Channel 4 sports coup for XTV and Chrysalis

Television design agency XTV have been commissioned by Channel Four and Sunset+Vine to create new titles for their award-winning Cricket programme.
This is a double sports coup for XTV who have also won a joint pitch with Chrysalis Creative to design and produce titles for C4's Horse Racing output.
Having created the UEFA Champions League identity along with the new titles for BBC Snooker and the graphics for the biggest sports show in the world, Gillette World Sport, XTV's design portfolio of sports brands continues to expand. These most recent commissions from Channel Four will further boost both XTV's and Chrysalis Creative's reputation in the television sports branding, design and production arena. XTV and Chrysalis have worked closely together on a variety of projects and recently collaborated on the new TV branding sequences for the World Rally Championships and Formula One.
XTV creative Morgan Sendall devised the concept for the Cricket titles, called 'Closer to the Action'. It is a visual interpretation of Channel Four's key philosophy and technical innovation, bringing viewers literally nearer the players. Sunset +Vine producer Gary Franses and C4 Head of Sport David Kerr both felt it was an inventive solution that completely answered the brief.
Directed by Daryl Goodrich of Chrysalis Creative with lighting cameraman Nick Sadler and XTV producer Anne Davies, the titles will feature spectators actually on the pitch in amongst the England team, apparently during a real Test Match. It will be filmed specially in New Zealand where England are currently touring.
The production team leave two days after filming the C4 Racing titles at Doncaster racecourse. The winning concept also by XTV's Sendall, will again be directed by Chrysalis's Goodrich and filmed by Sadler. The sequence involves a simultaneous camera track from the starting gate to the winning post, seen from both sides of the racecourse during an actual race. There will be different variations for jump and flat racing, and the presentation will be called 'C4 attheraces' to tie in with the expanding 'attheraces' brand, which has online betting and an interactive racing channel.
XTV, www.xtv.co.uk
(GB)