NODD (Nexus Orthicon Display Device) - The BBC1 Mirrored Globe

The BBC1 Mirrored Globe

The most famous use of the NODD system was the BBC1 mirrored globes used between 1969 and 1985, albeit with minor colour changes. The globe model featured an internally lit globe, with the sea being painted on in metallic black paint, and the land masses being clear, in front of a concave mirror. The original mirror globe ident was introduced on 15 November 1969 and featured blue continents and legend against a black background. The legend included the word 'Colour' after the BBC1 corporate logo, both to indicate the new format the programme were being broadcast in, but also to act as a subtle reminder to the vast majority of viewers, still watching in black and white, to buy a colour TV set and the much more expensive colour television licence which financed the BBC. The colours of blue and black were chosen because they are still easily distinguishable to those with a black and white set, as the vast majority of the population still did not own a colour set. The ident was modified in 1972 to include the new, rounder BBC logo, which also resulted in the 'Colour' legend appearing in an italic serif font. There was also another version of the globe that didn't contain a 'Colour' legend which was used before schools programmes, which were filmed in black and white until 1972.

In 1974, the globe was altered again: the colours were changed to yellow continents with a dark blue background. The legend was changed to simply BBC1, this time in Futura typeface, and the 'Colour' identification was removed. This version lasted until 1981, when it was again changed, the colours changed to a green globe with dark blue background, with a double striped BBC1 legend. Throughout all these years, the globe model itself was altered as it had to be frequently re-painted and modified. This led to a number of odd variations: the tip of South Africa was pointed in some 1981 variations, and the Pacific islands more pronounced in other models.

Alongside the mirrored globe, a number of other presentational devices were used, the main one of these being the clock. The clock also used the NODD system, allowing the colours to be the same as the present ident. To allow enough light onto the model, a light was fixed onto the camera to shine onto the clock and other idents; this light was not used on the main ident however. The clock was mechanical, and featured numerals indicated by double lines that increased in thickness the further round the clockface. The clock also featured a 'polo' mint centre. The clock is quite distinctive, and became strongly associated with the BBC. The clocks colour and legend never differed from that of the main ident.

The clock was changed in December 1981, with the introduction of a computerized clock. Following BBC2's rebrand to the electronic striped 2 ident, technicians started working on an electronic clock to accompany the new look, and following its completion it was this that replaced mechanical version. The new clock featured a single uniform line thickness all the way round, except at 12, 3, 6 and 9 where the lines were doubled. The polo mint centre was also removed in favour of a central dot.

The looks were also accompanied by static programme captions. The captions for the 1969 to 1974 look used the legend of the ident in their captions located at the bottom of the screen. However, the style was changed in c.1974 to feature a banner at the top of the image featuring double striped lines and the double striped BBC1 logo. This design was used from c.1974 until 1985.