NBC Sports

Credits

Descriptions by
UWM Graphics

Compiled by
UWM Graphics

Captures by
Broken Saw, Steven Walsh, Julian Penwell II

Video captures courtesy of
Arra San Agustin, Broken Saw, Found on VHS, Steven Walsh, Julian Penwell II, Analog Indulgence

Main Presentation

1st Logo (1981-1982)

Visuals: The 1979 NBC ID is shown over a starfield. When the NBC logo forms, it moves upward along with the white "NBC Sports" outlined. The copyright stamp appears underneath the logo.

Technique: Scanimate.

Audio: The short version of NBC's "Our Pride is Showing" campaign song with Les Marshak saying "This has been a presentation of NBC Sports, the leader in innovative sports television."

2nd Logo (1982-198?)

Visuals: Over a different starfield, the NBC peacock with yellow “chaser” lights over the peacock, and the outline zooms out, then the peacock moves to the left along with the abstract N coming from the top-left and the bottom-right corners and the “NBC Sports” in ITC Serif Gothic slides from the right. Sparkles appear, and the NBC Sports logo zooms out and then it zooms back in rapidly. The copyright stamp appears underneath the logo.

Technique: Scanimate.

Audio: A trumpet fanfare rendition of the NBC chimes with a drumroll which leads to the six-note synth, then finishing with a whoosh, with a different announcer saying the same spiel.

3rd Logo (1984-1985)

Visuals: On a black background, the NBC logo flies in from the right while the logo rotates clockwise. When the NBC logo got into the center, the logo moved vertically to see the logo in front. Then the white “NBC Sports” fades in at the bottom of the NBC logo.

Technique: CGI animation by Cranston/Csuri Productions.

Audio: A triumph fanfare, then to an abridged version of NBC’s “Let’s All Be There” campaign song with Les Marshak saying “Programs regularly scheduled at this time will not be seen tonight, so that we may bring you the following NBC Sports special.”

4th Logo (1985-1986)

Visuals: A drone shot of three “NBC Sports” Windross trucks are seen driving over in snowy mountains. Then it cross-fades to the far view of two “NBC Sports” Windross trucks in the same snowy mountains. The copyright stamp appears underneath the logo.

Technique: Live-action.

Audio: Same as the 3rd logo, albeit the different announcer saying the same spiel as the 1st and 2nd logos.

5th Logo (1986-1993)

Visuals: Same as the NBC Productions logo, but the “SPORTS” is in place of “PRODUCTIONS”.

Variants:

• The closing variant has the copyright stamp appearing underneath the logo, then it fades out when the head of the NBC peacock is shown.
• In 1990, the font on the copyright stamp was different.
• In 1993, the font on the copyright stamp was changed into a more blocky font and slanted.

Technique: CGI animated by Pacific Data Images.

Audio:

• 1986-1989: A different triumphant fanfare with violins and cymbals ends with the NBC chimes, with a either Les Marshak or Hal Douglas saying “The following is a presentation of NBC Sports.”
• 1989-1993: A violin build-up, accompanied by a much different fanfare than the last then ends with the last six notes of NBC's "Come Home to the Best, Only On NBC" campaign song used from 1988-89 played on a trumpet.

Audio Variants:

• The closing variant has wither Les Marshak or Hal Douglas saying "This has been a presentation of NBC Sports, the leader in innovative sports television."
• Starting in 1989, Hal Douglas is heard saying "The preceding has been a presentation of NBC Sports."
• The Orange Bowl leads Les Marshak saying "Proud to be the network for Orange Bowl!"
• The 60th anniversary of Major League Baseball leads Les Marshak saying "Proud to have brought to you 60 years of Major League Baseball!"

6th Logo (1993-1995)

Visuals: On a dark gray background, the "NBC" in different Futura typeface (unlike NBC's proprietary font, NBC Futura) flies in from the left. Then the rainbow feathers swings in and spreads into the peacock. The cursive yellow "Sports" writes on. Five red streaks also fly-in to the right behind the "NBC" and the logo shines with light rays. The camera pans from the right to the left.

Variant: A short version exists when the logo starts with feathers starting to spread.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The six note trumpet tune which was used for 1988 NBC Olympics bumper with Hal Douglas saying "This is the NBC television network."

Audio Variant: On the 1993 NBA Finals, the 1987 NBC special presentation music is heard while the announcer saying "Programs regularly scheduled will not be seen at this time, so that we may bring you exclusive coverage of the Bulls and Suns in the NBA finals."

7th Logo (1993-1995)

Visuals: Unknown.

Technique: 2D and CGI animation with live-action.

Audio: A majestic trumpet fanfare with a similarity to the 1993 ABC ID. with NBC chimes in the middle, accompanied by the announcer saying "In a new world, a new standard of excellence, NBC Sports".

8th Logo (1995-1996)

Visuals:

• Opening: On a blue starry background, the NBC Sports (albeit the "Sports" in NBC Sports is red) logo flies in. As the logo got into the center, a white lens flare flashes in at the top-right of the "N" in NBC and the bottom-left of the NBC peacock, then dies down. A faint thin white circle can be seen enlarging behind.
• Closing:
  • 1995-late 1995: A close-up of a CGI-rendered NBC peacock is seen with white translucent rectangles. A white flash appears, and then footage of various sports (In order: American football, basketball, baseball, golfing, and the Olympics) appear along with white translucent rectangles. Then, another flash appears, which transitions to the short version of the opening logo. A copyright stamp can be seen underneath.
  • late-1995-1960: Over a blue different starfield background, footage of various sports with trophies for each sport (which changed throughout) (all overlayed in circles) appears. The yellow text and the small NBC peacock logo from the bottom right also appear. Then it fades out, and the same opening logo fades in sans the white lens flare.

Variants:

• Sometimes, the closing variant lacks the copyright stamp.
• The NBA on NBC broadcasts include the closing logo, but it's shorter, and the various sports footage is replaced by footage of past NBA broadcasts.

Technique: CGI animation and live-action for the closing.

Audio:

• Opening: Same as the last logo, but a different male announcer says "The following is a presentation of NBC Sports."
• Closing:
  • 1995-late 1995: Same as the 1993 closing logo, accompanied with audio from various sports footage and a whoosh when the flash to the NBC Sports heard with an announcer saying "Where America turns for the best in sports television, NBC Sports".
  • late 1995-1996: The NFL on NBC theme by Randy Edelman accompanied by Hal Douglas saying each sports event and then "All on America's sports leader, NBC".

Audio Variant: The NBA on NBC broadcasts have the NBA theme "Roundball Rock" accompanied by an announcer saying "You're watching NBA on NBC".

9th Logo (1996-2000)

Visuals:

• Opening: Over a background of the American flag with a glassy look of NBC peacock, the dark blue text that reads

America's

Sports

Leader

all centered with lines stacked to each word zooms in slowly. Then the white translucent text is shown zooming in faster than usual. And the CGI-rendered NBC Sports logo flies in while fading in.

• Closing: Unknown.

Variants:

• Like the last closing logo, the closing variant lacks the copyright stamp.
• The Olympic Games variant has the closing logo. Still, the following replaces the sports footage in order: A sailboat view of the Sydney Opera House, the snowy mountains in Utah, a view of Athens at sunset, a skier jumping up, and women athletes running on the track. The Olympic logos corresponded in order: Sydney 2000, Salt Lake 2002, Athens 2004 (the bidding logo), and NBC Olympics for the 2006 and 2008 Olympics. In the end, the text reads "America's Olympic Network" set in the Futura typeface.

Technique: 2D and CGI animation.

Audio:

• Opening: The short version of the closing theme, accompanied by an announcer saying "You're watching America's sports leader, NBC".
• Closing:
  • 1996-late 1996: Same as the late-1995 closing logo. But in the later days, the announcer said "The great events on all on America's sports leader, NBC"
  • 1996-2000: Unknown.

Audio Variant:

• The Olympic Games variant has a rendition of "Summon the Heroes" by John Williams, accompanied by an announcer saying "The 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake, the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, and the 2008 Olympics. All on America's Olympic Network, NBC".