Captures by Camenati, Doctorine Dark and Kyrongenius1
Video captures courtesy of Alden's Vintage PBS Archive, theboi, TTSMedia, Broken Saw, Nova, The PBS Stations National Logos Archive, Cesar Blanco, Squid Boxer and HallofLogos
Background
WXXI is a PBS affiliate located in Rochester, New York, which also operates two radio stations: WXXI-AM and WXXI-FM. WXXI's first broadcast took place on September 6, 1966.
Visuals: In the credits, there is a white rounded box with the words "A", "wxxi", "tv", and "production" inside it. "wxxi" is connected to the box, and the words "portions pre-recorded" are under the box, with "pre-recorded" below "portions", and the text in the same font as the text in the box.
Technique: None. [possible misuse]
Audio: The closing theme of the show.
Availability: Can be seen on 21 News Room.
2nd Logo (1980-1982?)
Visuals: There is the text "WXXI", in the Tiffany Heavy BT font and in white and "rochester, ny", in the same font, all on a blue background.
Technique: None. [possible misuse]
Audio: None.
Availability: Only known to be on "Enter the Clown."
3rd Logo (1982-2000)
Visuals: There is the text "WXXI", in the Tiffany Heavy BT font and in silver, turning and zooming away from the viewer at a 90-degree angle, over a plain black background, shining all over. The background fades to a black-blue gradient background as the logo flashes on the screen and settles on the center of it. Flashing stars appear under the logo and move away from each other to reveal "ROCHESTER NEW YORK", in cream and in the same font, a la the Hanna-Barbera Home Video logo. "WXXI" then takes on a pale blue tint, except for the bottom which is colored yellow, and finally, the whole logo shines.
Variants:
A more common short variant simply starts with the flashing stars.
A station ID exists. It has the WXXI logo and "WXXI TV ROCHESTER" under it. Both are centered in the bottom half and a triangle can be seen under the WXXI logo while a box encompasses "WXXI TV ROCHESTER". There is no animation in this variant.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: Initially, the logo used a synthesized orchestral fanfare or a short synth tune. Later, the music changed to a fading-in synth-bass note, then a few synth-lute notes, then a calm synth-guitar tune in the beginning, followed by a few low-pitched dings, and then a descending synthesized xylophone sounder that repeats approximately three times. A re-orchestrated variant of the later music exists.
Audio Variant: The station ID has a dance remix of the regular music.
Availability: Some shows that have this logo are Safe Haven, The White House Lectures, and Fins, Feathers, and Fur. Also seen on WXXI Reports, The Rochester I Know, and other programs on the American Archive for Public Broadcasting.
4th Logo (1997-2002)
Visuals: On a dark blue background with a blue spotlight, we see the text "XXI" in a tilted yellow font zoom out. A glass "W" zooms out and turns around. A dark sphere slides in from the right and spins counterclockwise, becoming light violet when it stops. The "W" turns white and places itself onto the circle. "TV-ROCHESTER" slides in below. The logo shines while the spotlight zooms in a little.
Variant: There are four known variants:
One has the beginning clipped off.
One has the end clipped off.
One is clipped off from both sides.
One has the white text fading.
A prototype variant exists, where "Rochester - NY" replaces "TV-ROCHESTER". A shortened version of this variant also exists.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A synthesized orchestral fanfare. For the prototype variant, a two-note piano and string tune.
Availability: The shortened variants can be seen on shows from the American Archive for Public Broadcasting.
5th Logo (2002-Mid 2000's)
Visuals: On a navy blue background, there are signals being emitted from the center. A yellow-orange circle and a white "I" slide in from opposite directions. When they bump into each other, the circle stops moving and the "I" goes to the opposite direction, revealing two "X"s. A blue "W" fades into the circle. "TV | ROCHESTER" fades in.
Technique: 2D animation.
Audio: A catchy rock tune.
Availability: The logo is seen on WXXI documentaries during the 2000s, like Reclaiming The Crescent: Stories from Tyshaun's Neighborhood. It was also used as a Station ID.
6th Logo (2007-2010)
Visuals: On a black background with a light blue light curtain on the left side and blinking circles on the right side (not unlike the 7th logo), we see the WXXI logo zoom in while rotating, as the light curtains briefly take over the background. After they dim out, the text "DT | Rochester" fades in over the "XI". The logo then fades out, with "DT | Rochester" fading out last.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A guitar tune.
Availability: Seen on WXXI programs of the time. [Examples?]
7th Logo (2010-)
Visuals: There is a spotlight shining on a "W" and part of an "X", both as silhouettes. After the letters fade out, there is a wiping transition effect via a subtle, white sheen that reveals the WXXI logo letter-by-letter, with "W" represented in navy blue and "XXI" in gold, and "Rochester I NY" under the letters in white. After the lettering is shown in the logo, we then see several lights from a skyline turn on, with some blinking. The logo then fades.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: Two synth chimes followed by a plucked string background.
Availability: Can be seen only in Upstate New York State-based programming, especially around the Rochester viewing area; however, Homework Hotline, which is produced in Rochester, can be seen in the Five Boroughs of NYC, and it can also be seen in parts of New Jersey and Connecticut due to those states being in the WNET Thirteen viewing area. It also appears between programs as a station ID.
8th Logo (2011-2019)
Visuals: There is the WXXI logo (with a shadow this time) zoom in with the words "ROCHESTER, NY" in navy blue under the logo. The logo and text zoom out. The background is a lime-orange gradient, with various graffiti and arrows moving about.