BBC America

Credits

Descriptions by
James Fabiano, Daniel Fuentz, Sean Beard, Logophile, BenIsRandom and Kris Starring

Captures by
Bob Fish, Eric S. and Logophile

Editions by
V of Doom, Mr. Logo Lord, AlmightyKingPrawn and Michael Kenchington

Background

BBC America was formed on May 1, 1981 as Lionheart Television International, Inc., a joint venture primarily consisting of Western World Television and Public Media, Inc. Lionheart took over the US distribution rights to the BBC's television output after a previous deal with Time-Life Television expired, as well as that of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The BBC eventually bought Lionheart outright by 1987, making it their North American distribution arm, which was renamed to "BBC America" in 1994, and later launched as a television channel in March 1998. In 2014, AMC Networks purchased a 49.9% stake in the company, replacing Discovery Inc. as the BBC's managing partner in the US.

1st Logo (1994-1997)

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Visuals: Same as the 1992 BBC Video logo, except the words "WORLDWIDE AMERICAS" appear under the CGI version of the 1988 BBC logo.

Technique: Same as the 1992 BBC Video logo.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen at the end of American prints of BBC shows from the time-period until 1997.

• It appeared at the end of Red Dwarf and other British programs that appear on PBS stations.
• It may also appear on episodes of Last of the Summer Wine (Season 10 and Season 11), if your station is running them.
• It is also kept intact on the DVD release of Sister Wendy's Odyssey.

2nd Logo (1998-2001)

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Visuals: The sequence starts with a closeup of the globe hot-air balloon seen on BBC One's UK idents from 1997 to 2002. Then, in a very quick flash, a box appears against a blue background. It contains footage of the same balloon over a river and to the right of a riverside building (which is the Eilean Donan castle in Scottish Highlands). Under the picture are the words "BBC (in the Box logo) AMERICA presents", and the "BBC AMERICA" part expands as the logo fades out.

Technique: A mix of live-action and computer animation by Lambie-Nairn.

Audio: A light piano tune that ends in a heavily reverberated note with the "flash". The tune itself is taken from one of the BBC One idents from between 1997 and 2002.

Availability: Seen on American prints of BBC shows as an opening bumper until 2001.

• Previously seen as the opening bumper for many British television programmes on PBS stations.
• It can still appear on programmes such as Keeping Up Appearances, Fawlty Towers, Waiting for God, As Time Goes By (up to season 8), Last of the Summer Wine (up to season 21) and Are You Being Served?, if your station has older prints.

3rd Logo (2001-2007)

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Visuals: Inside a dark room, a silhouette of a woman is seen blowing red roses out of her hand. The screen then turns white with the left side of the screen being filled with a hazy blue/red blob. As the roses fully blow out, an air haze is seen, with what looks like a blurry United Kingdom flag (even waving as such). The BBC America logo appears at the bottom.

Technique: Live-action combined with computer effects by Telezign.

Audio: A techno tune with a soloist in the background.

Availability: Seen on the American prints of BBC shows from this time-period until it was replaced with the next logo.

• It still appears on older prints of As Time Goes By (Season 9), To The Manor Born, Last of the Summer Wine (from Season 22 to Season 27; Season 28 and Season 29 don't have any logo at all) and the Are You Being Served? episode "Do You Take This Man?".
• It was also used as a station ID on BBC America from 2001 to 2005.

4th Logo (June 1, 2005-November 19, 2018)

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Visuals: On a dark cloudy background, there is the 1997 BBC logo along with the text "WORLDWIDE AMERICA" (with "WORLDWIDE" on top of "AMERICA") emerging from the clouds.

Variants:

• There is a variant with the print logo on a white background.
• On I'm with Stupid, the logo is next to the Reveille Productions logo.

Technique: CGI by WunderFilm.

Audio: A whoosh or the closing theme.

Availability: Once more, seen on programmes until 2018.

• Seen at the beginning (and sometimes end) of Dancing with the Stars.
• It was also seen on the short-lived Viva Laughlin and the failed pilot of I'm with Stupid.
• The print logo appears on BBC-licensed games, like Dancing With the Stars: We Dance! for Nintendo DS.

◄ Lionheart Television

BBC America