Corus Entertainment

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

Corus Entertainment is a Canadian television company that was founded on September 1, 1999 as a spin-off from Shaw Communications, based in Toronto, Ontario. It acquired Power Corporation's broadcasting division soon after it spun off. In 2000, it later participated in the break-up of Western International Communications along with Canwest Global and sister company Shaw, Corus acquired WIC's 12 radio stations and some of its specialty channels. At the end of 2000, Corus acquired Nelvana Limited. In 2001, Corus sold its stake in Family Channel to Astral Media, giving them full ownership, and swapped Viewers Choice Western Canada to Shaw in exchange for the Women's Television Network (now W Network).

During their lifespan, Corus has made various acquisitions, partnerships, and divestitures ever since. The company launched Disney Channel in Canada on September 1, 2015, taking over the contract from DHX Media. On April 1, 2016, Corus acquired competing broadcaster Shaw Media, and the company changed its logo for the first time in 17 years. In June 2019, the company partnered with Amazon Prime Video to launch the streaming service StackTV, offering live and on-demand content from Global and 15 of Corus' specialty services.

1st Logo (1999-June 19, 2016)



Visuals: Over a black background, a rainbow vortex flashes, forming the corporate logo of Corus Entertainment, which is various decorative designs of "COrUS" (a green Radiant Extra Condensed "C", a yellow Remedy "O", a purple FF Blur "r", a red Helvetica "U" and a blue VAG Rounded "S"), all above the text "ENTERTAINMENT".

Variants:

  • In later years, the logo was enhanced with improved CGI and is also in HD.
  • On 2007 episodes of 4 Square, a copyright stamp appears below.
  • When every Corus-affiliated channel experiences technical difficulties, the logo is still on a white background and the word "ENTERTAINMENT" is black. The trademark sign appears as well.
  • A Teletoon variant exists where the logo is still on a gradient white background with cubes floating (recycled from the 2015-23 Teletoon branding), and the word "ENTERTAINMENT" is black.
    • For the French version, "ENTERTAINMENT" is replaced by "MÉDIA".
  • A version where the logo is on the 2003-07 and 2012-14 YTV branding's background exists.
    • A version exists where the YTV "Three Eyes" ident plays as usual before the monster lifts its front leg up to reveal the Corus Entertainment logo.
  • Sometimes, the logo is shortened.
  • The logo appears in-credit on Love It or List It.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A synth warbling sound, ending with a whoosh and a three-note synthesized theme. Composed by Nathan Wang.

Audio Variants:

  • Sometimes, the ending theme of the show plays over the logo, or the logo is silent.
  • The short version lacks the three-note synthesized theme.

Availability: The regular logo is seen on Slap Shot 3: The Junior League, Uh-Oh!, System Crash, Chip 'n Orbit, some episodes of Chevrolet Top 20 Countdown on CMT, some specials from YTV's The Zone block, 2007 episodes of 4 Square, Sensitive Skin and season 2 of Transporter: The Series.

  • The shortened version is seen on many Corus distributed shows such as Treehouse TV airings of Zoboomafoo.
  • The white version is seen when certain Corus-affiliated channels experience some technical difficulties.

2nd Logo (September 12, 2016-)

Visuals: On a dark gray background, three green dots, along with a white dot, slide in. The white dot swells up to reveal a white background. A green dot appears where the white dot was as "corus." appears via a sliding fade in. "Produced in association with" fades in above the logo (most of the time). On Corus-licensed shows, the copyright info "CORUS™ & Design is a trademark of Corus Entertainment Inc. and used under license" is below it.

Variants:

  • On Departure, the text says "PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH CORUS ENTERTAINMENT" and it's also positioned up more. Also, the font is also different.
  • A short version exists.
  • A version with "STUDIOS" below the logo exists.
  • A still, in-credit version exists.

Technique: 2D computer animation by Troika Design Group.

Audio: None or the closing theme of the show.

Audio Variants:

  • On the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs TV series, five beeping sounds are heard followed by a two-note orchestral fanfare.
  • On the Bravest Warriors TV series, the final note of the custom Nelvana theme plays over it.

Availability: Seen on all post-2016 programming, starting with The ZhuZhus (originally known as Polly and the ZhuZhu Pets; before the new and current logo of Nelvana made its debut after that month of 2016) and Ransom. This was used in tandem with the production logos for Corus' TV channels until April 2020.

  • The "studios" variant can be seen on live-action productions, such as Rust Valley Restorers on The History Channel, and the Casteel Family movie series on Lifetime.
  • The music variant only appeared on the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs TV series.

Final Note

The 2016 Corus Entertainment logo had since replaced and/or plastered the ABC Spark, CMT, Global, HGTV, Food Network, Teletoon, Treehouse, W Network and YTV logos. It now produces or distributes shows or films made under these brands' banners; subsidiary Nelvana (as of 2023) is the only company left that still has its own logo (for similar purposes); the 2017 logo is still present.

Shaw Media
(acquired company)
ABC Spark Originals
Global Television
Teletoon Originals
Treehouse Originals
W Network Originals
YTV Originals
(logos)
Corus Entertainment
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