[New Look and New Theme] ABC News NSW - Opener (19.8.2024)

From today, the ABC updated their news look and brought back the iconic news theme which debuted in 1986...although rearranged.

With Jeremy Fernandez. Recorded off ABC HD NSW on Monday the 19th of August 2024.

©2024 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

[thomasaevans]

The beeping at the start is morse code for 'abc'. Nice touch.

[emitan_]

I actually love how detailed the graphics is. If you look closely between 0:19 and 0:24, you can see that the time syncs to the actual time of different Australian time zones. This is also noticeable on ABC News Mornings and ABC News at Noon.

[kfedfan]

I can't believe the old ABC news theme is back!

[chevyxwon]

Yeah love how they used the old late 80 and 90s theme

[moramento]

That looks and sounds amazing! Went all in on the fanfare!

[moygsa]

Very good. Nothing like bringing back the brass!

[JeremyWong]

I watched the Melbourne version with Tamara Oudyn, definitely brought back the 1990s nostalgia. Read about the track rearranging by David McDonald, gotta say I think he did a great job to not tinker with the original too much

[zalon]

Absolutely loving this theme’s return!

[catenjoyer]

I miss the old theme this feels like a news channel from a movie or smth. Vibe of the old one felt more serious and news like.

[rdalbum]

I think the 1987 theme was awesome but not enough has been done to bring it up to date for 2024. A bit more intensity and a crescendo, somewhat like the BBC News theme, would have done wonders. And the little flute spelling out ABC in morse code is a cool feature that should be more audible throughout the track. They've got the right idea, but just needed to go less conservative.

[whophd]

I'm calling this 2024 "Cornflour Curves".
2017: Very Vertical
2010: Blue-2-4
2005: Wide Orange

[baselineleaner]

One of the finest beats ever produced. Absolute face melter.

[petersmith]

I don't normally watch ABC News but the graphics look great and the theme music is great too!!

[jakez]

As a kid growing up in the 90s, I do remember this theme, especially after the kids' cartoons in the late afternoon, early evening. The theme song is still dated no matter how much you increase the bass. I probably recommend replacing the trumpet with a more subtle instrument. Brass instruments in the 80s were used extensively and over the top. Nevetherless, bring back the nostalgia 😊.

[c.d.c]

Looks and sounds about 50 years old already. The previous theme and graphics were top notch

[chgordonchoi-]

Watching from Hong Kong...
I think it's better to have the instrument parts re-recorded like what David Lowe did for "King Arthur" with BBC's Election 24 - the closing theme is like a simple fade into the old theme
In terms of graphics:
First, I thought there would be regional variants at least (maybe it's Sydney/national feed so there isn't), and it's a pity that the treats of 2017 titles, which are constantly updated with the images of the news have been taken away
Second, the designers seemed inconsistent in the use of round and square corners, in addition to the blue space issue raised by @luminism

[jnthepassenger]

I love this. Sorry, but it's fantastic. They've done a great job. All the complaints seem to be pure minutiae from people who wouldn't watch the ABC anyway.

The new graphics are excellent, no longer boring black garbage and the theme suits it.

This is supposed to be one of the top news programmes in Australia and this is a great step in the right direction making it so.

[grahamswann]

The Sydney version still uses as a Background to the presenter of a photo of Circular Quay the is possibly decades old? How does this sit with the new look?

[paulzeller]

I thought the theme that replaced this back in 2005 sounded too similar to the SBS World News Theme.

[iamgabepb]

I wanted to like this so badly, but it missed the mark by a mile. I think so many people were ready for the old fanfare to make a comeback but the remix is shockingly disjointed and doesn't have the gravitas for a modern take, the visuals (even though it does look good) is not as strong and authoritative as the one it replaces, and this overall identity just feels like it was incredibly rushed and incoherent, considering the 2017 branding was one of ABC's best. I hope they take this to the revision board ASAP, and honestly they probably should revert to the 2017 one until they get it right.