for me. I think I took less notice of the changes after that, but the music since 2001 has been dreadful. I can't wait until they have an overhaul and get shut of it. I'd like to see the 1960s one reappear with a few tweaks.

[geffel]

@nakedmambo "get shut of it"! I haven't heard that phrase for years

Thanks!

And for me the 60/s early seventies version of the theme was the best, although I dislike none of them. I think using the time countdown pips was a good idea - ties in with BBC radio.

[tierradepablo]

It's "its" and not "it's".

[KennnnnnyTucky]

Growing up in the 80's I prefer the1981 and 1988 tunes. The tunes were so powerful in those days whereas the current ones are soooo wishy washy. At least Sky News has something vaguely powerful still...

[lancededcena123]

The 1973 is 1970 and 1988 must be 1987 and 1989 must be 1990 and you missed the one o clock news (1986) and the six o clock news (1988) !

[MrGriser]

I'm sure I heard the BBC News was moved to 10 on the 2nd October 2000!

[Chematico]

I'm not britain, but i like the BBC News 1989... sounds Great!! 1:42

[jaffarluvsdafeetz]

1989 was the best one.

[Rexeljet]

Ever since the BBC moved their night time news from 9 to 10 the music went all crummy.

[knockfourtimes]

Thanks for this- I think the 1989 was created by the Pet Shop Boys.

[TheFederalEurope]

1989 - by far the best.

[LOCOMOTIONNUMBER1]

They should use a mouth organ it would be cheaper.

[AidanLunn]

@LOCOMOTIONNUMBER1 and bloody awful! I expect professionalism from the BBC, not amateuristic efforts like your idea!

[DdlyHeadshot]

THIS IS THE BBC! DO NOT LISTEN TO THE OTHERS - THEY ARE THE FALSE PROPHETS!!!

[wuzzlevideos]

@DdlyHeadshot You legend :) And so is Bill

[Waterclaw]

@DdlyHeadshot What do I do if I'm from America? I'd like to watch BBC, but I only have BBC America, I don't think that does news D: (It does have Doctor Who though :3)

[AidanLunn]

@Waterclaw Well you can't really do anything.

[dom86juve]

1989 theme music is the best; very powerful - so dramatic it’s wonderful - had a sound of authority. Then a male presenter with a loud and clear voice speaking in good English, or a female with a good tone speaking in good English.

[REI02021809]

i've always liked the 1993 version

[gurgless]

1993 theme was for the 6pm news and not 9pm.

[gavin444]

Jolly good, well I think that's an overall vote for 1989.

[jaffarluvsdafeetz]

@gavin444 lol..

[england1413]

1981 1989 and 1993 since you can sing "SIT YOUR ARSE RIGHT DOWN AND WATCH THE NEWS" to them.

[ITW84]

the one with all the thunder and lightning was by far and away the best news theme anywhere in the world ever

[harlingtonstraker]

The 89 theme was the most powerful. It bellowed out authority, entrance, an event. The imagery is a bit fascist, but then again this is the BBC, so scratch the surface...

The current News24 theme 2001- and the countdowns are inspired.

[lindsaymobil22]

2008 FTW

[I85PIES]

I hate news theme tunes, always sound so depressing, like they are about to announce the end of the world or something.

[crawleygat37]

The 1989 one is the best..!!

[AnfieldRed08]

81, 88, 89 and 93, those were all great themes. Everything since then, can be regarded as nothing more than a load of rubbish.

[GrandPrix55]

1988's was the most forgettable

Early 80s best

[firefighterno1]

88-93 TV Mast ident was for me the best cos it represented all that was good and powerful about the BBC. Its mast receiving news from all corners of the world and then transmitting it back to the masses in an explosion of lightning and a shockwave of cataclysmic radio waves. The little lighning flashes at the end seemed to represent that the BBC was always listening, always poised ready to break important news to the world when it came.

[gallafey]

the presant BBC News themes (first used in 2008) is just crap there is just melody in it what so ever & has anyone heard the ITV news theme reasantly it's almost the same as the BBC's

[idontsignin]

the best was 1981. but since 2001 it hasnt changed that much.

[helraiser666painkil]

wow that brings so many memory's back from a teenager I remember that BBC news one from 1989 they should of kept it like that I liked that one I don't know why exactlety but it just sounded and looked great at the start of the news why don't the BBc re-do it again make a modern form of it and then put it back on the news then it'll be just like the old days but a bit more modern that's what I recon they should do the BBC myself what do you all think to what I'm saying then folks??. Stephen BSc.

[FeelinErie]

I'll always remember '89 and '93, my lord! :)

[burkey1878]

Same ones for me except the '89 one was the same theme tune at 6pm and when i heard it i knew it was nearly my bed time. This was in the days when i knew i'd been aloud to stay up really late if i'd seen 'the bill' haha

[IMconfused]

@FeelinErie oh man yeah thats when the news themes grabbed you by the balls and said watch the news NOW! both fucking great theme tunes. I liked the 93 and 97 titles when they used the old 89 theme they did that for a while on either the 6 o'clock or the 9 o'clock they had different themes for both if i remember right.....

[SPTSuperSprinter156]

The 2001 ones actually aren't too bad, very nice colours.

[SamGuitarTunes]

1989 best!

[haMMy27691]

1993 definately the best

[haMMy27691]

Love 1993 one remember that from when I was a kid

[ianupton]

my dad played the trombone on that with ronnie hazelhurst. it was said that when my dad played the high c, you couldnt fit a visa card through the cheeks of his arse.

[Gr8t3y3s]

As a kid the 1989 version use to scare me (especially on high volume) Quite intense o.O!

[REI02021809]

My favourite is 1993

[nilad69]

It's only when you look back at 1993 that you remember how good the theme was and how unbelievably ribbish it is now!

[karatebuff]

The 1989 theme is so Scary and Intense but at the same time it truely depicts a tragic or devasting News Report

[DuranDuranManFan]

The 1981 Version at 0:59 is amazing!

[seantomlinson]

Bring back the 1993 one that is a news theme

[ColonelRoss111]

Who went to the BBC and said "yeah, the grand opening is a little dated, I KNOW A LOAD OF BEEPS WOULD BE MUCH BETTER!" it just doesn't sound right, feels like it would suit newsround more!

[ajlusted]

Argh, no way 1989??! Where did the last 20 years of my life go?!?

[testcardgirl76]

1981 and 1990 are my favourites-both proud sounding fanfares.

[generis85]

The 89 and 93 ones sound stately and impressive, everything after them is just... lame.

[PaulRoberts]

The 81-86 titles were quite good I think. Didn't think the 86-89 titles were too bad, but going for the corporate look in the late 80's was surely the pinnacle for BBC News idents and themes.

[TheExtremeCore]

My god I remember all the way from 1989, Man I'm old lol!

[snowytheduck]

i only remember 2001 onwards :P

[spunxy]

eeek! so much as I was alive for some earlier ones, I only remember from 1989 onwards... which I believe used to come on straight after Casualty on a Saturday!

[stevepjk]

one of the themes is actually for the ending of the six o clock news

[FirstEuropean]

Smashing, anyone got Bill Bailey's parody of the BBC News Theme per chance??!!!

[stevemem]

I love the current music opening. I hope they don't change it too soon!!!!!!!!!

[markygoo]

super video, thank you. I love the BBC News theme we have had for a while now. It's awesome.

[planetexpress42]

sweet!!!

[Spyrobandi]

it went to 10 on september 11th 2001.

[gmfmusic85]

Awesome! 1993 was my favourite! I remember being gutted when they replaced such an elctro tune which actually had a motif, with all those drums and little more than two chords with that beep....beep....beep

[wallygator100]

"...for all it's news programmes..."

"...for all its news programmes..."would be better

[Hexachloraphine]

I wonder when those all knowing bbc designer types will decide that drum and bass sounds dated, so we can then have approx 7 years of something else.

[Voxac100b]

I remember the 1973 music and watching the good newscasters as they were known then like Peter Woods and Richard Baker. The music gives like a newsroom typewriter/telex machine effect

[newmark401]

Yes, I prefer that music. You could tell something important was on its way.

[SPTSuperSprinter156]

Yeah back when news was important and it considered of more than 'Swine flu, swine flu, and some more swine flu'!

[radiodarkhorse]

Love the music to the 1989 one. Powerful

[m230690]

i thought the 93 music was powerful even verging on aggressive

[jmm1233]

just imagine taking the title graphics and soundtrack from 2008 back in time to the 1960's and using it , you change the world

[BCJ1985]

There was a slight mistake in there as the Nine o'clock news transmitter titles were first aried in 1988 not 1989.

[stewiegriffin1963]

The 1988 one was the coolest.

[kitchenaut]

4 new idents in 7 years?

Here's some more TV licence money!

'nosh-nosh-nosh'

[ianupton]

hasnt changed much since 2001. im looking forward to the new theme. were due one.

perhaps a clockwork money repeatedly banging on a tin cymbal, or perhaps the sound of a jackboot stamping on a human face - forever.

[ianupton]

a new look would be to remove all the propaganda and spin they broadcast.

[rootingfortruffles]

Oh wow, the old style news themes sounds GREAT! They're so dramatic- nowadays they've just got this trendy space age sounding rubbish.

[pmh030]

Of course the clip at 1:57 is from the Six O'Clock News, not the Nine O'Clock News.

[Hoddersrevenge]

Yup.

[WriterWench]

Crumbs, that's a trip down Memory Lane and no mistake! I can just about remember the first one... when I was very, VERY young. Amazing how evocative these soundclips can be.