ABC Sports

Background

In 1961, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) formed ABC Sports to produce ABC's Wide World of Sports, a sports anthology program as well as sports broadcasts. It acquired ESPN in 1984, which led to some unity between both networks. In the late '90s, The Walt Disney Company started integrating ABC Sports and ESPN, with presentation packages, graphics, and announcers shared between both networks. In 2002, ABC Sports started gaining re-independence, but in 2006 it was merged with ESPN. Today, ABC televises its sports programming under the ESPN on ABC brand.

1st Logo (1961-1988, 1998-2000)

Visuals: An in-credit notice that says:

1961-1971: This has been an
ABC
TELEVISION NETWORK
Sports Presentation
1972-1981: This has been an
ABC
SPORTS
PRESENTATION (with "ABC" in its circle)
1981-1985: This has been a
SPORTS
PRESENTATION (with "ABC" in the "O" in "SPORTS" and a copyright stamp below)
1986-1987: THIS HAS BEEN AN
ABCSPORTS
PRESENTATION (with "ABC" in white and "SPORTS" in blue and a copyright stamp below)
1987-1988: THIS HAS BEEN AN
ABC SPORTS
PRESENTATION (with "ABC SPORTS" in its corporate logo)
1998-2000: copyright ABC SPORTS
All Rights Reserved

Technique: A still, printed image.

Audio: The ending theme of the broadcast. From 1975-1988, an announcer says "This has been a presentation of ABC Sports, recognized around the world as the leader in sports television."

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era. Can be found on older home recordings, as sports broadcasts are one of the most common types of surviving home recordings.

2nd Logo (1968)

Visuals: On a white background, there is a silhouette of a man throwing a discus. The picture rotates, showing several shadows of the man. Three of the discuses become rings, and two more form, forming the Olympic Rings. "ABC" appears in one of the rings, and they converge into one.

Technique: Practical effects and camera-controlled animation.

Audio: A rendition of "Bugler's Dream", over which an announcer (Jim McKay) says "An exclusive sports presentation of ABC, the network of the Olympics".

Availability: Was only used in 1968, when ABC broadcasted the Summer Olympics which were held in Mexico at that time.

3rd Logo (1971-1974)

Visuals: On a black background, a circle is drawn around the text "ABC". It zooms out to show it as the O in the word "SPORTS". A blue circle is drawn around the text.

Technique: Motion-controlled animation.

Audio: A pounding drum beat, over which an announcer (Jim McKay) says "An exclusive presentation of ABC Sports".

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

4th Logo (1974-1975)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a sphere consisting of rotating circles with "abc sports" in them. The sphere zooms out, then the text "ABC SPORTS SPECIAL" flips in.

Technique: Motion-controlled animation.

Audio: A repeating 7-note guitar theme.

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

5th Logo (1975)

Visuals: On a black background, a rainbow colored spiral swirls into the screen. The text "abc sports" appears in the spiral.

Technique: Motion-controlled animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

6th Logo (1975-1976)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a woman dancing across the screen, leaving a trail behind her. We then see someone pole-vaulting, also leaving a trail. The Olympic rings move into the screen, and the text "ABC SPORTS" appears above it, and "NETWORK OF THE OLYMPICS" below.

Variant: In 1976, the pole-vaulter was replaced by a marathon runner.

Technique: Live-action footage.

Audio: Same as the second logo.

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts prior to the Summer Olympics in Montreal.

7th Logo (1976-1980)

Visuals: On a black background, a blue circle with the text "ABC SPORTS" with "ABC" in its corporate font flips onto the screen. The text "This has been an" slides in above, and "presentation" slides in below.

Technique: Motion-controlled animation.

Audio: Jim McKay says "This has been a presentation of ABC Sports, recognized around the world as the leader in sports television".

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

8th Logo (1980-1981)

Visuals: On a black background, a yellow circle with the text "abc sports" zooms into the screen. The circle flashes red.

Technique: Motion-controlled animation.

Audio: The end theme of the program.

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

9th Logo (1981-1985)

NOTE: The closing logo can be seen at 1:04.

Visuals:

Opening (1981-1982): On a black background, the word "SPORTS" with "abc" in the O, zooms into the screen with a trail behind it. The trail moves out of the logo, which shines.
Closing (1981-1985): Superimposed in the credits, the word "SPORTS" with "abc" in the O, zooms into the screen with a trail behind it. The text "This has been an" appears above it, and "presentation" appears below.

Technique: Scanimate.

Audio:

Opening: The opening theme of the program.
Closing: A bombastic fanfare, over which an announcer says "This has been a presentation of ABC Sports, recognized around the world as the leader in sports television".

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

10th Logo (1982-1985)

NOTE: The logo can be seen at 3:59.

Visuals: On a black background, the ABC Circle zooms out from the center of the screen. The word "SPORTS" zooms in. The two join, with "ABC" in the O in "SPORTS". The logo zooms into the screen.

Technique: Motion-controlled animation.

Audio: The opening theme of the program.

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

11th Logo (1983-1984)

Visuals: Superimposed on the opening credits, the word "SPORTS" with "ABC" in the "O" zooms into the screen from the bottom.

Technique: Motion-controlled animation.

Audio: The opening theme of the program.

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era, used in tandem with the previous logo.

12th Logo (1984-1985)

Visuals: On a black background, the same logo used in the past three logos zooms and flips on to the screen. It then zooms in.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The opening theme of the program.

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

13th Logo (1985-1986)

Visuals: On a black/gray gradient background, a gold version of the ABC circle lowers on to the screen. It pans out to show a gold version of the previous logo, standing on a pedestal. The text "25 Years" appears below it.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A slow, majestic fanfare (actually a slowed version of the generic ABC Sports music of the time) over which an announcer says "Recognized around the world as the leader in sports television, ABC Sports celebrates its 25th anniversary".

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

14th Logo (1986-1987)

NOTE: The logo can be seen at 1:23.

Visuals: Superimposed over the opening, the text "ABCSPORTS" with "ABC" in white and "SPORTS" in blue moves across the screen. The logo turns, and the camera zooms in on the "O".

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The opening of the broadcast.

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

15th Logo (1987-1989)

NOTE: The logo can be seen on the left video at 0:52. The short version can be seen on the right video at 1:52.

Visuals: On a black background, a red ABC circle moves onto a blue and red parallelogram. The text "SPORTS" flips onto the parallelogram, which zooms into the screen.

Variants:

There was a short version that started with the logo completely formed.
A closing variant was also used, where after the logo forms, it freezes, and the text "THIS HAS BEEN AN" appears above, and "PRESENTATION" below.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The opening of the broadcast, with an announcer saying "ABC Sports Presents". On the closing variant, an announcer says "This has been an ABC Sports presentation".

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

16th Logo (1989-1990)

Visuals:

Opening: On a black background, the silver letters "ABC" move onto a black rectangle with a red stripe below it. The rectangle flips, and the word "sports" appears below. A background made of blue rectangles appears behind.
Closing: On a background made of blue rectangles, footage of various sports plays over the background. A world map can also be seen behind the footage.

Variant: Sometimes, a Stereo bug will appear on the bottom.

Technique: CGI.

Audio:

Opening: A synth-rock tune, over which an announcer says "The following is a special presentation of ABC Sports".
Closing: A majestic fanfare, over which an announcer says "This has been a presentation of ABC Sports, recognized around the world as the leader in sports television".

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

17th Logo (1990-1993)

Visuals: There is many "ABC" texts flying at us. Some lines swirl around the screen. The camera turns, so the ABC texts fly past us. One of the text stops, and a rectangle with "sports" on it appears underneath. A line passes through the logo, making it flash.

Variant: The closing variant is similar, except various sports clips appear on the logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A synth hip-hop tune, over which an announcer says "The following is a special presentation of ABC Sports". The closing variant has the closing theme, over which an announcer says "This has been a presentation of ABC Sports, recognized around the world as the leader in sports television".

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

18th Logo (1993-1995)

Visuals: On a black background, there is various ABC Circles of different colors flashing. A white rectangle with the word "sports" also momentarily appears. Various sports footage moves across the screen. A red ABC Circle appears, which stretches out and forms the word "S P O R T S". More ABC Circles flash over the sports footage. A red letter "A" spins around. Over more sports footage, A "B" zooms into the screen, as does a "C" and the 1990 ABC Sports logo. The beginning circles and rectangle appear again.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A dramatic fanfare, over which an announcer says "The following is a special presentation of ABC Sports". Around 1994, it was changed to a less dramatic, more cheerful theme. The closing variant has the closing theme, over which an announcer says "This has been a presentation of ABC Sports, recognized around the world as the leader in sports television".

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

19th Logo (1995-1997)

Visuals:

Opening: On a blue background, there is the ABC circle, with sports footage playing inside of the circle. The footage stops, the circle turns black. A gold square appears around the circle, which zooms out, revealing the word "SPORTS" below it.
Closing: The opening played in reverse, which then shines at the end.

Technique: CGI.

Audio:

Opening: A majestic fanfare composed by Non-Stop Music, over which Aaron May says "The following is a special presentation of ABC Sports".
Closing: May either saying "You are watching ABC Sports, recognized around the world as the leader in sports television" or "This has been a presentation of ABC Sports, recognized around the world as the leader in sports television" over the fanfare.

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

Note: Between 1997-2001, ABC Sports used its "ABC Wide World of Sports" logo for all programs, as well as custom intros. Closing logos were replaced with a simple copyright stamp.

20th Logo (2001-2003)

Visuals: Over the opening, the print ABC Sports logo flies by the screen.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The opening, over which an announcer says "ABC Sports presents".

Availability: Can be seen on sports broadcasts from the era.

ABC Sports

ESPN on ABC

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