Tele Monte Carlo

Background

Tele Monte Carlo (known as Telemontecarlo by Italian viewers, often abbreviated TMC) was an Italian and French language television station in the city-state of Monaco. After a while, it expanded across the Italian Peninsula while still maintaining headquarters in Monaco. In 1985, ten percent of its profits were given to the Italian TV station Rai. In the following year, the Brazilian television network Rede Globo (now TV Globo) acquired the remaining ninety percent. Because of this event, TMC began to use Globo's logo. On July 20, 1995, Vittorio Cecchi Gori (co-owner of the Cecchi Gori Group) took complete ownership of the network. Therefore, it stopped using the Rede Globo logo. In 1996, the Italian TV channel VideoMusic shut down and Cecchi Gori took its identity and formed TMC2. The channel's ratings were plummeting in this time period, due to the ambition to compete with many larger Italian television networks like RAI. In 2001 it shut down due to financial problems, and it eventually folded into La7, which only operates around Italy to this day. Currently, the TF1-owned TMC, which is a French-language only station, is in charge of broadcasting through the whole Monégasque region.

1st Logo (French, November 20, 1956-1973)

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Visuals: There is the Tele Monte-Carlo logo with a sun moving to the top-left behind it.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A fragment of "Trumpet Voluntary" by Jeremiah Clarke.

Audio Trivia: The piece's audio was arranged by English conductor Henry Wood.

2nd Logo (French)/1st Logo (Italian, 1973-December 28, 1986)

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Visuals: It is difficult to describe in detail, but the logo consists of the letters "tmc", connected together, flashing one-by-one in different arrangements. The animation is synchronized to the music. Multiple light trails appear behind and in front of the logo. A "cloudy" product is formed through these light trails sometimes, obstructing the logo. The text "télé monte carlo" (French) or "tele monte carlo" (Italian) appears on the bottom in a similar font, and has copies trailing behind it on occasion. This sequence continues for about 45 seconds.

Variant: A color variant with the light trails in various colors existed, and it eventually replaced the standard black and white variant.

Technique: Early video feedback effects.

Audio: A bombastic, high-tempo jazz-rock excerpt. It begins with a seven-note horn piece, which eventually includes violins, woodwinds, xylophones, drums, and many whooshes. It becomes increasingly bombastic as time goes on until it ends with a big finish.

Availability: Basically a station ID, but as said above, it preceded a program. It may show up on videotapes if they were in wide enough of a distribution. However, it was available in both languages.

2nd Logo (Italian; 1984-1986)

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Visuals: There is the letters "TMC" in a different, rainbow-lined font flashing on the screen. The words "TELE MONTE-CARLO" appear with it.

Variant: Another longer variant has the screen being filled with various colors, and the letters "TMC" and "TELE MONTE-CARLO", in white, flashing in one-by-one.

Technique: Likely cel animation.

Audio: Three synthesized, ascending xylophone dings in "sync" to the animation. The longer variant had a different, longer rendition of the mentioned music.

Availability: Was used as a closing logo, so it's probably a bit easier to find.

3rd Logo (Italian, 1984?)

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Visuals: There are red, blue, and green hexagons trailing towards the viewer followed by numbers ("3", "2", and "1") and back again (taken from the 3-2-1 Contact opening), with the word "tmc" in red and the word "break" under it in green zooming in and spinning.

Technique: Camera-controlled animation and computerized 2D effects.

Audio: An analog synthesizer decrescendo.

Availability: It was used as a break bumper.

4th ID (Italian, 1986)

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Visuals: Same as the 1980 variant of the 1980-1983 Rede Globo ident, but the "REDE GLOBO" wordmark is replaced by "TMC", which animates the same way as the original ident.

Variant: A short variant was also used, mostly for promos.

Technique: Same as the Rede Globo ident from 1980.

Audio: A rearranged, synthesized version of the music in the 1980 Rede Globo ident that ends with a choir singing "Tele Monte Carlo!".

Availability: It was short-lived, so chances of finding it are pretty tough unless you use YouTube.

3rd logo (French, 1986-1987)

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Visuals: On a bright sky over the sea, there is a star zooming in. Then it cuts to a Saturn-like shape where we see images of Monaco getting duplicated. At a point we see circles followed by a globe-like shape. At the end we cut to a video recording of the sea while we see the TMC logomark, which consists of the letters "TMC" with a red diamond behind each of them, with "TELE MONTE-CARLO" below the line.

Variant: There is a closedown variant where we see a video of Monaco through a globe. This is followed by the channel's name flying in, and the TMC logomark (with the letters now in silver) falling down. Then the letters move down and the red diamonds disappear. This is followed by the earth moving out of view into a starfield, and a scene of a light-beam coming from a skyscraper. Finally, the star of the normal variant flies away over the sea background, now at night.

Technique: Live action footage and likely Scanimate.

Audio: A synth tune that ends with a chorus singing "T-M-C, Télé Monte-Carlo!". The closedown variant uses a different, calmer synth tune, ending with the same chorus.

5th ID (Italian, 1986-1990)

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Visuals: The logo starts with various shots of Monaco from various angles, including the sea, a hotel, the Casino de Monte-Carlo, a man pushing poker chips with a chip rake, a view of the Casino's ceiling, the harbor, what looks like a palace, the sea, the harbor from a different angle, several buildings, and an aerial view of Monte Carlo. After a while, the last shot breaks into bars that move away vertically, revealing another shot of the sea. The Rede Globo logo then appears with a quick square transition, stays still for a second, then moves back as the shot of the sea fades out. "TMC" flies in below the logo.

Variant: In 1987, the ID was changed to show the new Rede Globo logo zooming down from the sky, the background fading to a gray/black gradient and the wordmark "TMC" appearing below the logo at the same time.

Technique: Live action mixed with CGI.

Audio: An arpeggiating synth theme with brass shots on the bar transitions, then a higher quality version of the TMC theme plays, complete with an ascending synth chime arpeggio.

6th ID (Italian, 1987-1995)

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Visuals: Same as the Rede Globo bumper from 1987-1994. Each segment of the logo is in a different form initially, but it situates itself regularly.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A two-note telephone 'melody' which came to be known by Brazilians as the "Plim-Plim" when it aired on Rede Globo.

Availability: See above.

7th ID (Italian, 1987-1995)

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Visuals: The Rede Globo idents from the time are shown with their original animation. No TMC wordmark whatsoever.

Variant: There is at least an early ident used on 1987, where one of the Rede Globo idents from the time is shown. When the logo places, the whole thing on the screen then zooms out in box form, to place itself on a gray/black gradient. The TMC wordmark then fades in below the logo.

Technique: Same as the Rede Globo idents.

Audio: Same as the Rede Globo idents. Sometimes, we hear the TMC jingle at the end.

4th ID (French, 1988-1991)

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Visuals: There is the TMC letters separate themselves from the diamonds, which overlap each other to form one big diamond, through which we see images of Monaco. When the images end, the diamond splits back into three and the TMC letters move back into place, and the channel name fades in below.

Technique: CGI mixed with live action footage.

Audio: Unknown

Availability: Unknown ^[Examples?]

5th ID (French, 1991-1993)

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Visuals: Behind a green background there is the white letters TMC in a green rectangle. Above the M we see a red ruby.

Technique: Simple fading effects, as well as clever editing.

Audio: A synth rendition of a classical music piece.

6th ID (French, 1993-2001)

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Visuals: There is the TMC logo set against a white background, then we cut to a set of lines with the "MONTE CARLO" logomark seen below it. The lines then cut to a set of marble slabs. Then it cuts to a flowing river. Then we see the TMC logomark from below. Then it cuts to waves with the "MONTE CARLO" logo mark again, with a rose appearing at the end. Then at the end the Tele Monte Carlo logomark is seen, as another Tele Monte Carlo logomark appears in the background before it cuts to sand.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: An instrumental theme, composed of oboes, violins, guitars and pianos.

8th ID (Italian, 1999-2001)

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Unknown.

7th ID (French, 2001-2003)

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Visuals: Two circles and five curves, all in various opacities in red, orange and yellow, fade and zoom out before zooming and fading back in. The curves spin around the circles as the circles move close to each other with a "wave" appearing in front. The curves zoom in and the wave shape disappears as the circles (red and orange) stop, with TMC fading in. Two curves briefly appear and turn before quickly disappearing. the logo then reverses itself seven more times.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: Unknown.

8th ID (French, 2003-2009)

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Visuals: The logo starts with 2 reversed C's forming, then "TMC Tele Monte Carlo" comes in from aside, then there is a little blinking.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Unknown

Availability: Unknown ^[Examples?]

9th ID (French, 2009-2016)

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Visuals: Depends on the ident. All variants involved the logo, in the shape of a button, push or turn itself.

• • Mushroom: We see 3 mushrooms on a short hill in a forest, with the middle one having the TMC button. About 3 seconds later, the button presses itself, and several small flowers start to bloom on the hill.
  • Flowers: We see 3 flowers, 2 of them not in bloom. After the button (which is in the middle of the flower) presses itself, the 2 flowers start to bloom. Then, whilst the camera is still panning, another flower blooms.
  • Pinball: There is a pinball machine turned off. Then, the TMC Button on a pinball bumper presses itself, turning it on.
  • Frog: There is a frog on a leaf of a fern. Then, the TMC button, which is on the frog's back, oresses itself. As it does, the frog fills up with air and floats up.
  • Car: There is a car with the TMC button at the front. Once the button presses itself, the car turns on.
  • Neon: Amongst a dim neon sign is the TMC button in the centre. Then, the TMC button presses itself, turning on the neon sign.
  • Air Turbines: There is a turbine switched off with the TMC button at the centre. Once the TMC button presses itself, all the wind turbines turn on.
  • Fridge: (Also known as "Fridge Magnet") is the TMC button as a fridge magnet with a lot of other fridge magnets. Once the button presses itself, it pulls all the magnets towards itself.
  • Watermelon: Across a tropical landscape on a wooden bench, there is a watermelon with the TMC button at the top. Then, the button presses itself, splitting the watermelon into 5 different slices.
  • Macaroons: We see 3 different macaroons (a pink one, a purple one and a green one) with the TMC button on the green one. Once the button presses itself, the macaroons get eaten (either by itself or by an invisible person).
  • Dryers: There is a dryer with an open door, followed by other dryers with open doors. One of them (the one in focus) has the TMC button. Once the button presses itself, the dryer doors close and turn on.
  • Igloo: An igloo is shown with a fishing hole and the TMC button. Once the button presses itself is that there are actually 3 fishing holes as the camera zooms out. As so, 3 fish from each fishing hole jump out the water.
  • Burger/Burger Stack: There is a burger on a plate with the following inside it: A burger patty, a slice of cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and onions. There is also the TMC button, which presses itself. Then, more of the patties, cheese, tomatoes, bread, lettuce, onions and pickles start to appear until it stops at a comfortable height. Of course, the camera pans up and we also see a glass of cola with a bendy straw next to it.
  • Gumball Machine: There is a gumball machine with the TMC button on the turning handle. This time, instead of the button pushing itself, it turns itself. As it does so, gumballs start rolling out of the machine.
  • Snail: There is a snail slithering across a rock with the TMC button on its shell. Once the button presses itself, it slithers through the rock, but much faster.
  • Garden Mills: Unknown
  • Dandelions: We see 5 dandelions, the one in focus with the TMC button. The button presses itself, as the wind appears, blowing the seeds off.
  • Letterbox: There is a metal letterbox with the TMC button at the front. The button presses itself, and as it does, the door opens and the lever pulls upward, with several letters flying out the box.
  • Breakfast: On a plate isd a fried egg with the TMC button as the yolk. As the button presses, the toast from the toaster pops out and lands on the plate.
  • Sushi: On a tray with chopsticks is sushi - 4 small and 6 long. The TMC button, located in one of the smaller sushis, presses itself, and the longer sushis cut themselves into quarters. Then, they sit in an array of 3x4 on the tray.
  • Apple Tree: There is an apple tree with the TMC button. After the button presses itself, apple start to grow on it.
  • Paint: On an empty room is 3 paint pot, 1 with the TMC button. After the button presses itself, the lids fly off as the buckets "bounce" whilst paint splashes everywhere.
  • Lillypad: Unknown
  • Baking: Unknown
  • Turtle: There is a sea turtle with the TMC button its shell swimming. Once the button presses itself, it continues to swim before jumping out the water.
  • Motorbike: Unknown
  • Bubbles: Unknown
  • Origami: Unknown
  • Vault: Unknown
  • Hummingbird: Unknown
  • Record: Unknown
  • Rubik's Apartment: Unknown
  • Makeup: Unknown
  • Haybale: Unknown
  • Hot-air Balloons: Unknown
  • Highway sign: Unknown
  • Popcorn: Unknown
  • Robot: Unknown
  • Satellites: Unknown
  • Telescopes: Unknown
  • Tops: Unknown
  • Stove: Unknown
  • Barbells: Unknown
  • Candles: Unknown
  • Headphones: Unknown
  • Ladybug: Unknown
  • Basic: Just the TMC button changing colour as it presses and some text appearing.
  • Small Helicopter: Unknown
  • Traffic Light: Unknown
  • Screws/Crate: Unknown
  • Basketball: Unknown
  • Coconuts: Unknown
  • Gotham: Unknown
  • Mario: Unknown
  • Bathtub: Unknown
  • Chinese Lanterns: Unknown
  • Balloons: Unknown
  • Stocking: Unknown
  • Icicles: Unknown
  • Thermometer: Unknown
  • Snowy Forest: Unknown
  • Christmas Dinner: Unknown
  • Bauble: Unknown
  • Christmas City: Unknown
  • Snowmen: Unknown

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A 6-note piece (with a break in the middle), ending in a 3-note piano piece.

Audio Variants:

• Sometimes, the music ends differently.
• The music is sometimes played on a different instrument.
• Sometimes the music/sound effects play before (or in the middle) of some idents.
• The music is sometimes played at a different pace.

10th ID (French, 2016-)

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Visuals: Depending on the ident.

• Normal: Over a certain coloured background featuring a "10", some sort of transition happens before changing into TMC and zooming out, with some text underneath it.
• Flag: Unknown
• Golf/Golf TV: Unknown
• Parking: Unknown
• Recreation: Unknown
• Beach: Unknown
• Bowling: Unknown
• Pool: Unknown
• Basketball Hoops: Unknown
• Telephones: We see 10 different telephones, 9 of them being black whilst the other is red. The screen then pans down to see that the black phones are flat and that the red one is the real one.
• Aquarium: Unknown
• Snowmen: Unknown
• Hats: Unknown

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Depends on the ident, but it always ends with a beat box "Tss" sound.

Availability: