QUBE

Background

QUBE (formerly a division of Warner Cable, currently known as Time Warner Cable) was a cable television system that played a pivotal role in the history of American cable television. Launched in Columbus, Ohio on December 1, 1977, QUBE introduced viewers, and the international press, to several concepts that became central to the future development of cable television: pay-per-view programs, special-interest cable television networks, and interactive services. It also led to the formation of Nickelodeon (formerly "Pinwheel") and MTV, both of which are now owned by Paramount Global through their subsidiary Paramount Domestic Media Networks (VDMN).

1st Logo (1979?-1982)

Logo: On a black background, we see two groups of multicolored lines spin around with a trail effect, with one of them being drawn in. As they settle in the center of the screen, the smaller group of lines gets into position to form a group of diamonds that resembles 2 outlines of cubes with each side colored differently. The cube outlines start to zoom in as a white square is drawn in on the top part of the cube on the left, which then flips onto the other outlines, forming the logo. As this happens, the logo zooms into place and the outline disappears. The logo consists of 2 cubes facing upwards and downwards respectively, with 3 sides of each one visible. Four of the sides form the text "QUBE" in a big blocky font, with the remaining sides (the top side of the left cube and the bottom side of the right one) being solid. The sides of the left cube are orange, crimson, and blood red, while the right cube's sides are blue, green, and light green.

Variant: At the start of some programs, the words "A" and "Presentation" may appear above and below the logo respectively.

Technique: Scanimate.

Music/Sounds: A synth theme that sounds quite a lot like an overly synthesized, rearranged version of "Star Wars: Main Title" by Isao Tomita. Most of the time, it was just the closing or opening theme of the program.

Availability: QUBE was only available in certain markets like Columbus, OH, meaning it was extremely rare to find in the first place. It was seen on original QUBE shows like Celebration and The Magic Touch, as well as other programs like the first run of Pinwheel.

2nd Logo (1982-1984)

Logo: On a black background, an orange-red cube with two orange sides flies in from the right side of the screen, spinning and rotating along as a blue light shines on its surface. As it stops on the center-left of the screen, a large group of glowing lines appears and sweeps across the cube, forming the QUBE logo in orange-red, with the top side of the left cube in orange and the bottom part of the right side in magenta. The logo sparkles as the words "A" and "Presentation" appear above and below the logo.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: An futuristic whirring sound can be heard throughout the logo, with a whoosh when the lines wipe in on the logo and a one-note synth tune with beeping at the end.

Availability: Considering that the system was almost dead, very few programs had this. The Score was one of these programs that had it.