Zenith Entertainment
RSX-798
Editions by
Michael Kenchington
Background
Zenith Entertainment was a production company that was founded by Charles Denton as a subsidiary of Central Independent Television. In 1987, Zenith was sold off to Carlton Television in 1987, and became a production company on its own. Carlton sold a 49% stake to Paramount Pictures in 1989, and had bought out Action Time Productions, which was then folded into Zenith. When Carlton took on the ITV franchise in 1993, it sold off Zenith, while Action Time was sold to its management, and the drama side was sold to Portman Entertainment. It was then merged with Television Enterprise & Asset Management, and then renamed into Zenith Entertainment. In 2003, it was sold to its management, and it was defunct in 2006. In 2016, the rights were purchased by Simply Media TV.
1st Logo (1987-1999)
Logo: On a black background, we see the orange letter "Z" facing down into a direction with 3D angles. Below it were the words, either reading "A ZENITH PRODUCTION" or "A ZENITH NORTH PRODUCTION".
Variant: Sometimes, it shares the screen with other logos including the Carlton and 1988 BBC logos.
Technique: None.
Music/Sounds: None or the end theme of the show.
Availability: Seen at the end of Zenith's programmes like Up Line, Chimera, 99-1, Bodyguards, The Famous Five and The Ant & Dec Show, respectively.
2nd Logo (1999-2006)
Logo: On a black background, we see the big orange italic letter "Z". Below that is the word "Zenith Entertainment (Ltd)."
Variants:
- Sometimes, the logo is superimposed into the credits.
- Sometimes, it shares the screen with other logos including the 1997 BBC logo.
- On programmes produced at Zenith North, the word "NORTH" faces upward at a 90 degree angle with a triangle on top to the right of the letter.
Technique: None.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Seen on later Zenith programmes of the era, like Byker Grove, The Enemy Within and Two Thousand Acres of Sky, respectively among others.
