GMTV

Credits

Compiled by
LTPHarry

Background

GMTV was the ITV franchise for breakfast television that aired between 6 and 9:25 am, which replaced TV-am on 1 January 1993, and originally obtaining the franchise as "Sunrise Television" on 16 October 1991, operating as a joint-venture between London Weekend Television (later Granada Media Group), Scottish Television Enterprises (later STV Group), The Walt Disney Company, the Guardian Media Group and Carlton Communications, all owning 20% each in the franchisee. The venture operated news and breakfast magazines during the weekdays, and children's programmes during the weekend. Upon its launch on 1 January 1993, it wasn't commercially successful until a turn-around came by the following year.

In 2000, the Guardian Media Group sold their shares to the other parties, which now each owned a 25% share in GMTV. Following the merger of Granada and Carlton to form ITV plc in 2004, the venture became 50% for the company, and they eventually purchased STV Group's shares shortly afterwards, now owning a 75% majority stake.

In January 2009, GMTV gained a new brighter and refreshed look. In November 2009, after years of trying to obtain Disney's stake in the business, Disney accepted ITV plc's £18 million offer for them to own the entirety of the company. In 2010, ITV announced that the GMTV brand would be retired. The company was renamed ITV Breakfast, while the main GMTV programme would be replaced with a brand new offering - Daybreak (and later a new version of Good Morning Britain, the show which the GMTV programme replaced), while the portion of the programme fronted by Lorraine Kelly would become a standalone programme under the name Lorraine. GMTV ended its run on 3 September 2010 and replaced with the new programmes the following week.

1st ID (1 January 1993-1996)

ID: We see a large 3D golden sun with the 3D embossed letters "GM" in red on it. As the sun rotates to face us, we see the letters "TV" in blue next to it. This is set within a white/blue background, with the sun in a blue stripe.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A bass sounder that leads to a orchestral swelling of notes, ending with a held-out note that segues into the programme's theme.

Availability: Extinct. It was used as a startup bumper preceding the main GMTV programme itself.

2nd ID (1996-1998?)

ID: On the same blue/white stripe background, we see a sun "rising" on the blue stripe and forming the 3D sun, while "GMTV" fades in, forming the same logo as before.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Same as the last logo.

Availability: Same as before.

3rd ID (1996-2000)

ID: On a blue background, we see the golden sun moving to the left of the screen, then the camera rotates to a comfortable view as "GMTV" appears from the right (i.e. the 1990 Universal Pictures logo).

Variant:

• During break bumpers, the sequence is shortened to only the letters moving.
• During Christmas time, snowflakes are seen on the logo. Then, as the logo forms, a dark green gift tag reading "Merry Christmas from GMTV" swiftly moves around as a purple ribbon attaches itself to the tag.
• During the preparations to the millennium celebrations in 2000, the logo begins as normal but then the background brightens as the logo moves to the bottom to make way for a large "2000" on the top, while the sun shines.

Technique: CGI. The Snowflakes in the Christmas variant are likely cel-effects, while the tag and ribbon are also CGI.

Music/Sounds: An upbeat computerised synth sounder that incorporates the last four notes of the GMTV theme at the end.

Music/Sounds Variants: On the Christmas variant, we hear jingle sounds and then a five-note electric sounder near the end of the GMTV theme.

Availability: Extinct. The shortened version tended to be used for break bumpers, while the longer one was used to open the GMTV programme itself.

4th ID (2000-2004)

ID: On a blue/white ripple/swirl background, we see the golden sun being formed onto the screen. Then, the letters "GMTV" form as the background brightens, forming the then-new GMTV logo.

Variants:

• Early on the logo's life, when it is transitioning to the GMTV Today intro, the sun flashes as clips of the presenters appear on it.
• Starting in 2001, the URL GMTV.co.uk, later gm.tv is added to the end screen.
• The Christmas variant features a rotating ornament on a more Christmassy blue background which then blurs out as the GMTV logo appears.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: A more majestic version of the previous theme.

Music/Sounds Variants: Beginning in 2002, the Christmas variant uses the same music as the previous logo.

Availability: Extinct.

5th ID (31 August 2004-Late-2004?)

ID: In a live-action GMTV-themed set, we see two different presenters from the strand appearing as they smile at the screen. The footage then blurs as the GMTV logo appears.

Variants: The known variants are listed below:

• Andrew Castle and Kate Garroway
• Kate Garroway and Ben Shephard
• Eamonn Holmes and Fiona Phillips

Technique: Live Action.

Music/Sounds: Same as the last logo.

Availability: Extinct. These short-lived idents were made to coincide with GMTV's transition to widescreen.

6th ID (2004-2009)

ID: On a blue rippling background, we see the yellow sun zooming onto the screen, followed up with the GMTV text appearing as usual. The sun brightens as the background ripples.

Variants:

• Several Christmas variants were produced:
  • 2004 - We see several CGI snowflakes appearing around the logo, with a red ribbon reading "Merry Christmas" fading below.
  • 2005 - We see the same CGI snowflakes as before, while a chyroned red ribbon with brown stripes reading "MERRY CHRISTMAS" forms below
  • 2006 - Frosty sparkles appear around the logo, as the red text "Season's Greetings" appears in a swirl-like effect.
  • 2007-2008 - When the logo forms, several CGI snowflakes, and red ornaments appear in the background while the sun becomes an ornament itself when the top portion of one fades onto it. The same "MERRY CHRISTMAS" ribbon from the 2005 variant forms below, but is far less chyroned on.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Same as the last logo.

Music/Sounds Variants: The Christmas variant once again uses the 1996-2000 theme.

Availability: Extinct.

7th ID (5 January 2009-2010)

ID: On a light blue background with an orange/yellow radiant, the new GMTV logo, consisting of an orange/red/yellow rounded box with top-right corner and GMTV in a connected rounded font, is formed onto the screen.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Originally, it was the same as the last logo, but beginning in March 2009, a more upbeat remixed version of the theme was used.

Music/Sounds Variants: The Christmas variant once again uses the 1996-2000 theme.

Availability: Extinct.