The coat of arms.

Computer generated "sculpture" of the BBC's coat of arms at the start of a BBC News broadcast.

The coat of arms of the BBC was adopted in March 1927 to represent the purpose and values of the corporation. While the coat of arms is now in relative obscurity — it does not appear on BBC programmes, literature, etc. — this was not always the case. From 1993 to 1999 a computer generated 3-D glass sculpture appeared prominently at the beginning and end of BBC News broadcasts (see picture), as part of a "virtual studio". This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ... This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ... The current BBC News logo BBC News and Current Affairs is a major arm of the BBC responsible for the corporations newsgathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The current BBC News logo BBC News and Current Affairs is a major arm of the BBC responsible for the corporations newsgathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ...

Elements

The various elements of the coat of arms were chosen to provide a heraldic translation of the qualities of the BBC. Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. ...

• Lion — the crest of the coat of arms (lion at the top, above the shield and helmet) states the fact that the BBC is British.
• Thunderbolt — The lion grasps a thunderbolt in its outstretched paw, this to represent broadcasting itself (transmission).
• Eagles — In heraldic language the two eagles which grasp the shield are "supporters". Eagles were chosen to depict the inherent speed of broadcasting. Both eagles have bugles suspended from their collars, representing "proclamation", i.e. the public service element of broadcasting.
• Motto — The coat of arms features the BBC motto, "Nation shall speak peace unto Nation"
• Shield
  • Globe — the globe in the shield of the coat of arms represents the scope and breadth of the BBC's operations
  • Estoiles — Around the globe are seven estoiles, heraldic symbols for divine goodness and nobility. Their place in the shield increase the representation of the scope and breadth of the corporation. (They also symbolize the planets known at the time of the BBC's founding. Pluto was not discovered at the time, and has since been demoted)

The background of the shield, the mantling (drapery depicted tied to the helmet above the shield) and the collars of the eagles are blue (azure in heraldry). In heraldry, a crest is a component of a coat of arms. ... In heraldry, supporters are figures placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. ... A motto (from Italian) is a phrase or a short list of words meant formally to describe the general motivation or intention of an entity, social group, or organization. ... The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom displayed an inescutcheon of the arms of Hanover between 1801 and 1837 when the British monarch held the title of King of Hanover. ... Plutoed is a neologism chosen as the 2006 Word of the Year by the American Dialect Society. ... For a list of words with definitions, see the Heraldic tincture category of words in Wiktionary, the free dictionary In heraldry, tinctures are the colours used to blazon a coat of arms. ...

Background

The idealistic BBC motto is most likely based on biblical verses from the Book of Micah and the Book of Isaiah: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. In 1934 the motto was changed to "Quaecunque", meaning "Whatsoever". The motto later reverted to the original. The Book of Micah is one of the books of the Neviim and of the Old Testament. ... The Book of Isaiah (Hebrew: Sefer Yshayah ספר ישעיה) is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament, believed to be written by Isaiah[1]. // The 66 chapters of Isaiah consist primarily of prophecies of the judgments awaiting nations that are persecuting Judah. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In the BBC's "virtual" news set from the mid-1990s much of what was seen was computer generated using Silicon Graphics systems. The titles opened to the BBC News logo overlaid on the spinning globe. The shot widened to include the whole coat of arms and finally the whole set (of which only the newsreaders and parts of the desk were real). The coat of arms, studio lights, floor and the majority of the desk were all computer generated. This article is 150 kilobytes or more in size. ... Silicon Graphics, Inc. ...

The style of the coat of arms has changed considerably over time; from the style of the motto, the formality of the lion and eagles, the alignment of the shield (it was tilted in early versions, and is now perfectly straight) and the addition of a compartment (the design placed under the shield, a grassy mound in the BBC coat of arms). In heraldry, a compartment is a design placed under the shield, usually rocks, a grassy mount, or some sort of other landscape upon which the supporters are depicted as standing (a compartment without supporters is possible but practically unknown, with the exception of South Australia[1]). It is sometimes said...