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{{About|the original incarnation of Viacom|the current (2005-present) incarnation
{{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, CrazySpruiker2001, BaldiBasicsFan and KosMir|video=ASja2002, Dean Stewart Rumsey, narutofire3, mcydodge919, PluMGMK, Steve Grayson, TVLOGOS708090, Eric S, travis7310, TheVintageTVArchive, bdalbortvclosings&more, BenIsRandom, BudTheChud1989, Broken Saw, Mayfield Entertainment, GuateLogos, theRafaMarc a.k.a. RM, Ryan Holman, TheEriccorpinc, Luke2505, Hb1290 Logos, Plasma Storm, and LogicSmash}}
{{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 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.
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<tabber>
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'''Visuals:''' On a
'''Trivia:''' The logo is actually in the same font as ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' logo,
▲'''Visuals:''' On a {{color|darkviolet|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 colour of the background changes to {{color|green}}. Then, the text "'''{{small|COM}}'''" slides in, settling beside "'''{{Small|VIA}}'''" and changing the background to {{color|darkred|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 {{color|blue}}.
▲'''Trivia:''' The logo is actually in the same font as ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' logo (called "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''.
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'''Technique:''' Camera-controlled/cel animation.
'''Audio:''' Four synthesized pinball-like chimes that ascend in pitch. The first 3 play as each part of "'''{{small|V}}i{{small|ACOM}}'''" slides in, and the last, which plays over the zoom-out, has a "
'''Audio Variants:'''
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* 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
'''Availability:'''
* The color version turned up on many season 11 and 12 episodes of ''My Three Sons'' on Odyssey Network/The Hallmark Channel back in the early 2000s. Many variations have also been spotted on these episodes when shown on Me-TV, as part of an unusual combo with the 2007 CBS Television Distribution logo preceding it (with the exception of one episode, S12 E23, which first aired on August 2, 2018). These sightings mark the first known time this Viacom logo has been seen on national American television since the Odyssey/Hallmark airings from the early 2000s.
** 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
* 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.
* 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.▼
*
** 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 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".
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Viacom (Hot Pink).png|Pink version
Viacom (1980).png| Blue version with green noise.
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'''Visuals:''' On a
'''Variants:'''
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* '''Filmed Variants:'''
** A black and white version of the filmed "'''V'''" was used in the <u>earlier years</u>.
** An <u>early color variant of the filmed version</u> exists, where the "'''V'''" is black, with a
** 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
* '''Videotaped Variants:'''
** The logo has seen several different <u>color variants</u> appear. Color variants include
** A videotaped variant featuring a
*** 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.
** There is also a variant with a <u>{{color|lawngreen|jungle green}} background</u> and a <u>{{color|green|Charleston green}} "{{color|green|'''V'''}}"</u>.▼
*** A corrected version of this was seen on a WPIX airing of ''The Honeymooners Special II''.
** There is a rumored <u>purple</u> variant where the background is lavender and the {{color|darkviolet|'''V'''}} is {{color|darkviolet|purple}}.▼
▲** There is also a variant with a <u>
▲** There is a rumored <u>purple</u> variant where the background is lavender and the
** A videotaped variant of this logo has an {{color|orange}} background and a {{color|midnightblue|midnight blue}} "{{color|midnightblue|'''V'''}}" seen on <u>1978 episodes of ''You Don't Say!''</u>. There is also a <u>warp speed</u> version of this.▼
** A
▲** A videotaped variant of this logo has an
** 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 "
** A videotaped variant with a
** A high pitched, slightly sped
'''Technique:'''
* Camera-controlled/cel animation for the filmed version.
* Chyron effects (possibly done in Scanimate) for the videotaped version.
'''Audio:''' Here are the main music variants used on this logo:
* Usually, the music used is a five-note synthesized fanfare (composed on an ARP Odyssey synth), complete with a timpani drum roll playing throughout with a final, rather loud pound at the end. This was composed by Viacom’s music director at the time. Even after the logo
* 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 was slightly faster-paced and low-pitched. This was used on the black and white and early color variants of the logo, and it was also used in tandem with the standard filmed variant from the mid-to-late 1970s.
'''Audio Variants:'''
* 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.
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* 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:''' 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]].
* '''''V of Pinball'':'''
** The B&W filmed variant with the "Pinball" theme
** This variant was also resurfaced on a 16mm print of ''The Phil Silvers Show''.
** Its color counterpart has been seen on the 1975 TV movie ''Eric'', and is also intact on the film's VHS release, the Magnetic Video release of ''Girls! Girls! Girls!'' (also on the 1985 Key Video re-release), the Australian Magnetic Video VHS release of ''All in a Night's Work'', and on one mid-1970s print of an early color episode of ''Gunsmoke'', which aired on Superstation WTBS back in 1986.
* '''''Filmed Variant'':'''
** It
** It is also
** 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 color variant of the filmed variant was seen on some prints of ''The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse'' and currently on three episodes of ''Gunsmoke'' on Me-TV ("The Witness", "Eleven Dollars", and "Kitty's Love Affair") and one episode ("Like Old Times") on CBS Drama in the UK.
** The B&W filmed variant variant can also be spotted on DVD releases of ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' released by the [[Platinum Disc Corporation]], [[Madacy Lifestyle Marketing|Madacy Entertainment]], [[Mill Creek Entertainment]], and [[GoodTimes Entertainment]], among other companies.
** 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
** 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
** 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 is also
** 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 the channel acquired updated prints sometime in 2015.
** It was also
** The warp-speed variant was also resurfaced on a rerun of ''The Bob Newhart Show'' S5 episode "Making Up Is the Thing To Do" on Me-TV, Hallmark Channel, Decades (occasionally), Sundance, and FamNET, after the decorated [[MTM Enterprises]] logo and preceding the 2013 [[20th Television]] logo, and is also available on various season 5 and 6 episodes of that show on Shout Factory's 2014 complete series set, as well as solo releases of said seasons and Me-TV airings of most season 6 episodes, with the logo on a majority of those episodes being followed by the 2013 20th Television logo.
** It can also be seen on two season 3 episodes of ''Have Gun, Will Travel'' on Me-TV and H&I ("Fragile" and "The Black Handkerchief").
** 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 resurfaced on two ''Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C.'' VHS releases released by [[Forum Home Video]] in 1989, as well as ''The Devil and Daniel Mouse'', which is included as an extra on the Blu-ray release of Nelvana's ''Rock & Rule''.
** It also makes
** This logo was also
** This variant had also resurfaced on GSN and Buzzr airings of a 1980 episode of ''To Tell the Truth''.
**
** This also made
* '''''Silent Variant'':'''
** It
** 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:''' 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.
===3rd Logo (June 24, 1978-1985)===
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'''Visuals:''' On a
'''Variants:'''
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'''Availability:''' This logo was used for network television productions.
* During the 1980s, it was seen on various
* Older prints such as VHS releases might have this logo intact but the later releases such as on DVD or Blu-Ray generally plaster this with the CBS Television Distribution logo. Cases in point; ''To Race the Wind'', on which said variant was intact on a 2011 True Movies 1 airing of the film (before the silent 1995 Paramount Domestic Television logo), and ''The Devlin Connection'', ''The Master'' and ''The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair'', which were released on video by [[Trans World Entertainment]] (but the DVD releases of the latter two use the CBS Television Distribution logo instead).
* 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
* 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.
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<tabber>
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'''Visuals:'''
* '''Opening:''' On a black background, a "'''V'''" rotates towards the center of the screen in a
* '''Closing:''' At the end of the reel, a "
'''Technique:''' Motion-controlled animation.
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Image=
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</tabber>
'''Visuals:''' The
'''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.
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'''Visuals:''' On a black background is a still image of the Viacom "
'''Variant:''' On ''Really Weird Tales'', the "
'''Technique:''' A still graphic.
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'''Availability:''' This logo was used for network television productions, replacing the 3rd logo.
* It was once seen on original airings of the first 3 episodes of the
*
* 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.
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'''Visuals:'''
* '''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.
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'''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
'''Availability:'''
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<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>
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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=Community Access Northshore version}}
|-|
</tabber>
'''Visuals:''' The
'''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 releases containing this logo</u> and <u>select TV broadcasts</u> have the "
* A warp speed version of the three shines variant exists, which was seen on the <u>syndicated version of ''Super Sloppy Double Dare''</u>.
* A variant where the <u>"
* A <u>still</u> variant also exists.
* A variant where the "
* 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.
* Another <u>sped-up variant</u> of this logo with the music at the normal speed exists.
* A variant which plays at a <u>slightly slower speed</u> also exists.
* On <u>Fox's ''Family Double Dare''</u>, the logo fades in after the Nickelodeon logo, with the "
* A variant where both the "
* One version had a
* Another version cuts to when the "
* A variant where the logo starts off in black and white, but quickly changes to color also exists, which was spotted on a <u>1988 rerun of ''The Andy Griffith Show'' on TBS Superstation</u>.
* 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 1990s TBS Superstation airings of ''Perry Mason''</u>, the logo is colored
* On the <u>1988 Milwaukee Public Access (Viacom) parody of ''Star Trek'' titled ''Far Trek''</u>, cheap text in
'''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 "'''
'''Audio Variants:'''
* In some cases, it uses only the <u>closing theme of the show</u> or <u>none</u>.
* Some episodes of <u>''Cannon'' and ''Perry Mason'' on Me-TV</u> have/had the "V of Doom" music playing over this (MeTV later received updated CBSTD prints of the aforementioned episodes of both, though the aforementioned Perry Mason prints have since resurfaced on FETV).
* <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 variant of the extended warp-speed (three wipes) variant includes a voice-over, which was seen on a <u>sales tape for the un-aired game show ''I Predict''</u>. As the logo animates, the voice-over is heard saying: "A Ron Greenberg Production, in association with Viacom." (Pronounced "Vee-a-com", similar to Sandy Hoyt on ''Split Second'').
* 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.
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* '''''Regular Variant (One Wipe)'':'''
** It is currently seen on ''Rawhide'' on Me-TV, Decades (occasionally) and H&I.
** It is also currently seen on most episodes of ''The Phil Silvers Show'' on Me-TV, Forces TV (UK) and occasionally seen on Decades (Now Catchy Comedy), and it is preserved on the season 2 Shout! Factory DVD release of the show, and on most episodes from seasons 3-4 of ''TPSS'' on DVD (season 1 on DVD and the UK DVD releases use the 2007 CTD logo instead), and was on most episodes of ''The Beverly Hillbillies'', as well as ''Gunsmoke'' (mostly color reruns) on Me-TV before they were issued updated prints by CBS, although for ''The Beverly Hillbillies'', it can still be seen on some episodes (the earliest episode to have this is "Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch"), and as for ''Gunsmoke'', it can still be seen on certain episodes from season 14 (the third color season) onward.
** 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 DVD.
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** 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 currently on FETV.
** 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 later prints on iTunes and on Paramount+), and ''Remote Control''.
** The B&W variant can be found at the end of select VHS releases of ''The Andy Griffith Show'' that were released by Premier Promotions, including notably ''The Andy Griffith Show Collector's Series Volume 12: Mayberry Classics'', and
** This logo was also spotted on UK VHS releases of ''Fun in Acapulco'', ''King Creole'', ''Roustabout'' and ''All in a Night's Work'', older prints of ''Dempsey'' and ''Makepeace'', ''Father Dowling Mysteries'', a Decades broadcast of ''The Blue Knight'' (1975), at least one episode of ''The Twilight Zone'' on the French version of the Sci-Fi Channel, a Movies! broadcast of the 1971 docudrama ''Evel Knievel'', a Escape (now Court TV Mystery) airing of the 1989 film ''Night Game'', a TCM UK broadcast of ''Wild Geese II'' (1985), the 1987 Cannon film ''Three Kinds of Heat'', which can also be found on Netflix UK, Amazon Prime, Paramount+ and Epix.com, and international prints of seasons 1-4 (and some of season 5) of ''Matlock'', though most use the warp speed variant. It is still seen on a few Season 3-4 episodes of ''Matlock'' on CBS Justice (UK).
** The "in-progress" variant can be found on the [[MCA/Universal Home Video]] VHS release of ''Super Force'', the unsold ''Baby on Board'' pilot from 1988, as well as at least one episode of ''Rawhide'' on Me-TV.
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** 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 (three wipes) can be found on the [[Family Home Entertainment]] VHS releases of ''The Adventures of the Little Koala'' and was on at least one episode of ''Perry Mason'' on Me-TV before being issued an updated print by CBS, while the long version with four wipes made its premiere on the short-lived NBC-aired sitcom ''Easy Street'', and was last spotted on the Toffler version of ''Finders Keepers'' on the now-defunct Nick GAS network. This was also seen on the aforementioned game shows distributed by Viacom in the late 1980s; reruns of these shows on Nick GAS, as well as Paramount+, retain the logo. The three wipes variant was also spotted on a 2017 FETV broadcast of the ''Perry Mason'' episode "The Case of the Poison Pen Pal".
* '''''Silent Variant'':''' Originally, it could only be seen on syndicated TV prints of ''The Stepford Wives'' (the 1975 version), though it was later resurfaced on the Forces TV print of the ''Hogan's Heroes'' episode "The Most Escape-Proof Camp I've Ever Escaped From", which is from season 2, although Fox Classics’ print has the theme present on it.
* '''''Warp Speed Variant'':'''
** This can currently be found on some episodes of ''Rawhide'' on Me-TV, Decades (occasionally) and H&I.
** It is also seen on older prints of ''Matlock'' (season 1-4, 1989 episodes; current TV and streaming prints use the 8th logo instead, while the DVD release of S1 uses CBS/Paramount and every other season on DVD uses the 2007 CTD logo instead).
** 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 only known to exist on ''Superboy''. However, the show's DVD release from Warner Home Video retains it.
** It was also
* '''''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''.
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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
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'''Visuals:''' On a shaded
'''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 Christopher
'''Variants:'''
* There is a filmed variant seen on some <u>TV movies from the era</u>, like the 1996 ''Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'' television movie. Also seen on a British rerun as well as the Russian CBS Drama channel airing of the ''Father Dowling Mysteries'' season 2 episode "The Ghost of a Chance Mystery", which plastered over the "V of Steel" logo.
* 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), on re-runs on said networks, it is followed by the 2003 [[Paramount Television (1967-2006)|Paramount Domestic Television]] logo (but plastered on DVD and Paramount+ by the CBS/Paramount "Eye In The Sky" 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.
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* 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
'''Audio:''' Again, there have been several musical variations accompanied with a male voiceover saying "Viacom" near the end:
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* <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 ''
'''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.
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** 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
** 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).
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Images=
</gallery>
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'''Visuals:''' On a smoky
'''Variants:'''
* A <u>still</u> version of this logo exists (a la the 1985 "V of Happiness" logo).
* Starting in <u>2002</u>, the logo is slightly enhanced. The word "
* 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>.
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'''Audio:'''
* '''September 27, 1999-August 8, 2004:''' A descending crystallized wind chime-like sound effect culminating in a "
* The 2002 enhanced version has the robotic voice sped up.
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'''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 DVD releases and on Paramount+ by the 2007 CBS Television Distribution logo) and Fuse, ''The Division'' on Start TV, season 1 of ''The 4400'' last aired on USA Network, and seasons 7 & 8 of ''Diagnosis: Murder'' on Me-TV, Decades (occasionally), Encore Suspense, DVD, and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, as well as the final two TV movies spun off from that show (however, the DVD print of the last film "Without Warning" uses the CBS Television Distribution logo instead).
* 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.
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'''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)]]}}
{{TV-Navbox}}{{Navbox-Paramount}}
[[Category:American television logos]]
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[[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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