United Film & Television

Credits

Compiled by
RSX-798 and Blue2000

Editions by
Blue2000, PM Pinter and Michael Kenchington

Video captures courtesy of
Broken Saw, LogicSmash, Nion's Logo Archive (formerly JM Enterprises Inc.) and Luke2505 TV

Background

United Film & Television Productions (later United Productions) was a defunct film and television subsidiary of United News & Media, formed in 1996, after buying Mills & Allen International, who owned Meridian Television and Anglia Television. It also later bought out HTV in June 1997. The company later sold Anglia, Meridian and HTV to Granada in July 2000, however for competition reasons HTV's broadcast facilities and license were later passed to Carlton in October of 2000.

Logo (December 23, 1996-August 12, 2001)

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Visuals: On a blue-black gradient background, we see the connected serif words "un" (which were the corporate logo of United News & Media), and below it was a line and we see the words either "UNITED film & television productions" or beginning in 1998 "UNITED productions" below the logo.

Variants:

• Sometimes, a co-producer will appear alongside the United logo.
• It also sometimes shares the screen with other logos as well.
• From 1996 to November 10, 1998, the "un", and the text "UNITED" was in orange. This continues to be used on The Wombles (1997 series). Sometimes, the words "for" is shown above and below the logo, and we see the words reading either "MERIDIAN BROADCASTING", "ANGLIA TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT" (both in orange) or the 1993 HTV logo in white.
• Starting in 1998, the brand logos of Meridian, Anglia or HTV are shown below the logo.
• Sometimes, the logo can be seen next to the Meridian brand logo or the Meridan brand logo appears next to the United logo.
• In 1998, shortly before the change to the ITV logo, the background was yellow, and the "un" and the text was in blue. The word "For ITV" is shown below the logo (and with the 1989 ITV logo). This was briefly used for a short time.
• On Hornblower, the logo reads "For Meridian Broadcasting in association with A&E Networks" with a line underneath the text then it switches to the normal version.
• Sometimes, the logo was superimposed in the credits.
• For programmes and shows that they produced for Channel 4, the words "for" and "Channel Four" appears below the logo with a copyright disclaimer underneath.
• For programmes and shows that they produced for BBC, the 1997 BBC logo appears underneath the logo.
• On ITV3 airings of Ruth Rendell Mysteries, the logo is in widescreen ratio instead of its usual fullscreen ratio.
• Sometimes, the logo can be a bit closer to the screen.
• On Starting Blocks, the 1996 variant alongside its Meridian notice is shrunken to the bottom right side of the screen to make room for the Trans World International logo on the top left.
• On Six Wives of Henry VIII, the print version of the logo is entirely white, stretched, and seen next to the 1999 Channel 4 "Square" logo.
• On Elizabeth, "productions" is removed.
• On 1997 CITV airings of various programmes and shows such as Goggle Watch, the logo is shrunken and shown alongside other logos against a dimly lit grey background. "An" and "Programme for" appear above and below the logos whereas the 1989 ITV logo is underneath them all.
• On season 1 of Havakazoo, the early variant has a black outline.

Technique: None.

Audio: The ending theme of the programme, show, TV movie and documentary, or none.

Availability: It was often seen on many Meridian, Anglia and HTV programmes, shows, TV movies and documentaries that they produced until 2001 such as When Calls the Heart, The Worst Witch and Hornblower, among others.

• This logo can also be seen on programmes and shows that they produced for Channel 4 and BBC such as Six Wives of Henry VIII for the former.
• It is also intact on archival sites such as Screenocean as well.
• The early variant was seen on the 1997 incarnation of The Wombles and season 5 of Wycliffe, respectively.
• The yellow background variant can be seen on later episodes of Vanessa and Hornblower, respectively.