Universal Network Television

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

In 1999, after Universal sold its 50% shares of Brillstein-Grey Entertainment to Grey renaming the television unit to Brad Grey Television, Universal launched Universal Studios Network Programming to continue to produce Brillstein-Grey productions such as The Steve Harvey Show, Just Shoot Me! (both of them were respective megahits of NBC and The WB) and Work with Me. After struggling, in 2002, it merged with the network television unit of Studios USA Television to form a newly reorganized Universal Network Television.

Note: Releases from 1999-2002 (and some from 2003) feature a short version of the Universal Studios logo without any modifications.

Logo (September 27, 2002-May 19, 2004)

Visuals: There is the finished product of the 1997-2012 Universal Pictures logo, with the globe still rotating and the glow shining, but the shadow behind "UNIVERSAL" is absent. Below the globe is text "UNIVERSAL NETWORK TELEVISION" (in gold) and the URL "www.universalstudios.com" (which is smaller this time).

Variants:

  • On some shows, the text "in association with" appears above the logo.
  • On original ABC and NBC airings, the URL is not shown.

Technique: CGI by Picturemill.

Audio: A short version of the movie counterpart's theme composed and conducted by Jerry Goldsmith, only this time, the French horn theme plays alone, and the two percussion hits are played by the orchestra. Three short versions of the logo exist:

  • 2002-2004: The same odd short version of the original 1997 Universal TV logo.
  • 2002-2003: An odd short version with four notes, which appears on Robbery Homicide Division.
  • 2003-2004: Final short version using the first four notes playing fast and the last note of the theme.

Audio Variants:

  • ABC, CBS and NBC airings used a generic theme.
  • Sometimes, the end theme plays over the logo or none.

Availability:

  • It appears on several shows, like 2002-04 episodes of Law & Order and its associated spinoffs, and the 2003 revival of Dragnet.
  • It also appears on the last episode of Columbo titled "Columbo Likes the Nightlife".

Copyright Stamps

Here is some information about the copyright stamps on the Universal Television series and TV movies:

  • 1999-2003: Copyright © [YEAR] Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. (Used on The Steve Harvey Show, Work with Me and Just Shoot Me!)
  • 2002-2004: Copyright © [YEAR] Universal Network Television LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
Studios USA Television
PolyGram Television
Universal Network Television
NBC Universal Television Studio
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