ABP News is one of India’s leading news channels, which is known for delivering news in Hindi. It has several regional channels catering to a large audience belonging to the hinterland of India. Over the years, ABP News has undergone several rebranding efforts, which included changes to its logo. Each evolution of the ABP News logo has represented its journey and growth. It has also represented its desire to keep up with the times and connect with its audience. This article takes a detailed look at the history and evolution of the ABP News logo over the years.
The Genesis of the ABP News Logo (1996-1999)
ABP News was formerly known as STAR News, which started its journey as a news network on 30th March 1996. The logo comprised a vertical rectangle featuring an abstraction of a star image in yellow and set against a deep blue background. The thick contours of the star and the background colour were ably highlighted by a thin orange frame of the rectangle.
At the top and bottom of the emblem were mentioned “STAR” and “NEWS” in yellow, respectively, and placed inside two horizontal rectangles with a dark blue background. The individual letters of the brand name rendered in a sans-serif typeface were placed at a distance from each other.
(1999-2001)
In 1999, the logo design was composed of two parts. On the left was the emblem of the original logo, but with the colour palette reversed. On the right was the brand name rendered in deep blue and placed against a yellow background. The word “STAR” was in a smaller size with individual letters spaced apart, while the bigger word “NEWS” was placed below and executed in a thicker and bolder sans-serif font. The wordmark and the emblem were separated and enclosed within a horizontal rectangle with a blue outline.
(1999-2001)
In yet another logo iteration of the same period, the earlier logo design was rendered in lighter shades of yellow and blue.
(2002-2007)
During this period, the previous logo was refined by changing the colour palette, the emblem, and the rectangle. The colour palette was made blue and white and reversed for both parts of the logo. For instance, the emblem on the left comprising a star in blue was placed against a white background.
Additionally, a white swoosh intersected the star emblem from the left, with its pointed end converging with the right arm of the star. The wordmark, on the right, appeared in white against a blue background. Both elements were enclosed within a horizontal rectangle with rounded corners at the top left and bottom right, respectively.
(2003-2012)
In 2003, STAR took total control of the network from NDTV and made it into a 24-hour Hindi news channel. This necessitated a change in the logo where the word “NEWS” was written in Hindi. Also, a gradient white colour was used more on the left side of the emblem to give the logo a 3D effect.
(2012-2017)
In 2012, a significant change took place when the collaboration between STAR India and the ABP Group ended. As a result, STAR News was rebranded as “ABP News.” This change led to the need for a completely new logo that would separate ABP from its past identity and establish its own brand presence. The revamped logo comprised a vertical shield-like rectangle divided into two parts. The top one featured an arrow in blue with a gradient to symbolise progress, growth, and forward thinking—values that ABP News wanted to convey.
Just below the arrow appeared the brand name “ABP” in a blue sans-serif typeface. The bottom part of the rectangular shield featured the Hindi variant of the word “NEWS” in white and set against a blue background. Interestingly, the rounded corners of the previous logo were reversed in this iteration.
(2017-2020)
In 2017, the colour palette of the previous logo was changed to red, black, and gold. The use of the shades of red in the arrow above and the background below signified passion and urgency. At the same time, the gold accent in the background above and the wordmark below added a sense of prestige and quality. This rebranding marked the beginning of a new era, and the new ABP News logo was prominently featured across all its media outlets.
(2020-Present)
As minimalist design became a trend across various industries, ABP News decided to streamline its logo. The triangular shape was retained, but the colour palette was simplified to a more solid red while dropping the gold accents. This version of the logo was clean, sharp, and modern, which allowed it to stand out more effectively on mobile devices, websites, and social media platforms.
The simplification of the design reflected the efforts of ABP News to align itself with contemporary design aesthetics. At the same time, it retained the core elements of its brand identity. The refined logo was seen as a reflection of the channel’s commitment to clear, unbiased, and straightforward news delivery.
The Elements of the ABP News Logo
Symbol
A prominent feature of the latest ABP logo is the arrow, which symbolises progress and adaptability. This element breaks away from traditional static designs and represents the commitment of ABP to evolve with the fast-paced media landscape. The arrow signifies a forward-thinking approach and encourages viewers to embrace change and seek truth beyond limits.
Font
The font used in the ABP News logo is sans-serif, which is designed to be modern and easily readable. The new wordmark and taglines were developed by Prof. Fiona Ross to emphasise clarity and diversity in scripts. However, these maintained harmony across different languages within the ABP Network.
Colour
The colour palette of the ABP News logo comprises red and yellow. The red colour signifies passion, determination, and a strong commitment to putting viewers first. Red is often associated with energy and action, which aligns with the channel’s dynamic approach to news reporting.
The yellow colour, on the other hand, represents intellect and aspiration. Besides, it adds a sense of optimism and enlightenment. This colour choice reflects the channel’s goal of fostering informed discussions and encouraging viewers to aspire for a better understanding of the current events.
The History of ABP News
ABP News is a prominent Indian news channel with a rich history that reflects the evolution of media in India. It was originally launched as STAR News on February 18, 1998, by STAR India in collaboration with NDTV. The channel initially provided bilingual programming in English and Hindi. However, in 2003, after its licensing agreement with NDTV got over and new government regulations were announced to limit foreign ownership in Indian news channels, STAR News became a Hindi-only format.
This change coincided with the formation of Media Content and Communications Services Pvt. Ltd. (MCCS), where ABP held a 74% stake. On April 16, 2012, the channel was rebranded as ABP News, which marked a significant shift in its identity and strategy. The shift was aimed at establishing the channel as a leader in Hindi news broadcasting. The network continued to expand its reach by launching regional channels such as ABP Sanjha in Punjabi and ABP Asmita in Gujarati in 2014 and 2016, respectively.
In December 2020, ABP Network underwent a comprehensive rebranding that included new logos and graphics packages across all its channels, executed by Saffron Brand Consultants. This modernisation aimed to better reflect the network’s vision of fearless journalism and dynamic audience engagement. It also sought to enhance the HD broadcasting capabilities of the network. Overall, the history of ABP News is marked by its adaptability and evolution in response to changing media landscapes and audience needs.
Interesting Facts About ABP News
- ABP News began its journey as STAR News, which was a partnership between STAR India and NDTV.
- The channel used to air bilingual programming in Hindi and English but later changed to Hindi-only programming in 2003.
- STAR India partnered with the ABP group in 2003 as a joint venture following a new government regulation that limited foreign ownership in Indian news channels.
- The joint venture resulted in the ABP group acquiring a 74% stake in Media Content and Communications Services (MCCS), the company managing STAR News.
- The ABP group acquired total control of the channel and changed its name to ABP News on April 16, 2012. It was a broader strategy of the ABP group to establish a separate identity, which was different from STAR India.
- In 2014, the ABP Network expanded its footprint by launching various regional channels. These included ABP Ananda (Bengali), ABP Majha (Marathi), and ABP Sanjha (Punjabi). On January 1, 2016, it launched ABP Asmita (Gujarati) as well.
- ABP News won several awards over the years. These include the best Hindi news channel award at the Indian Television Academy Awards in 2022. It also won the news channel of the year (jury choice) at the Exchange4Media News Broadcasting Awards.
- ABP News belongs to the broader ABP Group, an India media conglomerate based in Kolkata. It includes newspaper publications such as Anandabazar Patrika and The Telegraph.
- ABP News has courted controversies related to editorial independence, especially during the tenure of Punya Prasun Bajpai.
- Some of the notable programs run by the channel include Pradhanmantri (Prime Minister), Viral Sach (Viral Truth), and Pehli Khabar (First News).
Finally
The ABP News logo and its various iterations are a testament to the growth of the news network and its efforts to stay relevant and modern in an ever-changing media landscape. Starting its journey as STAR News, the channel became a household name as ABP News. The visual identity of the brand has been transformed to align with contemporary design trends and the digital era. Each logo change has represented a strategic move. It signifies the channel’s values of progress, clarity, and a commitment to quality news broadcasting.