Services Sound and Vision Corporation

Credits

Compiled by
NotPurpleHoodieBoi

Background

The Services Sound and Vision Corporation was formed in 1982 from the merger of the Services Kinema Corporation and the British Forces Broadcasting Service. It's activities included the BFBS with its radio and television operations, SSVC Cinemas, the British Defence Film Library, and its live events arm, Combined Services Entertainment. The operations of SSVC we're changed on March 2, 2020 when most of their properties under its management were rebranded under the new BFBS and Forces brandings. The official name of the entity was changed to BFBS on July 23, 2020.

1st Logo (1982-1986?)

Visuals: Over a black background, a series of colorful slanted square borders ranging from small to big sizes - in order, shades of yellow, 4 each, shades of blue, 4 each and shades of green, 3 each - start appearing individually starting from white colors, with the last remaining white for a bunch of milliseconds, before zooming out, leaving out a duplicate behind. The slanted square that remained white stands to the left portion, as three duplicates appear next to the latter and each other individually. A horizontal bar slides and goes through them, as the colorful slanted square borders disappear from small to big, as the remaining elements start turning red after that. The letters "SSVC" appear on each of the squares individually.

Technique: Traditional animation.

Audio: "Superstar Fanfare (h)" by Keith Mansfield.

Availability: Seen on documentary films from this era, such as the 1-4 parts of The Falklands War: The Land Battle, SLTA: Soltau Luneburg Training Area, Recce Patrol and others.

2nd Logo (1986?-Mid 1990s)

Visuals: A yellow glowing ball of light emerges from the right portion of a dark shape, which lightens to reveal itself as a scrolling blue/dodger blue grid pattern. While the ball of light slowly slides out of the screen, the slanted squares emerge from the distance individually, with a white color on the faces and red/orange on it's lateral faces, with the "SSVC" on each. The grid pattern moves from where the squares we're positioned at, and flattens whilst sliding, revealing the continents of the world map on it's rear. Whilst this happens, the slanted squares move and rotate in group into view and settle underneath as they flash, turning the orange colors from the bottom into red.

Variant: A later version has the animation refurbished with different movements. From here, the grid pattern is now a whole column/row of teal beveled squares, and that the ball of light is less lighter than before. The slanted squares have round edges, and the letters appear slightly modified.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Starting with a swoosh, an ethereal looping synth arpeggio is heard with small descending synths on the process. It culminates to a 3-note synth chime ending with a heavenly synth sounder.

Audio Variant: For the later version, the swoosh is slightly quieter then, with the descending synths absent. The ending is more orchestral sounding rather than heavenly.

Availability: Seen on documentary films from this era, such as Can Anyone Be Sure, Sappers in Support, Territorial Signallers and others.