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{{About|the original incarnation of Viacom|the current
{{PageCredits|description=Jason Jones, James Fabiano, Cameron McCaffrey, WileE2005, Jess Williams, BenIsRandom, LARDLOGORETURNS, Yoshidude987 and indycar|capture=AsdfTheRevival, Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom, Eric S., Miste Suitcase, mr3urious, Mr. Logo Lord, ASja2002, Dean Stewart Rumsey, Mr.Logo, wisp2007, BenderRoblox, Blatch-O, LogoGuy94, Derrick Anderson, Gilblitz112, TrickyMario7654, Pygmalion X, Sagan Blob, bdalbor, TheEriccorpinc, ClosingLogosHD, Mister Suitcase, BenIsRandom and BudTheChud1989|edits=Donny Pearson, Nathan B., Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom, WizardDuck, Bob Fish, Optimus Prime 2000, MrThorax281, BenderRoblox, ClosingLogoLover, tbone2004, MariluHennerArtist45, PluMGMK, KaratePianoLogoNerd, KirbyGuy2001, BenIsRandom, indycar, MattBr, GoAnimateFan199Pro, Unnepad, ThatRandomOshawott, DisneyInternationalFan, Michael Kenchington,
{{Infobox company
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===Background===
'''Viacom Enterprises''' was the television distribution division of the CBS Television Network, formed in 1952 as '''CBS Television Film Sales''', later renamed to '''CBS Films''' in 1958, '''CBS Enterprises, Inc.''' in 1968, then to Viacom in 1970. In 1971, it was spun-off
The company was popular during the 1970s and 1980s, originally distributing CBS-produced shows such as ''I Love Lucy'' and ''The Andy Griffith Show''. In later years, they've distributed shows from numerous other production companies, including [[MTM Enterprises]], [[Filmways Television]], [[The Carsey-Werner Company|Carsey/Werner]], [[Lorimar Television]], [[Rankin
Within a decade, Viacom was bought by cinema chain [[National Amusements]], becoming part of the newly-reincorporated "Viacom, Inc." On January 1, 1990, as part of a restructuring, [[Viacom Pictures]] was formed. On March 11, 1994, Viacom acquired Paramount Communications, Inc. and Viacom Enterprises was folded into [[Paramount Television (1967-2006)|Paramount Domestic Television]] (later "[[CBS Television Distribution]]" and now "[[CBS Media Ventures]]"), by transferring the domestic rights of the Viacom library. Viacom International was later
In light of serious financial troubles brought on to Viacom, the production unit was folded into Paramount Network Television (now "[[CBS Studios]]") in 2004. Paramount took control of the remaining Viacom-produced series in 2005. On December 31 of that year, Viacom was reincorporated as "CBS Corporation", ceasing to exist officially. A "new" Viacom was established on the same day, as the holding company for Paramount Pictures, the MTV Networks, BET Networks, and their non-television firms. By 2009, most Viacom-distributed TV productions were distributed under CBS Media Ventures (formerly "CBS Paramount Domestic Television" and "CBS Television Distribution") and outside the U.S. under [[Paramount Global Content Distribution]] (formerly "[[CBS Paramount International Television]]" and "[[CBS Studios International]]"), while the previous Viacom-distributed movies, and some Viacom Domestic Media Networks TV shows were distributed by Paramount with U.S. over-the-air rights licensed to [[Trifecta Entertainment & Media|Trifecta Entertainment and Media]]. On December 4, 2019, Viacom and CBS re-merged, forming [[ViacomCBS]]. On February 16, 2022, ViacomCBS was renamed to [[Paramount Global]], putting the Viacom name to rest after 51 years.
Before the Paramount purchase, Viacom titles were distributed on home video by [[Magnetic Video Corporation]], [[CBS Home Entertainment|CBS Video Enterprises]] (coincidental as Viacom would later own CBS), [[Warner Home Video]], [[VidAmerica]], [[Forum Home Video]] and [[U.S.A. Home Video]], among others. A little known fact is that Viacom actually stands for "'''Vi'''sual '''A'''udio '''Com'''munications".
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|Viacom_Pinball_(1972,_Odyssey_airing).png|1st Logo (June 4, 1971-June 1976)
|Viacom V0D (Videotaped, Color).png|2nd Logo (June 1976-September 13, 1986)
|Viacom V0D (Original Network Variant, 1984).png|3rd Logo (
|Viacom1981A.jpg|4th Logo (1981)
|Viacom_Special_Delivery.jpg|5th Logo (
|Viaconn_(1986).png|6th Logo (December 1, 1985-May 24, 1987)
|Vopening.png|7th Logo (May 13, 1985-1986)
|ViacomSteel.png.png|8th Logo (September 13, 1986-December? 1989)
|ViacomProductions1998.jpg|9th Logo (
|Viacom
}}
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<tabber>
Images=
</gallery>
|-|
Videos=
{{YouTube|id=
</tabber>
'''Visuals:''' On a purple background, the letter "'''{{small|V}}'''" slides in from the right of the screen, settling in the left-hand side. Then the text "'''i{{small|A}}'''" slides in, settling beside the "'''{{Small|V}}'''". When this happens, the color of the background changes to green. Then, the text "'''{{small|COM}}'''" slides in, settling beside "'''{{Small|VIA}}'''" and changing the background to red. This forms the word "'''{{small|V}}i{{small|ACOM}}'''". Finally, the word zooms out as the words "'''{{small|A}}'''" and "'''p{{small|RESENTAT}}i{{small|ON}}'''" fade in to the left and right of it, respectively, revealing the text in its entirety as the background changes to blue.
'''Trivia:''' The logo is actually in the same font as ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' logo, Peignot.
'''Variant:''' The logo is in <u>B&W</u> on early '70s prints of ''The Andy Griffith Show'', ''Perry Mason'', ''I Love Lucy'', ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'', ''Our Miss Brooks'', ''The Phil Silvers Show'', ''The Twilight Zone'', and ''The Beverly Hillbillies'', among other classic shows. It also appears on a VHS of ''The Andy Griffith Show'' released by Premier Promotions, titled ''The Andy Griffith Show Double Feature Volume 33''.
'''Technique:''' Camera-controlled/cel animation.
'''
'''
* The logo may be <u>silent</u> on some prints.
* The soundtrack might sound <u>distorted</u> on some prints. This happens because lab technicians print the soundtrack onto the film at a louder volume than usual.
* One variation has the soundtrack out-of-sync with the logo. This was seen on <u>Season 11, Episode 20 (Me-TV airing)</u> and <u>Season 12, Episode 12 (Odyssey/Hallmark airing) of ''My Three Sons''</u>.
* On a <u>1985 French airing of ''Hawaii-Five-O''</u>, a beeping sound is heard instead.
'''Availability:'''
* The
** In [https://web.archive.org/web/20021109004220/http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/closinglogo/viacom.html the original 2002 write-up of this article], it was suggested that the same prints of ''My Three Sons'' that had this logo had aired on Nick at Nite between 1988 and 1990.
** Amazon prints of these episodes also preserve this logo, as they use the same aforementioned prints.
* The dark variant was spotted on several color episodes of ''My Three Sons'' and the Magnetic Video VHS release of ''5 Terrytoon Cartoons Featuring Heckle and Jeckle''.
* This logo can also
* This logo is also preserved at the end of a 16mm print of the ''Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!'' episode "What the Hex Going On?" from South Africa, following the 1969 [[Hanna-Barbera]] "Multiplying Rectangles" logo.
* This logo can also be seen on some older prints of episodes of ''Whirlybirds'', ''Petticoat Junction'', pre-mid-1970s prints of ''The Rookies'' (which is now with Sony Pictures Television), ''Family Affair'', ''The Houndcats'', the Canadian produced TV series ''The Amazing World of Kreskin'', and foreign prints of ''The Banana Splits and Friends Show'', ''Josie and the Pussycats'', ''Wacky Races'', ''Dastardly & Muttley in Their Flying Machines'', ''The Perils of Penelope Pitstop'', ''The Roman Holidays'', ''The Harlem Globetrotters'', among others; that includes 16mm kinescopes.
* Only a small amount of home media releases retain this logo.
** At least one VHS release of ''The Houndcats'' has this logo (that one being the UAV Corporation release), but it is unknown how many more have it, including releases from [[Trans World Entertainment]], or the current DVD releases.
** It can also be found on the U.S. VHS release of ''The Andy Griffith Show'' by Premier Promotions.
** This logo has also been sighted on a DVD release from Mill Creek, '100 Awesomely Cheesy Movies', which is a repackaging of another two Mill Creek DVD sets. On "The Swingin' Seventies" section of the DVD, the 1970 TV movie adaptation of ''Jane Eyre'' retains the color logo at the end.
'''Legacy:''' This logo isn't anywhere close to being as well known (or
===2nd Logo (June 1976-September 13, 1986)===
<tabber>
Images=
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
Viacom Enterprises V of Moon.png|Honeymooners version 2
Viacom Enterprises (1985, WPIX Variant).png| WPIX Honeymooners version
Viacom Enterprises (lime) (1978).png|Lime version
Viacom purple.jpg|Purple version?
Viacom (Turquoise).jpg|Turquoise version
Viacom (Hot Pink).png|Pink version
Viacom (1980).png| Blue version with green noise.
</gallery>
|-|
Videos=
{{YouTube|id=pnKFknG20GY|id2=QIUgfzuu1rg|id3=XabNvIFVp3o|id4=nAiYyRffN2k|id5=trldH8-Bcx0|id6=w7zeDXgJUS0|id7=lmXJcTB1CLc|id8=j9COAUN4K5E|id9=10LDTLjEPDM}}
</tabber>
'''
'''Variants:'''
*
**
** <u>Videotaped</u> variants have the words "{{font|Times New Roman|'''A'''}}" and "{{font|Times New Roman|'''Viacom'''}}" spaced farther apart, and the animation is also much smoother. This was used from 1978 to 1986.
* '''Filmed Variants:'''
**
** An <u>early color variant of the filmed version</u> exists, where the "'''V'''" is black, with a light blue background. The more common version premiered by 1977.
** Some filmed variants feature the <u>"'''V'''" actually stopping</u> right before it cuts to black. This was largely common in its earlier years (especially in black & white variants).
** <u>Dark variants</u> of the Film-O-Vision version in color and B&W, due to film deterioration, exist.
** The first second is lopped off on the <u>1979 version of Magnetic Video's VHS release of ''Blue Hawaii''</u>.
** A "blacked-out" variant also exists, which can be found on <u>film prints of episodes of ''Greatest Heroes of the Bible''</u> on the Internet Archive, which has the "V of Doom" music on either the "END OF PART ONE" or "THE END" card, likely due to sloppy plastering.
** Similarly, one 16mm print of an episode of ''Speed Buggy'' stopped after the credits, but the logo's audio still plays over the frozen screen.
* '''Videotaped Variants:'''
** The logo has seen several different <u>color variants</u> appear. Color variants include black and white, a purple background with dark blue "'''V'''", and a faint purple background with a blue "'''V'''", among others.
** A videotaped variant featuring a yellow "'''V'''" was used on <u>some syndicated prints of ''The Honeymooners''</u>, appearing in a giant moon over a city skyline where the credits appear. This is a result of a chroma-key mistake.
*** One variant has the "'''V'''" almost entirely colored yellow, while another retains some blue in the edges. In the latter's case, the moon has a yellow border around it.
*** A corrected version of this was seen on a WPIX airing of ''The Honeymooners Special II''.
** There is also a variant with a <u>jungle green background</u> and a <u>Charleston green "'''V'''"</u>.
** There is a rumored <u>purple</u> variant where the background is lavender and the '''V''' is purple.
** A turquoise variant with an ultramarine blue "'''V'''" was used in <u>1984</u>. The "'''V'''" also stops moving before the screen fades to black.
** A videotaped variant of this logo has an orange background and a midnight blue "'''V'''", seen on <u>1978 episodes of ''You Don't Say!''</u>. There is also a <u>warp speed</u> version of this.
** A videotaped variant with the logo superimposed in a circle over a moving starfield background was used on the short-lived series ''<u>Hot City</u>''.
** A "warp-speed" videotaped variation where the logo and music are sped up exists. This was used alongside co-distributor logos and was seen from <u>1979-1986</u>.
** A variant where the "'''V'''" is dark red on a pink background also exists, which appeared on the 1985 syndicated series ''<u>The Star Games</u>''. It also appeared on a <u>1994 rerun of an episode of ''The Andy Griffith Show''</u>.
** A videotaped variant with a lime background also exists, which was found on <u>an episode of ''The Andy Griffith Show'' on TBS Superstation in 1992</u>, and on the <u>''Perry Mason'' episode "The Case of the Wrongful Writ" on a TBS Superstation broadcast from March 13, 1991</u>.
** A high pitched, slightly sped-up version of the videotaped variant also exists, which was spotted on the <u>''Cannon'' episode "He Who Digs a Grave (Part 2)" on MeTV</u>. As of May 2019, this variant is still intact.
'''Technique:'''
* Camera-controlled/cel animation for the filmed version.
* Chyron effects (possibly done in Scanimate) for the videotaped version.
'''
* Usually, the music used
* The very first version of this logo featured the "Pinball" music from the first logo as a placeholder and was used eventually until late 1978 (and was also often used when replacing the original "Pinball" logo, possibly a bad plastering error). This variant is known as the "V of Pinball".
* '''1976-1981:''' The very first version of the normal 1976 music
'''
* In some
* The <u>turquoise variant</u> of the logo has two extra pounds of the timpani at the end.
* Sometimes, the "V of Doom" music cuts off right before the last timpani beat, removing the final echo in the process
* Sometimes on the <u>filmed variant</u>, the first note or two can be cut off. Often, the final bit of the show's closing theme will play over the logo briefly. This is caused by a bad splice on the film between the credits and the logo. An example of this would be the Season 11 finale to ''My Three Sons''.
* On <u>''The Beverly Hillbillies'' episode "Christmas with the Clampetts"</u>, and perhaps other episodes from the first two seasons, it has a generic theme (the show's theme couldn't be used due to it being copyrighted while episodes from the first two seasons have fallen into the public domain) playing over the filmed version of this logo.
* On the <u>''Have Gun
* On the ''<u>Hot City</u>'' variant, the music starts playing over the last bit of the closing song.
* On a <u>1985 WTBS airing of ''Girls! Girls! Girls!''</u>'','' a split second of the "Pinball" music can be heard before the normal music starts, due to sloppy plastering.
* A print of the B&W filmed variant where the fanfare is badly warped also exists. It's rumored to be found on an Andy Griffith VHS release called ''Mayhem in Mayberry''.
'''Availability:'''
* '''''V of Pinball'':'''
** The B&W filmed variant with the "Pinball" theme
** This variant was also
** Its
* '''''Filmed Variant'':'''
** It
** It
** The faster music variant is preserved on the 1985 [[Family Home Entertainment]] release of ''Little Lord Fauntleroy'' and its 1988 SLP reissue.
** The filmed variant can be seen on Cozi TV airings of episodes from the first two seasons of ''The Beverly Hillbillies'', due to said network using public domain prints of that show.
** It was also
** The B&W filmed variant was once spotted on an episode of ''Perry Mason'' on Me-TV before it was replaced with a later print sometime in 2015.
** It can also be spotted on almost every episode of ''The Millionaire'', which
** The
** The B&W filmed variant variant can also be spotted on
** It is unknown if this
** Late 1970s-early 1980s broadcasts of ''The Alvin Show'' and international broadcasts of ''Wacky Races'', ''Dastardly & Muttley in Their Flying Machines'', ''The Perils of Penelope Pitstop'', ''Josie & The Pussycats'', ''Speed Buggy'', ''Wait Till Your Father Gets Home'', ''The Funky Phantom'', ''The Super Globetrotters'', and ''Help!... It's The Hair Bear Bunch!'' also ended with this logo; 16mm prints of at least the former two shows retain the logo. It is unknown whether it is preserved on ''The Banana Splits and Friends Show'', ''Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!'' or ''Space Ghost and Dino Boy'' reruns from the era (apparently, for the latter, Hanna-Barbera's World of Super Adventure cut the logos). Again, check old 16mm prints.
** Older international prints of Charlie Brown specials from ''It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown'' to approximately ''You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown'' may also have this logo. Check 16mm prints if they turn up.
** As of 2024, this can be found on episodes of ''Monster Squad'' on Tubi.
** The low-tone variant was used from 1976 to 1978 on syndicated prints of shows such as ''The Millionare'' and ''Hawaii Five-O''. It decreased in usage through 1979 and the early '80s, but it was still used on ''Hawaii Five-O'' as late as 1981.
** A blue variant with a green noise is shown on the 2024 Rifftrax Grimtrax video-on-demand release of the TV edit of the 1980 movie ''Virus'' (AKA: ''Virus: Day of Resurrection'').
* '''''Videotaped Variant'':'''
** The videotaped version
** It
** Several of the "Classic 39" episodes of ''The Honeymooners'', as well as the "lost" episodes
** It was also seen on episodes of ''The (New) Price is Right'' from 1976-1980.
** The 1978 and 1983 variants were formerly seen on two episodes of ''The Twilight Zone'' on Syfy ("You Drive" and "One for the Angels"), until
** It was also
** The warp-speed variant was also
** It can also be seen on two season 3 episodes of ''Have Gun
** It was also seen on some episodes of ''All in the Family'' before [[Columbia Pictures Television|Columbia Pictures Television Distribution]] (now [[Sony Pictures Television]]) acquired the syndication rights to that show.
** The videotaped variant was also
** It also makes
** This logo was also seen on a Decades airing of the season 2 ''Bob Newhart Show'' episode "The Modernization of Emily".
** This
** This logo was also seen on the original broadcasts of ''Family Feud''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s first syndicated run (where it was preceded by in-credit text), but does not appear to have ever been retained in repeat airings.
** This also made appearances on Sky Go New Zealand prints of some episodes of ''All in the Family'' (such as season 1 episode 2).
* '''''Silent Variant'':'''
** It can be found on old VHS releases of the 1963 movie ''Fun in Acapulco'' and the 1966 movie ''Paradise, Hawaiian Style'' from Magnetic Video (both of which plaster over the [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] logo at the end of the film, though the Spanish-dubbed version, as well as the 1985 Key Video reprint (In English) of the latter film uses the standard "V of Doom" music), the 1974 TV movie ''The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman'' from [[Prism Entertainment]], and the 1976 movie ''The Amazing World of Psychic Phenomena''.
** It is also retained on the 1985 Key Video re-issue of ''Fun in Acapulco''.
** It was also spotted on an '80s USA Network airing of the 1968 movie ''Mission Mars'' (it is unknown if it's intact on any VHS releases of the movie).
** 16mm prints of ''Fun in Acapulco'' also have this variation.
'''Legacy:'''
===3rd Logo (June 24, 1978-1985)===
<tabber>
Images=
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
Viacom V0D (Original Network Variant, 1984).png|Normal version
Viacom V of Doom (Network Version) with Copyright Notice.png|With copyright notice
Viacom Productions (1984, Mirrored).jpg|With a mirrored "V"
</gallery>
|-|
Videos=
{{YouTube|id=Ys9YsCQ6sjk|id2=A03uCIjWNjA|id3=jiLmYhTh0gc}}
</tabber>
'''
'''Variants:'''
* Sometimes, the "'''V'''" slides in from the left with "{{font|Times New Roman|'''Viacom'''}}" sliding in from the right.
* A variation features a <u>copyright stamp for "Viacom International"</u> appearing at the bottom once the "'''V'''" stops zooming almost completely.
* A version with a <u>mirrored "'''V'''"</u> has also been spotted, where the logo flips up.
* A <u>still</u> version exists.
* On ''For Heaven's Sake'', the logo animates on a television, before being switched off by a character from the show.
'''Technique:''' Usually
'''
'''
'''Availability:'''
* During the 1980s, it was seen on various
* Older prints such as VHS releases might have this logo intact but the
* The version with the re-orchestrated theme was created for the 1979 ABC series ''The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove'' (also known as ''Wonderland Cove''), and also appeared on the unsold 1978 ABC pilot ''Snavely''.
* It is unknown if it's preserved on the U.S.A. Home Video releases of ''East of Eden'' (1981) or ''For Ladies Only''; it is, however, preserved on the Starmaker Video reprint of the former film.
* True Entertainment (now GREAT! TV) airings of ''Kids Don't Tell'' have this intact.
* This is kept intact on ''The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair'' whenever it is aired on LEGEND in the UK, although DVD prints remove this and replace it with the CBS Television Distribution logo.
===4th Logo (1981)===
<tabber>
Images=
</gallery>
|-|
Videos=
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</tabber>
'''
* '''Opening:''' On a black background,
* '''Closing:''' At the end of the reel,
'''Technique:''' Motion-controlled animation.
'''
'''Availability:'''
===5th Logo (
<tabber>
Image=
</gallery>
|-|
Videos=
{{YouTube|id=
</tabber>
'''
'''Variants:'''
* A <u>short variant</u> exists.
* A <u>extended version</u> also exists, where "{{Font|Times New Roman|'''''From'' Viacom'''}}" streaks in after "{{Font|Times New Roman|'''''Special'''''}}" and "{{Font|Times New Roman|'''''Delivery'''''}}", followed by the border being formed, rotating and dropping down as a rainbow-trailing outline, before retracting and fading to
'''Technique:''' Motion-controlled animation.
'''
'''Availability:'''
===6th Logo (December 1, 1985-May 24, 1987)===
<tabber>
Images=
</gallery>
|-|
Videos=
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</tabber>
'''
'''Variant:''' On ''Really Weird Tales'', the "
'''Technique:'''
'''
'''Availability:'''
* It was once seen on original airings of the first 3 episodes of
*
* It is preserved on the VHS releases of ''Return to Mayberry'', ''Perry Mason Returns'', ''Really Weird Tales'', and a Brazilian VHS release of the ''Matlock'' pilot movie ''Diary of a Perfect Murder'', among possible others.
* It was also preserved on ''Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious Nun'' when it aired on Encore Mystery, but Encore Suspense airings cut the end theme off early and plaster it over with the CBS Television Distribution logo, while Me-TV and Hallmark airings plaster it over with the 1990 "Wigga Wigga" logo.
* It is preserved on the 2016 Kino Lorber DVD of ''Really Weird Tales'', followed by the "Wigga Wigga" and CBS Television Distribution logos.
===7th Logo (May 13, 1985-1986)===
<tabber>
Images=
</gallery>
|-|
Videos=
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</tabber>
'''
* '''Opening:''' Against a space background with twinkling stars, a metallic steel outline of the Viacom "'''V'''" and "{{Font|Times New Roman|'''Viacom'''}}" in its familiar Palatino-like font zoom back with a metallic steel trail effect. The trail effect finishes as the "'''V'''" turns solid and metallic and "{{Font|Times New Roman|'''Viacom'''}}" turns solid
* '''Closing:''' Against a city skyline with a
'''Variant:''' An extended version of the closing variant exists on the <u>sales tape for ''The Lost Honeymooners''</u>, where the logo shines multiple times after completing.
'''Technique:'''
'''
'''Audio Variants:''' On some occasions, <u>Plummer's voice</u> is not used. Sometimes, when the closing theme or when the Viacom "V of Doom" music plays over the logo, he instead says "From Viacom" (once again pronouncing it as "vee-a-com").
'''Availability:'''
* Both variants appeared on a sales tape for ''The Lost Honeymooners''.
* The closing variant has been seen on at least two ''Honeymooners'' specials, those being ''Jackie Gleason Presents: the Honeymooners Reunion'' and ''Season's Greetings From the Honeymooners
===8th Logo (September 13, 1986-December? 1989)===
<tabber>
Images=
ViacomSteelB&W.png|Black and White version
Viacom “V of Steel” (Rare Green Variant, 1962-1986).png|Green version
Viacom Community Access Northshore (1988).jpeg|Community Access Northshore version
</gallery>
|-|
Videos=
{{YouTube|id=hogkyz6VsLo|description=Normal|id2=_L4-LjOBWgo|description2=Extended variant (4 shines)|id3=W2un4XDyWcA|description3=Black and white|id4=achrt0ZE74s|description4=Sped-up variant|id5=CnS3cBhkFHs|description5=Warp speed variant|id6=KxiPAOAvlM4|description6=Green variant|id7=K4abOUo1gV8|description7=
|-|
</tabber>
'''
'''Variants:'''
* A couple of <u>"warp-speed" versions</u> exist, the first of which is a slower version of the regular jingle and the second of which is an ultra warp speed version (featuring a higher pitched jingle), can be seen on various programs, if they haven't been plastered.
* <u>VHS
* A warp speed version of the three shines variant
*
*
*
* On the <u>1987 ''Celebrity Double Dare'' pilot</u>, the logo is revealed with a computer-generated effect before animating.
* A <u>B&W variant</u> of the logo exists, which is used on B&W shows.
*
*
* On <u>Fox's ''Family Double Dare''</u>, the logo fades in after the Nickelodeon logo, with the "
*
* One version had a
* Another version cuts to when the "
*
* The <u>British [[Braveworld|Braveworld Video]] VHS release of ''King Creole''</u> has a variant that cuts off the first or so second from the logo.
* On an <u>episode of ''The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams'' on GetTV</u>, the logo starts fading during the second time it shines.
* On <u>some episodes of
* On the <u>1988 Milwaukee Public Access (Viacom) parody of ''Star Trek'' titled ''Far Trek''</u>, cheap text in
'''Technique:''' CGI
'''
'''
* In some cases, it
* Some episodes of <u>''Cannon'' and ''Perry Mason'' on Me-TV</u>
* <u>Some episodes of ''Gunsmoke'', ''Matlock'' (seasons 1-4)</u>, and <u>one episode of ''Hogan's Heroes'' (seen in Australia)</u> have the 1990 "Wigga-Wigga" music playing over this. A <u>Russian print of the ''Father Dowling Mysteries''
* A
* On a <u>late-1980s print of the movie ''Running''</u>, the normal variant features two very faint copies of the theme playing and overlapping each other that are both off-sync with the animation, making them continue long after the logo fades to black.
'''Availability:'''
* '''''Regular Variant (One Wipe)'':'''
** It is currently seen on ''Rawhide'' on Me-TV, Decades (occasionally) and H&I.
** It
** It was also spotted on the 1989 film ''Sonny Boy'' on TCM as well as AMC, and has also been spotted on syndicated prints of [[Cannon Films|Cannon]] films, such as ''Superman IV: The Quest for Peace''.
** This can also be seen on most episodes of ''The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams'' on
**
** It is unknown if this was seen on '80s prints of ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'', ''The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse'', ''Petticoat Junction'', ''The Houndcats'', ''The Harlem Globetrotters'' (1970s cartoon), ''Hawaii Five-0'', ''Amigo and Friends'', ''Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C.'', ''The Honeymooners'', ''Whirlybirds'' and ''Our Miss Brooks'', among possible others.
** It can also be seen on the ''Perry Mason'' made-for-TV movies from 1987-89,
** It was also seen on some episodes of ''Perry Mason'' on Me-TV before they were issued updated prints by CBS, but these prints can still be seen
** This logo (and its extended variants) is also seen on various game shows syndicated by Viacom from 1986-1990, including ''Split Second'' (most Gametv and Buzzr reruns retain it; some episodes on Buzzr plastered it with the current [[Fremantle]] logo, though), ''Double Dare'' (this includes
** The B&W variant can be found at the end of select VHS
** This logo was also spotted on
** The "in-progress" variant can be found on the [[
** It has also been seen on some episodes of ''A Different World'' on Netflix.
** It was also spotted on syndicated prints of the 1979 Canadian sports drama, ''Running''.
** This
** This can also be seen on a late-2010s print of the film ''Katherine'' on YouTube Movies & Shows.
** The green version was only seen on 90s TBS Superstation airings of ''Perry Mason'' (such as the episode “The Case of the Fickle Filly”).
* '''''Extended
** The long variant (
* '''''Silent Variant'':'''
* '''''Warp Speed Variant'':'''
** This can currently be found on some episodes of ''Rawhide'' on Me-TV, Decades (occasionally) and H&I.
** It
** This is also preserved on the season 1 DVD release of ''Father Dowling Mysteries'', preceded by the 2007 CTD logo and can be seen on the other two seasons as well. Decades airings
** A [https://web.archive.org/web/20021109004220/http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/closinglogo/viacom.html 2002 article on this logo] said that this was seen on prints of ''Father Dowling Mysteries'' that aired on PAX (now Ion Television).
** It was also seen on a 2016 British Horror Channel airing of ''Murder by Moonlight'', and was presumably present on the film's original CBS broadcast.
** It is unknown if this is preserved on season 3 and 1990 episodes of S4 of ''Jake and the Fatman'' on DVD.
** The "DISTRIBUTED BY" variant is
** It
* '''''Warp Speed Variant (Extended)'':'''
** It is usually plastered by either the 1990 "Wigga-Wigga", 1995 [[Paramount Television (1967-2006)|Paramount Domestic Television]], 2006 [[CBS Paramount Television|CBS Paramount Domestic/Network Television]] ("Eye in the Sky" or "Wallpaper"), or 2007 CBS Television Distribution logos, though they have been spotted on a few episodes of ''Rawhide'' on Me-TV and H&I, and the four wipe version was also spotted on an Australian television print of the ''Hogan's Heroes'' episode "Request Permission to Escape", which is the last episode of season 1. When the episode aired in the UK on Forces TV, the last wipe was cut off. It was also seen on UK airings of some episodes of ''The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams''.
* '''''Sped-Up Variant'':''' Seen on ''Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen''. It was also seen on Season 3 and 4 episodes of ''Matlock'', when last aired on CBS Justice in the UK.
* '''''Ultra Warp Speed Variant'':''' The ultra warp speed version can be seen on Netflix's prints, most official YouTube prints, some VHS
'''Legacy:''' Its CGI makes this logo a favorite among the logo community. It is known by the fan nickname "V of Steel".
===9th Logo (
<tabber>
Images=
Viacom (1990) (From - Diagnosis Murder UK VHS tapes).png|VHS version of the original version
Viacom Productions (1998) (From - Diagnosis Murder UK VHS tapes).png|VHS version of the Productions version
Viacom Productions Exclusive Distributor.jpg|Productions version with byline
</gallery>
|-|
Videos=
Line 404 ⟶ 446:
</tabber>
'''
'''Trivia:'''
* This is often unofficially nicknamed as the "Wigga Wigga" logo, derived from the sounds heard as the zig-zag line appears.
* Many people think the announcer is mispronouncing the name Viacom. It is indeed pronounced with a long "i" sound, like in "pr<u>i</u>ze", although the original pronunciation of the name pre-1986 was indeed with a short "i" sound, like in "p<u>i</u>zza", hence
'''Variants:'''
* There is a
* Several shows have the name already formed during the <u>later years</u>, with the only animation being the shining of the letters.
* There is a text variation on this logo for Viacom Productions. It has the "
* On original ABC broadcasts and on reruns of the ''Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'' pilot on ABC Family (now Freeform), The Hub (now Discovery Family), Antenna TV, and Pluto TV, this logo is <u>still</u> (a la the 1985 "V of Happiness" logo),
* A black & white version of this exists on some prints of <u>older B&W shows</u> (
* On the 1997 TV movie ''<u>The Right Connections</u>'', the words "in association with" are seen over the logo's background, then fades out when the animation starts. It was also spotted on another TV movie, ''<u>In the Doghouse</u>'' (1998), as well as the short-lived UPN series from 1995, ''<u>Deadly Games</u>''.
* On <u>WPIX's print of the ''Honeymooners'' episode "The Sleepwalker"</u>, the logo freezes before it is fully formed. The audio is also distorted in this variant. It's likely an error in production.
* On the 1996 TV movie ''<u>Brothers of the Frontier</u>'' (last seen on CBS Justice UK, and Disney Channel in the United States) and a <u>Me-TV airing of the ''Matlock'' S7 episode "The Class"</u>, the short version of the logo is played in slow motion.
* On the 1998 TV movie ''<u>Inferno</u>'' and the 1999 TV movie ''<u>The Apartment Complex</u>'', the Productions variant has the text "{{Font|Times New Roman|''Viacom Productions, Inc. Exclusive Distributor''}}" in two lines below.
'''Technique:''' 2D motion-controlled animation
'''
* Usually, a
* For the (then-)newly-formed Viacom International, the same logo is accompanied by different music. A
* There is a version where the
* Some versions have no
* There was a warped version during later years.
* There is a low toned variant for the short version that appeared after an episode of ''The Twilight Zone''.
'''
* In some cases, it used the <u>closing theme of the show</u>, <u>generic network music on CBS, NBC, and ABC</u>, or it was <u>silent</u>.
* There is a variant with the "V of Doom" theme playing instead on <u>several early-1990s syndie prints of classic TV movies</u> from the era, plastering the 1976 filmed logo.
* There is another variant with the "V of Doom" music playing faintly instead on <u>some episodes of ''The Twilight Zone'' on Syfy</u>, ''<u>Perry Mason</u>'', and <u>''The Honeymooners'' both on Me-TV and last aired on WGN America</u>. Sometimes, the short version plays with the normal music, but the "V of Doom" music can be heard again faintly in the background. This is sometimes called the "Ghost of the V of Doom".
* There is a variant with the "V of Steel" theme playing instead on <u>one episode of Gunsmoke</u> as well as a <u>Hungarian-dubbed rerun of the ''Father Dowling Mysteries'' season 1 episode "The What Do You Call a Call Girl Mystery"</u> on AXN Crime. <u>''Father Dowling Mysteries'' S2 EP1 on the Russian CBS Drama channel</u> also features this.
* <u>One episode of ''Rawhide'' on Me-TV</u> has the warp-speed version of the logo with the warp-speed "V of Steel" music playing over it.
* A variant with the sped-up "V of Steel" music was reportedly sighted on a <u>British rerun of the ''Matlock'' episode "The Brothers"</u>.
* Another variant with the warp-speed VoS music playing under the regular version was spotted on a <u>Hungarian-dubbed rerun of the ''Father Dowling Mysteries'' season 1 episode "The Mafia Priest Mystery: Part 2" on AXN Crime</u>. This is unofficially called the "Ghost of the V of Steel". This may also have been spotted on an <u>Australian
* The Viacom Productions variant has used the <u>1999 music</u> from the
* A variant of the original "Wigga Wigga" logo <u>without the announcer</u> in it also exists.
* On the TV movie ''<u>My Body, My Child</u>'', the warped theme plays over the regular variant.
* At the end of a <u>Russian print of ''Don't Be Afraid of the Dark''</u>, the 1971 [[Lorimar Productions|Lorimar]] jingle plays over this logo. This is due to a plaster error.
'''Availability:'''
* '''''Regular Variant'':'''
** It was spotted on the film ''I'm All Right Jack'' on TCM, the miniseries ''The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw'' on Grit (and possibly the DVD release), two episodes of ''Cannon'' on the season 3 DVD (and one episode on Me-TV, S03 E03), syndicated prints of Cannon Group films such as ''Masters of the Universe'', and one episode of ''The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams'' on DVD.
** It has been spotted on reruns of color episodes of ''Gunsmoke'' on Me-TV and TV Land, albeit in split screen form on the latter channel, and was also spotted on ''The Alvin Show'' when rerun on Nickelodeon.
** However, later prints of ''Gunsmoke'' episodes from Season 12 (the first color season) and Season 13 and are now restored and now use CTD, though it can possibly still be spotted on almost all other episodes from Season 14 on (needs further confirmation).
** It was also seen when ''Have Gun, Will Travel'' aired on Encore Westerns in the early 2010s, as well as some episodes of ''Perry Mason'', ''Hogan's Heroes'' (these prints now air on UK television network Forces TV and Australian cable channel Fox Classics), and ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' on Me-TV and occasionally Decades before they both were issued updated prints by CBS (though it can be still be found in the majority of color episodes of ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' (S05-S09) and formerly on select episodes of ''Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C.''; for the latter show, all episodes have been restored and use either CBS-Paramount or CTD.
** FETV prints of ''Perry Mason'' still have this logo intact on many episodes.
** In the past, episodes of ''I Love Lucy'' and ''The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour'' on Nick at Nite and TV Land had this logo as well.
** It could also be seen on the ''Perry Mason'' TV movies from 1990-95, and some prints of older ones, but DVDs plaster it with the 2007 CBS Television Distribution logo.
** The high pitched variant resurfaced on a British television broadcast of ''California Gold Rush''.
** This can also be found on ''Family Affair'', ''My Three Sons'' (it also appeared on Season 11, Episode 12 of that show after the 2007 CBS Television Distribution logo on a June 14, 2018 airing on Me-TV), VHS releases of ''Payoff'' (1991), a True Movies UK broadcast and Me-TV airings of the 1973 TV film ''A Dream for Christmas'', the 2009 Warner Archive DVD-R of ''Don't Be Afraid of the Dark'' (1973), the [[Republic Entertainment|Republic Pictures]] VHS of ''Rent-a-Kid'', the [[Prism Entertainment]] VHS of ''Memories of Murder'' (The original Lifetime broadcast used the warp speed 1986 "V of Steel" logo instead), VHS copies of ''The Right Connections'', ''The Operation'' (AKA: ''Bodily Harm'') (plastering the 7th logo which was used on the original CBS broadcast and also kept on a Lifetime airing), later Movies! broadcasts of ''Day of the Animals'' (1977) and ''The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia'', the Mexican VHS release of the ''Greatest Heroes of the Bible'' episode "Abraham's Sacrifice", ''They Watch'', the Starmaker Video VHS releases of ''Last Train from Gun Hill'', ''Donner Pass: The Road to Survival'', ''Little Lord Fauntleroy'' (1980), ''The Incredible Rocky Mountain Race'', and ''Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love'', among possible others, a Brazilian VHS of the Sunn Classics adaptation of ''The Fall of the House of Usher'', the Kino Lorber DVD of ''Really Weird Tales'' (after the 5th logo), a Brazilian VHS of the Viacom co-produced Italian film ''Blood Ties'', the [[Vidmark Entertainment]] VHS of ''Murder by Moonlight'', and international prints of ''Rawhide'', along with some later prints on Heroes & Icons.
** It was also spotted on a 2005 Superstation WGN (now NewsNation) airing of ''Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection'' (1990), an old syndicated print of the New Line film ''Alone in the Dark'' (1982), an old syndicated print of ''Embryo'' (1976), a 2003 WE TV airing of ''Tears in the Rain'' (1988) and Sky Go New Zealand prints of some episodes of ''All in the Family'' like season 2 episode 6.
** It also appears at the end of the 1977 TV movie ''The Last of the Mohicans'' when aired on LEGEND.
* '''''Warp Speed Variant'':'''
** It's currently found on ''Matlock'' on WGN America, Me-TV, Decades (formerly), FETV, Pluto TV, and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (it plasters over the the 7th logo on many episodes from seasons 1 to 4, and the 5th logo on later syndicated prints of the pilot episode for that show; DVDs use the CBS/Paramount "Wallpaper" logo for season 1 while 2-9 have CTD). Some episodes from seasons 6 and 7, and possibly 8, use the regular variant instead.
** Also seen on the first 3 seasons and early season 4 episodes of ''Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'' on Antenna TV, Pluto TV, and Fuse (DVDs have the CBS/Paramount "Eye In The Sky" logo for season 1, while seasons 2-3 have the "Wallpaper" logo and 4-7 have CTD. Hulu prints use the CBS/Paramount "Wallpaper" logo for season 1, Paramount+ uses the DVD prints).
** It's also seen on the first five seasons of ''Diagnosis: Murder'' on DVD, Encore Suspense, Me-TV, Decades (occasionally), and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (however, DVDs of season 2 use the 2006 CBS/Paramount "Wallpaper" logo instead).
** It was also preserved at the end of the DVD print of the ''Jake and the Fatman'' S4 episode, "It Never Entered My Mind", which is included on the ''Diagnosis: Murder'' season 1 DVD.
* '''''Ultra Warp Speed Variant'':'''
** The version where the voice-over cuts in earlier was formerly seen on S1 episodes of ''The Twilight Zone'' on Syfy (though some episodes were known to contain the 2nd logo); currently, Syfy and Me-TV had acquired new, updated prints with the 2007 CBS Television Distribution logo.
** Was spotted on a Me-TV broadcast of the ''Gunsmoke'' episode "P.S. Murry Christmas", and can possibly be seen on episodes from the later seasons.
** It was also intact on many Season 17 episodes of ''Gunsmoke'' on the UK CBS Channels.
** This was also seen on at least one episode of ''Rawhide'' on H&I and the TV movie ''My Body, My Child'' on True Movies UK.
** This variant also appeared on some Season 2 episodes of ''Matlock'' and some season 2 episodes of ''Father Dowling Mysteries'' when aired on CBS Justice (UK).
*'''''Productions Variant'':'''
** Seen on a few season 4 episodes of ''Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'' and Seasons 5 through 7 episodes of ''Diagnosis: Murder'', among other Viacom productions at the time.
* '''''International Variant'':'''
** It was present on syndicated and international prints (though some used the regular variant) of ''The Cosby Show'' and ''Roseanne'', but it is now plastered with the Carsey-Werner Distribution logo, though some prints have survived, but not all of them.
** The international version, and sometimes the regular variant, can be seen on some episodes of ''A Different World'' on Netflix, including the pilot, and was also seen on Terrytoon prints that were distributed around in the 1990s, as well as reportedly, one episode of ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' on the Fox Classics Network in Australia.
'''Legacy:''' Another beloved logo by some for its CGI, music (especially on the International variant), and voice-over
===10th Logo (September 24, 1999-August 8, 2004)===
<tabber>
Images=
Viacom Productions Logo 2000s Widescreen.png|Native 16:9 version of the 2002 variant
</gallery>
|-|
Videos=
{{YouTube|id=QMeoHIjy7NU|description=w/ 1998 network TV
</tabber>
'''
'''Variants:'''
* A <u>still</u> version of this logo exists (a la the 1985 "V of Happiness" logo).
*
* Sometimes on the 2002 version, <u>"in association with"</u> spreads out above.
* Multiple <u>16:9 variants</u> (usually of the 2002 version) exist - one stretched from 4:3, one cropped to 16:9 (seen on <u>widescreen movies and shows</u>), and a native 16:9 version. The cropped version may also be zoomed out with borders (to account for the two aspect ratios).
* Another
* A <u>shorter version</u> cuts to either the first quarter or to the last.
* There is a <u>slower version</u>.
* A <u>filmed</u> version appears on some TV movies.
'''Technique:''' CGI
'''
* '''September 27, 1999-August 8, 2004:''' A descending
* The 2002 enhanced version has the robotic voice sped up.
'''
* '''September 30, 1999-May 11, 2000:''' <u>Very early broadcasts</u> featured the 1990 and 1998 network TV music. This can be seen on "updated" airings of season 7 episodes of ''Diagnosis: Murder'' on Me-TV and
* There is also a <u>silent</u> variant.
* A version in which the wind chime sound effect <u>plays faster</u> also exists.
* A <u>sped-up higher pitch version</u> also exists.
* Sometimes, it has the <u>end theme of the show</u> or <u>TV movie or generic network music</u>, as seen on NBC and CBS.
'''Availability:'''
* It can be seen on any show or TV movie produced by Viacom from 1999-2004; these include seasons 4-7 of ''Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'' on Antenna TV and Pluto TV (plastered on the
* The still version can be seen on some season 8 and "updated" season 7 episodes of ''Diagnosis: Murder'' on Me-TV, Encore Suspense, Decades (occasionally), Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, DVD releases, and original CBS airings from 2000-2001.
* It was also spotted at the end of several made-for-TV movies such as ''Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story'', ''A Diva's Christmas Carol'', ''Three Blind Mice'', ''Bad Apple'' and ''Bang Bang, You're Dead'', among others. It is unknown if it is preserved on VHS and/or DVDs of these respective films.
* It was also seen with the [[Triage Entertainment]] logo on the Lifetime series ''Beyond Chance'' (starting with the fourth episode), which hasn't been reran for years.
* The 2002 variant of this logo was also seen at the end of a July 8, 2023 UK airing of the 2004 TV movie ''The Legend of Butch & Sundance'' on LEGEND.
'''Legacy:''' It's not a well-known logo like the previous ones, but it's considered another well-made logo with some really cool effects.
{{Chronology||[[Viacom (2005-2019)]]}}
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[[Category:Logos made by Atlantic Motion Pictures]]
[[Category:Logos made by Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv]]
[[Category:Logos that vary depending on the source]]
[[Category:Logos with music by Michael Rubin]]
[[Category:English-language logos]]
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Viacom Enterprises was the television distribution division of the CBS Television Network, formed in 1952 as CBS Television Film Sales, later renamed to CBS Films in 1958, CBS Enterprises, Inc. in 1968, then to Viacom in 1970. In 1971, it was spun-off to comply with FCC regulations prohibiting television networks from distributing their programs under their own names. Subsequently, Viacom formed "Viacom Productions" to produce first-run television series airing on the major television networks.
The company was popular during the 1970s and 1980s, originally distributing CBS-produced shows such as I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show. In later years, they've distributed shows from numerous other production companies, including MTM Enterprises, Filmways Television, Carsey/Werner, Lorimar Television, Rankin/Bass, and Hanna-Barbera (the latter mostly internationally). They also distributed several Four Star shows, and early Nelvana TV specials, as well as most movie releases from Romulus Films, Hallmark Hall of Fame, Tomorrow Entertainment, Regency Enterprises, New World Pictures (until 1984), Orion Pictures, New Line Cinema, EMI Films, Cannon Films, and the Terrytoons library, among others, until they formed their own syndication companies. In 1971, Viacom and its production division formed "Viacom International, Inc." as their new parent company for distributing programs overseas.
Within a decade, Viacom was bought by cinema chain National Amusements, becoming part of the newly-reincorporated "Viacom, Inc." On January 1, 1990, as part of a restructuring, Viacom Pictures was formed. On March 11, 1994, Viacom acquired Paramount Communications, Inc. and Viacom Enterprises was folded into Paramount Domestic Television (later "CBS Television Distribution" and now "CBS Media Ventures"), by transferring the domestic rights of the Viacom library. Viacom International was later reorganized as the parent company of MTV Networks and Showtime Networks. Viacom transferred the international rights of the said library into Paramount International Television, while Viacom Productions was reincorporated as a production sub-division of Paramount Television. The Viacom Enterprises logo of the era was still used for "Viacom Productions" with an updated variant, and would remain until 1999, receiving another update to the logo to reflect the company's new status after merging with former parent company CBS. The 1999-2004 Viacom logo would be its last, as the final two series to end under the Viacom Productions name would be Ed and The Division.
In light of serious financial troubles brought on to Viacom, the production unit was folded into Paramount Network Television (now "CBS Studios") in 2004. Paramount took control of the remaining Viacom-produced series in 2005. On December 31 of that year, Viacom was reincorporated as "CBS Corporation", ceasing to exist officially. A "new" Viacom was established on the same day, as the holding company for Paramount Pictures, the MTV Networks, BET Networks, and their non-television firms. By 2009, most Viacom-distributed TV productions were distributed under CBS Media Ventures (formerly "CBS Paramount Domestic Television" and "CBS Television Distribution") and outside the U.S. under Paramount Global Content Distribution (formerly "CBS Paramount International Television" and "CBS Studios International"), while the previous Viacom-distributed movies, and some Viacom Domestic Media Networks TV shows were distributed by Paramount with U.S. over-the-air rights licensed to Trifecta Entertainment and Media. On December 4, 2019, Viacom and CBS re-merged, forming ViacomCBS. On February 16, 2022, ViacomCBS was renamed to Paramount Global, putting the Viacom name to rest after 51 years.
Before the Paramount purchase, Viacom titles were distributed on home video by Magnetic Video Corporation, CBS Video Enterprises (coincidental as Viacom would later own CBS), Warner Home Video, VidAmerica, Forum Home Video and U.S.A. Home Video, among others. A little known fact is that Viacom actually stands for "Visual Audio Communications".
Visuals: On a purple background, the letter "V" slides in from the right of the screen, settling in the left-hand side. Then the text "iA" slides in, settling beside the "V". When this happens, the color of the background changes to green. Then, the text "COM" slides in, settling beside "VIA" and changing the background to red. This forms the word "ViACOM". Finally, the word zooms out as the words "A" and "pRESENTATiON" fade in to the left and right of it, respectively, revealing the text in its entirety as the background changes to blue.
Trivia: The logo is actually in the same font as The Mary Tyler Moore Show logo, Peignot.
Variant: The logo is in B&W on early '70s prints of The Andy Griffith Show, Perry Mason, I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Our Miss Brooks, The Phil Silvers Show, The Twilight Zone, and The Beverly Hillbillies, among other classic shows. It also appears on a VHS of The Andy Griffith Show released by Premier Promotions, titled The Andy Griffith Show Double Feature Volume 33.
Technique: Camera-controlled/cel animation.
Audio: Four synthesized pinball-like chimes that ascend in pitch. The first 3 play as each part of "ViACOM" slides in, and the last, which plays over the zoom-out, has a "zap" sound that blends in with the last bell, combined with a synth chord and gurgling, telephone-like sounds.
Audio Variants:
Availability:
Legacy: This logo isn't anywhere close to being as well known (or feared) as its successors, not only because of its short lifespan but also because it was commonly plastered with newer logos. The pinball sounds in this logo gave it the nickname "Pinball".
Visuals: On a sky blue (or lavender) background, the text "A Viacom Presentation" in a Palatino-like typeface zooms in from the center of the screen at a very fast pace, then stops abruptly (on the filmed variant) when it gets near the screen. Then, a stylized navy blue "V" (a downward trapezoid with a curved line in the near center) appears from the center. At first it is small, but the "V" starts to move gradually closer and closer towards the screen, almost to the point where it takes up nearly the entire frame. The logo then suddenly cuts to black or fades to black (depending on the version of the logo).
Variants:
Technique:
Audio: Here are the main music variants used on this logo:
Audio Variants:
Availability: Most shows that had this logo have been updated with either the "V of Steel" or "Wigga Wigga" logos, or those of Paramount Domestic Television, CBS Paramount Domestic/Network Television, or CBS Television Distribution. However, newer variants might be seen on local stations that show older Viacom shows, such as The Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show, Rawhide, Hogan's Heroes, The Twilight Zone, and Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C. All variants of the "V of Doom" (with the exception of the "V of Pinball" until evidence is found) can be seen on VHS tapes of The Andy Griffith Show released by various video outlets such as Premier Promotions and sometimes (though mostly the videotaped variant) by UAV Corporation.
Legacy: This logo gained a reputation as one of the scariest logos of all time when it was used, due to its animation and music (more so with the warp-speed and B&W variants), earning the unofficial nickname "V of Doom". Nonetheless, it has been known to be a memorable one for those who grew up with this logo, and has been a fan favorite in the community.
Visuals: On a sea green/dark blue background, a black "V" and the name "Viacom" zoom in together and stop smoothly once they take up most of the screen.
Variants:
Technique: Usually camera-controlled/cel animation, but for the still logo, a still, printed image.
Audio: Only the closing theme of the show or TV movie, or none.
Audio Variant: On some programs, a re-orchestrated/rearranged version of the previous logo's theme, punctuated by a steel-stringed guitar, is heard.
Availability: This logo was used for network television productions.
Visuals:
Technique: Motion-controlled animation.
Audio: The opening and closing themes of the syndie promo or none.
Availability: The only sighting that has come up is a sales tape for individual stations to purchase syndication rights for Viacom-owned shows. The tape used for the captures above is from a Hawaii Five-O sales tape.
Visuals: The logo starts in outer space. The words "Special" and "Delivery" streak through the sun in the background, leaving a rainbow trail. Then on a blue/black gradient background, the two words fly towards a stylized gold ring with wings and the familiar "V" from the 2nd logo on its base. "From Viacom" with "Viacom", bigger and set in its corporate font, also fly towards the ring, settling inside it. The logo then constantly shines, occasionally flashing. At the end, a firework flash effect emerges from the logo.
Variants:
Technique: Motion-controlled animation.
Audio: After a drum roll at the start, a majestic 13-note fanfare plays, with the last note held out. The last half plays for the short version, while it's extended for the long version.
Availability: It was seen on the 1984 Twilight Zone Silver Anniversary special, as well as mid-'80s prints of classic Rankin/Bass TV specials (including Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town), and some TV movies from the era, among others.
Visuals: On a black background is a still image of the Viacom "V" logo in blue, and the name "Viacom" in white below.
Variant: On Really Weird Tales, the "V" and name are smaller and colored orange.
Technique: A still graphic.
Audio: The closing theme of the show/TV movie or none.
Availability: This logo was used for network television productions, replacing the 3rd logo.
Visuals:
Variant: An extended version of the closing variant exists on the sales tape for The Lost Honeymooners, where the logo shines multiple times after completing.
Technique: Backlit/slit-scan animation.
Audio: The closing theme of the show. Promotional reels featured Christopher Plummer saying "...Because Viacom (pronounced as "Vee-a-Com") presents, for the very first time in syndication...".
Audio Variants: On some occasions, Plummer's voice is not used. Sometimes, when the closing theme or when the Viacom "V of Doom" music plays over the logo, he instead says "From Viacom" (once again pronouncing it as "vee-a-com").
Availability:
Visuals: The logo starts out with a screen that's divided in two, with a black/purple gradient on top and silver on the bottom, with a bright light flare shining between. The silver part then rotates counter-clockwise (a la CBS/Fox Video), revealing it is a steel version of the "V" logo as the background changes to a black/blue/purple gradient. The word "Viacom" flies in from the upper-left of the screen and settles underneath the "V", reflecting the text. The finished logo shines.
Variants:
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A series of pindrop-like synth notes and a high synth drone, later joined by a descending synth chord, and a "glittery" noise for when the "V" shines. The entire audio is slightly warped.
Audio Variants:
Availability:
Legacy: Its CGI makes this logo a favorite among the logo community. It is known by the fan nickname "V of Steel".
Visuals: On a shaded blue background, a silver "V" flies in from the bottom, and moves towards the left. As it does so, a zig-zag line comes out of it to form the other letters in the word "VIACOM". The logo is seen shining throughout. The individual letters separate from the zig-zag line, with the "A" and "M" still having the form of zig-zags. The completed logo then shines.
Trivia:
Variants:
Technique: 2D motion-controlled animation by Atlantic Motion Pictures.
Audio: Again, there have been several musical variations accompanied with a male voiceover saying "Viacom" near the end:
Audio Variants:
Availability: This logo is quite infamous for plastering the older Viacom logos. Many of the shows that had this logo have been updated with either the Paramount Domestic Television, the CBS Paramount Domestic or Network Television logos ("Eye in the Sky" or "Wallpaper") or CBS Television Distribution logos by now, especially on DVD releases, but it is still seen on some shows and TV movies.
Legacy: Another beloved logo by some for its CGI, music (especially on the International variant), and voice-over.
Visuals: On a smoky blue background, the letters of "VIACOM", in a clear glass font, appear stacked on top of each other, with the "V" in front and the "M" in back. The letters then shrink and spread out to form the word as normally read. The background is revealed to have the letters of the word rapidly fading and blurring in and out. After "VIACOM" settles in, the text "PRODUCTIONS}}" (in Futura Extra Bold) appears from the mist and moves up to settle below the text. The byline "a Paramount company" (in the Paramount Pictures logo's font) fades in below that, with a line above that separates the two.
Variants:
Technique: CGI.
Audio:
Audio Variants:
Availability:
Legacy: It's not a well-known logo like the previous ones, but it's considered another well-made logo with some really cool effects.
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