Broadcasters

Credits

Descriptions by
Logent

Captures by
Logent

Editions by
Pyscowicz

Video captures courtesy of
MrPhantaze, Pyscowicz, FinnTapes and Japperi

Background

Broadcasters was a Finnish production company founded in 1990 by executive producers Saku Tuominen and Juha Tynkkynen. Most of the programs the company produced were based on foreign formats. The company also produced programs under different divisions such as Media-Active, The End Production and Intervision (a joint ownership with MTV Oy). In 2004, French media group Zodiak Television bought Broadcasters, but the brand was still used temporarily. It wasn't until 2016 when the Broadcasters brand was then completely abandoned with later television productions being produced under a new division, Banijay Finland.

Logo (1991-2016)

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Visuals: Over a black background, the logo starts with thin dark blue smoke rising from the bottom of the screen via a film noir style, while letters turned the other way around are seen flashing randomly on the screen, then from left to right. Eventually, two blue-tinted light beams are forming a heart, while revealing "broadcasters" in an art-deco font from a black background with a dim shadow of letters being visible on the light beams. After this, the thin smoke vanishes, as the logo is then seen clearly on the background.

Bylines:

• 2005-2010: "A ZODIAK BRAND"
• 2008-2010: "A ZODIAK ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY"
• 2010-2016: "a zodiak media company"

Variants:

• Sometimes, the logo is set closer to the screen.
• On some programs, the logo is seen already formed.
• In some cases, the light beams are brighter than usual.
• Starting in 2002, the first six seconds of the logo were permanently cut, and the company name is now set in a slightly different art-deco font and casts a bigger shadow on the now-teal light beams.
• An actual variant played backwards, including reversed laughter, is featured exclusively in the comedy show Presidentin kanslia.
• In the mid-2000s, when some programs began airing in high definition, the regular logo had its upper and lower points of the screen cut off.
• A widescreen variant was introduced in 2005, with the logo stretched to fit the new ratio, along with a Zodiak byline appearing below.

Technique: Live-action and 2D animation.

Audio: A sleazy and slow-paced jazz tune with a two-note ending. A woman's cynical sounding laughter is then heard.

Audio Variants:

• On some programs, the woman's laughter is absent.
• The 2002 version starts with the jazz tune's two-note ending.

Audio Trivia: According to a Studio55.fi article, Manne Railo composed the jazz tune, while Minna von Reiche, owner of Femkanten Media, provided her laugh at the end of the logo.

Availability: Seen on a wide variety of shows Broadcasters produced, such as talk shows, game shows and reality TV programs.

• The 1991 version appeared on the Frank Pappa Show, Hyvät, pahat ja rumat, early seasons of Uutisvuoto (based on the British panel show Have I Got News for You), Maailman Ympäri and Kokkisota, among other shows until 2002.
  • The variant lacking the laugh can be spotted at the end of 1994-1997 episodes of Mediapeli.
• The 2002 fullscreen variant is seen on 2002-2005 episodes of Uutisvuoto, Maailman Ympäri, Kokkisota, and early seasons of Huuma. It also appears on the 2008 DVD release of K-70.
• The widescreen variant is seen on Talo Italiassa, Tanssii tähtien kanssa (the Finnish version of Strictly Come Dancing), Vain elämää and Tie Roomaan: kaksi pientä elefanttia, among other shows.