Universal Television (2011-present)

Background

Universal Television has its roots going back to 1947 when they entered the television market via United World Films. But after very little success, they shifted into producing TV commercials under Universal International Television, with the United World Name being renamed Universal Television by 1956. The current company of Universal Television was formed in 1962 after MCA bought Decca Records, who was also the owner of Universal-International Pictures and renamed MCA's television production company Revue Studios to the then-current name. They co-produced many shows with Jack Webb's Mark VII Limited such as Adam-12 and a revival of the 1951 series Dragnet in 1967. In 1988, Universal Television and MCA TV formed a sub-division known as MCA Television Entertainment (or "MTE").. In 1990, Uni TV began the Law & Order franchise. The same year, Universal was acquired by the electronics company Mastushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (now "Panasonic Corporation"). In 1995, Universal was acquired by Joseph A. Seagram and Sons and later acquired the USA Networks. In 1996, MCA was reincorporated as "Universal Studios" and acquired Multimedia Entertainment from Gannett, Inc., and Universal Television's distribution arm, MCA TV, as well as its sub-division, MTE were renamed to Universal Television Enterprises and Universal Television Entertainment respectively. In 1997, Universal sold off its USA Networks and Universal Television to HSN Inc. (a company owned by Barry Diller), who renamed it to Studios USA. In 1998, the breakup of United International Pictures' TV arm led to Universal reforming its own international television distributor, Universal Worldwide Television. It handled international distribution of Studios USA shows, while Studios USA handled domestic distribution of Universal's own library. In 1998, Seagram bought PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, which included PolyGram Television. The deal closed in 1999, and the name PolyGram was soon scrubbed and replaced with the Universal name. However in 1999, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios used its debt to acquire most of the pre-1996 films (1,300 titles) by PolyGram from Seagram. In 2001, Vivendi Universal acquired USA Networks and made Diller as CEO of VU Entertainment fully reforming Universal Television. On May 12, 2004, General Electric (GE) acquired 80% of Universal Studios and merged the studio with NBC to form "NBC Universal, Inc." (now "NBCUniversal, LLC") and merged the two television companies to form "NBC Universal Television" (now "NBCUniversal Television"). However, the company decided to keep the NBC and Universal Television names in the end credits from any series by NBC or Universal. On September 12, 2011, the name "Universal Television" was reinstated, replacing the name "Universal Media Studios".

Universal Studios

1st Logo (1963-1964)

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Nicknames: "CGI Globe IV", "Sunburst Globe II", "2010s Globe II"

Note: This is an enhanced, standard version of the previous logo, complete with a corporate byline.

Logo: Against a bluish starfield background that's almost similar to the one from the previous logo with some nebular clouds, we see a much more detailed Earth globe zooming from the front right to the center which is now rotating forwards this time like the other Universal logos. As the globe reaches to the center, the sunburst appears flashing on the top-right part of the globe. As this happens, the text "UNIVERSALTELEVISION", in the same font as before with the abstract arc above it, appears rotating in from the left and making a stop in front of the globe as the sunburst dims down a bit and a couple light rays are seen behind the globe and some of the nebular clouds are seen moving in front of the logo. The byline "A Division of NBCUniversal" appears under the logo.

Trivia: This logo was created and animated by Imaginary Forces. The logo has some elements from the 1991 Universal Television logo.

Variants:

There is one version of the logo where the "UNIVERSALTELEVISION" text, along with the abstract arc above, appears wiping in vertically like the previous logo instead of rotating in as the globe goes into the center. Plus, a couple of light rays are gone.
In 2013, the logo was enhanced, with darker tones and a dimmer sun. This version is bylineless, presumably to reflect the new 100% Comcast ownership. This variant was used for an extremely short period of time.
There is also a prototype version where the "UNIVERSALTELEVISION" text is replaced by the "UNIVERSAL NBC TELEVISION" text, along with the "A Division of NBCUniversal" byline is replaced by the "An NBCUniversal Company".

FX/SFX: The globe zooming out, the sunburst flashing, and the words rotating or wiping in.

Music/Sounds: A three-note orchestrated theme, consisting of the first two notes of the three-note NBC chimes jingle and a final note that sounds similar to that of the 1997 Universal Pictures fanfare, composed by Jerry Goldsmith. This jingle sounds quite similar to the NBCUniversal Television logo music.

Music/Sounds Variants:

On three S3 episodes of Community, the Universal Media Studios logo music is heard.
There is also a long version of the logo theme.
Prototype version have a triumphant, news-like rendition of the NBC chimes. Composed by The Elements.

Availability: Very common.

It debuted on the October 13, 2011 episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and was used in tandem with the previous logo.
It is currently seen on new episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Parenthood, Up All Night, and The Office, among others on NBC. Also seen on the final season of House on Fox.
On cable television, it can be seen on The Jack & Triumph Show airing on Adult Swim, also seen on The 90th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
If a rare, prototype version might be used before the name change for Universal Television, this is possible to be used in the future.

Editor's Note: Another brilliant television logo from Universal, improving over the previous one.

Copyright Stamps

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