View source for Powergen

{{PageCredits|compiled=Camenati}}

===Background===
'''PowerGen''' is an energy supplier based in Coventry, England. Known as one of the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom, it was founded in 1989. Initially, the UK government acquired a 50% stake in the company before 60% of it was sold to private investors two years later. The remaining percentage was sold in 1995.<ref>http://www.readabstracts.com/Business/More-power-to-the-people-Nuclear-U-turn-heralds-2bn-pounds-sterling-sale-the-nuclear-industry-which-.html</ref>

On July 1, 2002, PowerGen became a subsidiary of E.ON and rebranded to E.ON UK on December 3, 2007. Ever since its ownership by E.ON, the company has made acquisitions on several companies including CHN Group and Npower.

{{SeparateTOC
|Commercial endtags|
{{ImageTOC
|Powergen (1989) (Credit - advertarchive).png|1st Logo (1989-1991)
|National Power and Powergen (1990) (From - Star Trek commercial).png|2nd Logo (1990-1991)
|Powergen (1999) (Credit - Obsolete Archive).png|3rd Logo (August 30, 1998?-2000)
|Powergen (2000) (From - Dog commercial).png|4th Logo (August 2000?-2003)
|Powergen (2003) (From - an advert starring Simon Day).png|5th Logo (2003-2007)
|Powergen (2007) (Credit -  OnTheTelly).png|6th Logo (June-Fall 2007)
}}
|Sponsor logos|
{{ImageTOC
|ITV National Weather and Powergen (1989) (Credit - Alistair Cowell).png|1st Logo (1989-1993)
|ITV National Weather and Powergen (1993) (From - 15 Years ITV National Weather clips montage).png|2nd Logo (1993-Spring 2001)
|ITV National Weather and Powergen (2001, 2) (From - TVWhirl).png|3rd Logo (Summer 2001-2002)
|Powergen (2002) (From - 15 Years ITV National Weather clips montage).png|4th Logo (2002-2003)
}}}}

==Commercial endtags==
===1st Logo (1989-1991)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
Powergen (1989) (Credit - advertarchive).png
Powergen (1990) (Credit - Vintage Ads, Idents and Trailers).png
</gallery>
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
Powergen logo (1989) (Credit - Brad Frugal).mp4
</gallery>

'''Visuals:''' On a white background, a {{color|teal}} box fades in with an outlined drawing of a woman holding nothing. Underneath it is the company name in a serif font and the box is "PowerGen is currently a division of the CEGB". After the fade in, {{color|gold}} sun rays fade in and expand out of the woman's palm.

'''Variant:''' A <u>later version</u> has the logo inside a more rectangular box and the bottom text is replaced with "{{color|teal|{{Font|Century Gothic|THE FUTURE GENERATION.}}}}". The tagline would fade in alongside the expanding sun rays.

'''Technique:''' 2D animation.

'''Audio:''' A soothing whoosh sound when the sun rays expand.



===2nd Logo (1990-1991)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
National Power and Powergen (1990) (From - Star Trek commercial).png
National Power and Powergen (1991) (From - advert starring Uri Geller).png
</gallery>
{{guidance detail|reason=phone}}

'''Visuals:''' Inside a dark mechanical room (the left side has a {{color|blue}} glow and the other is {{color|orange}}), the shadow of a large, round turbine with sharp corners is shown. The turbine spins, moving closer to the two signs while flashing and emitting electricity. Shortly after that, the two signs light up, flashing after the third time. This sequence reveals the National Power and PowerGen logos. Both are against a moving, grided background and the latter logo is against a {{color|green}} color. Throughout this sequence the following text is displayed below:
<center>Issued by HM Government and approved by Kleinwort Benson Limited<br>its Financial Advisor for these offers, and TSA member<br>SHARE VALUES CAN GO DOWN AS WELL AS UP<br>If you need advice consult a Professional Advisor</center>
When the signs light up, the center of the turbine is traced, resembling an outline of a oval planet with a ring inside an outlined white circle. After the flash, the company's phone number is displayed.

'''Variant:''' On <u>an advert starring Uri Geller</u>, the phone number is replaced with text reading "OFFERS CLOSE WEDNESDAY 6TH MARCH".

'''Technique:''' Live-action

'''Audio:''' An excerpt of "The Power" by Snap!, ending at the verse "I've got the power!". Accompanying this is a male narrator directing viewers to the company's phone number for a special offer.

'''Availability:''' Appears on a ''Star Trek''-themed advert and another starring Uri Geller.

===3rd Logo (August 30, 1998?-2000)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
Powergen (1999) (Credit - Obsolete Archive).png
Powergen (1999) (Credit - VHS Wonderland).png
</gallery>

'''Visuals:''' On a power plant setting, a colorized version of the PowerGen logo from before is seen on a cooling tower. Underneath it is the company's tagline at the time "'''''THE POWER BEHIND POWER'''''". As the camera slowly zooms into the logo, cirrostratus clouds quickly fly over the power plants and the sun subtly sets.

'''Variant:''' On one advert, the logo is <u>superimposed on the end shot</u> of the commercial. Its only animation is deblurring.

'''Technique:''' CGI.

'''Audio:''' The end tail of the commercial alongside a female narrator saying the company name and its tagline.



===4th Logo (August 2000?-2003)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
Powergen (2001) (From - Bottle Neck commercial).png
Powergen (2000) (From - Dog commercial).png
Powergen and Age Concern (2001) (From - Walking Stick commercial).png
Powergen (2002) (From - March 2002 broadcast).png
</gallery>
{{guidance detail|reason=phone}}

'''Visuals:''' On a white background, the logo from before is placed above a {{color|gold}} trapezoid containing their phone number in separate arrays and a 3D style.

'''Variants:'''
* Beginning in <u>2001</u>, the logo was updated to reflect their redesign, showing a thicker, curvy, and more stylized version of the 1989 logo.
* On <u>some commercials</u>, the company's website is within a {{color|gold}} box with a {{color|green}} outline next to a play button with the same format.
* On the <u>closing sponsorship sting for the ''Monsters Inc.'' advert</u>, the text "{{color|green|Energy for you and your little monsters, come rain or shine}}" is shown underneath alongside a different phone number inside a {{color|green}} tube box.
* On the <u>"Walking Stick" advert</u>, the Age Concern logo is shown underneath PowerGen's.

'''Technique:''' None. {{SectionMisuse|Technique}}

'''Audio:''' The ending theme of the commercial.

'''Availability:''' Can be seen on the "Dog", "Walking Stick", and "Bottle Neck" adverts, which used to air during commercial breaks on Channel 4.

===5th Logo (2003-2007)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
Powergen (2003) (From - 15 Years ITV National Weather clips montage).png
Powergen (2003) (From - an advert starring Simon Day).png
Powergen (2005) (Credit - MrSocktag3).png
Powergen (2005) (From - January 2005 ITV commercial break).png
Powergen (2005) (From - February 2005 ITV commercial break).png
Powergen (2006) (Credit - Joseph Mama).png
Powergen (2006) (Credit - Adam Beckwith).png
</gallery>

'''Visuals:''' Superimposed into the end of the commercial, the logo from before but with "POWERGEN" larger and "Power in good hands" underneath it all is seen. As the woman opens her palm, several {{color|gold}} sun rays wipe in.

'''Variants:'''
* In <u>2005</u>, the tagline is removed.
* Starting in <u>October 2005</u>, a byline was added, reading "A company of '''e.on'''".

'''Technique:''' 2D animation.

'''Audio:''' The end tail of the commercial alongside a narrator saying "Positive energy from PowerGen".

'''Availability:''' It was seen on adverts such as one starring Simon Day as well as on sponsorship stings used for ''ITV Weather''. Like before, they were seen on Channel 4 and ITV commercial breaks from this period.

===6th Logo (June-Fall 2007)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
Powergen (2007) (Credit -  OnTheTelly).png
</gallery>

'''Visuals:''' On a {{color|red}} background with spinning, transparent spirals is the logo from before with its E.ON byline intact. Underneath it is their phone number after "Call now on" and website, which also contains "greener" at the end.

'''Technique:''' 2D animation.

'''Audio:''' The end tail of the commercial.



===Final Note===
When the company rebranded to its current name in 2007, they now use the standard commercial logo used by its parent company.

==Sponsor logos==
===1st Logo (1989-1993)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
ITV National Weather and Powergen (1989) (Credit - Alistair Cowell).png
</gallery>

'''Visuals:''' On the top right corner, the 1989 logo in a {{color|darkgreen|dark green}} box flips in. After that, "''Sponsored by''" fades in above.

'''Technique:''' CGI.

'''Audio:''' The ITV National Weather theme.



===2nd Logo (1993-Spring 2001)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
ITV National Weather and Powergen (1993) (From - September 1993 ITV National Weather broadcast).png
ITV National Weather and Powergen (1993) (From - 15 Years ITV National Weather clips montage).png
ITV National Weather and Powergen (1990s) (Credit - Phil Sawyer).png
ITV National Weather and Powergen (1990s) (Credit - carolyncorben).png
ITV National Weather and Powergen (1996) (From - 15 Years ITV National Weather clips montage).png
</gallery>

'''Visuals:''' On the bottom right corner of the sponsorship sting is the 1989 logo lighting up and appearing through a dissolve effect. Within a few second, it loses its glow and the particles dissolve into the logo. Appearing on top of it is "{{Font|Times New Roman|'''''SPONSORED BY'''''}}".

'''Variants:'''
* Starting in <u>1999</u>, "Sponsored by" is in a normal font and italicized.
** For the <u>closing logo</u>, the logo has a water effect throughout and its byline "THE POWER BEHIND POWER" is inserted below.

'''Technique:''' 2D animation.

'''Audio:''' The music from the sponsorship sting.

'''Audio Variant:''' In <u>1999</u>, specifically at the end of the programme, a female narrator reads "PowerGen: power whatever the weather".

'''Availability:''' It appeared on the intros for ''ITV Weather'' such as the "Weathergen" idents. This logo also appeared on a 15 year anniversary clip montage of the programme's intro history.

===3rd Logo (Summer 2001-2002)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
ITV National Weather and Powergen (2001) (From - TVWhirl).png
ITV National Weather and Powergen (2001, 2) (From - TVWhirl).png
Powergen (2001, closing) (From - TVWhirl).png
Powergen (2001, emotion clouds) (From - TVWhirl).png
Powergen (2001, snow closing) (From - TVWhirl).png
ITV National Weather and Powergen (2001) (From - 15 Years ITV National Weather clips montage).png
Powergen (2001) (From - Emotions (Shaving) ITV National Weather intro).png
ITV National Weather and Powergen (2001, Monsters Inc) (From - 15 Years ITV National Weather clips montage).png
Powergen (2001, alternate) (From - Emotions (Shaving) ITV National Weather intro).png
</gallery>

'''Visuals:''' On the bottom right corner of the screen, inside a vertical white box is the 2001 PowerGen logo with "{{color|green|'''Sponsored by'''}}" above it and its website link underneath.

'''Closing Visuals:''' On the same ident as earlier, the logo is seen within a rectangular white box with a custom tagline and website link underneath.

'''Variants:'''
* Sometimes, the logo appears on the top right half of the screen and the bottom portion of the box stretches below, revealing more text.
** On the <u>''Monsters Inc.'' sponsorship sting</u>, the text being revealed reads "{{color|green|Energy for you and your little monsters, come rain or shine.}}"
** One advert adds the text <u>"{{color|green|Controlling energy for homes and business}}"</u> below. Unlike the above variant, it has no animation.
** On the <u>"Snow" idents</u>, the text now reads "{{color|green|Bringing the essentials to life}}".
* Sometimes, the logo may crossfade to stacked text reading "Gas, Electricity, Telephone". This variant was used in <u>late 2001</u>.

'''Technique:''' None for the most part. 2D animation for some of the variants.

'''Audio:''' The music from the sponsorship sting alongside a female announcer reading "PowerGen: gas, electricity, and telephone".

'''Availability:''' Like before, it appeared on sponsorship stings for ''ITV Weather'', plus one to promote ''Monsters Inc.''.

===4th Logo (2002-2003)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
Powergen (2002) (From - 15 Years ITV National Weather clips montage).png
Powergen (2003, windmill closing) (From - TVWhirl).png
</gallery>

'''Opening Visuals:''' On the top section of the screen, multiple white tiles in three rows appear and then disappear from left to right. After this sequence, the 2001 PowerGen logo is seen in a white box on the top right half of the screen. Then, "{{color|gold|POWER IN GOOD HANDS}}" with a dark glow appears underneath and near the center of the screen.

'''Closing Visuals:''' On a white background, the woman, company name, and website on the bottom half of the screen are {{color|green}} whereas the sun's rays and tagline are {{color|gold}}. Its animation is the same as the 5th logo.

'''Technique:''' 2D animation.

'''Audio:''' A ding followed by a narrator saying the company name and its tagline. When the text appears, ascending electronic chimes play.



===Final Note===
Starting in 2003, the sponsorship tags use the standard commercial tags.

===References===

[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:British commercial tags]]
[[Category:Commercial tags]]