Logo descriptions by Ryan Froula

1st Logo
(1979-1985)

Logo: Just a circle with a stylized "CPB" cut into it on a blue (or black) background, with the phrase:


underneath.

FX/SFX: None; it's a still logo.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: The logo has no music, but there are three voiceover variations:

• "(PROGRAM NAME) is made possible by funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting."
• "Additional funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting."
• "Funding for this series was also provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting."

Availability: As rare as you can get without being extinct. Preserved on 1983-1985 Reading Rainbow tapes at your local library.

Scare Factor: Low; the announcer mixed with bold letters may get to some depending on who's voice. A child's voice is none, but a deeper voice may be scarier. Other than that, it's a pretty BORING logo.



2nd Logo
(1985-1987, 1991-1992)

Logo: Same as the first logo, but this time the background is a black/purple gradient. The whole thing also has a drop shadow.

Variants:

• The first few programs that had this logo, including 1985 episodes of Reading Rainbow, omitted the drop shadow.
• On later programs, the text was smaller, as the CPB circle took up half the screen.
• 3-2-1 Classroom Contact used the aforementioned variation, but on a dark red background.
• On first and second season episodes of Degrassi Junior High, the CPB logo (on a black background) is dark purple with a brighter purple diagonal line sweeps by.

FX/SFX: None; it's a still logo.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: Same as the 1st logo.

Availability: As rare as you can get without extinction. Preserved on 1985-1987 Reading Rainbow tapes at your local library.

Scare Factor: Low; same as above.



3rd Logo
(1987-1991,1991-1996)

Logo: The whole thing takes place on a space background with stars zooming past. The CPB logo is now in 3-D, and the circle is colored blue and white. First, we see it slowly rotating 90 degrees to the left. After it finishes rotating the words, the name pops up like this:


Variants:

• Sometimes, a still version of the logo, with only the stars being animated, was used.
• On Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, the Earth is behind the whole thing, and on 1993-1996 episodes, the byline used in logo 5 is seen below the text.
• An earlier variant put this logo on a black/purple gradient background.
• Some shows, like Great Performances, had the logo superimposed over a specialty backdrop.
• The logo may also fade away to make room for the text "Viewers Like You", which contains the words "Viewers Like" (in a small white Perpetua font) with "you" sketched below in yellow script. This happened on many post-1988 shows. After being sketched, the yellow script glows in Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego.
• On some shows, the "Viewers Like" words are in capitals.

FX/SFX: The stars, and the occasional 90 degree rotation of the CPB circle from the left side of the screen; decent quality CGI.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: Same as the 1st logo, often with "...and by the (annual) financial support of viewers like you." or just simply "...and viewers like you.".

Availability: On television, chances of seeing this has become almost nada, but it will pop up on 1991 episodes of Reading Rainbow from time to time. Preserved on 1987-1991 Reading Rainbow tapes at your local library.

Scare Factor: Low; the announcer and the sudden appearance of the may get to some. However, this logo is a favorite to longtime PBS viewers as with new CGI effects.



4th Logo
(1991-1996)

Logo: The CPB circle has been redesigned, with a blue and purple outline around it and in the letters. The whole thing takes place on a black background.

FX/SFX: None; it's a still logo.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: Same as the 1st logo.

Availability: Pretty rare. Mainly seen on American Experience. It has been preserved on PBS Video tapes at your local library.

Scare Factor: Low; the announcer may get to some.

5th Logo
(1991-2005)

Logo: On a textured blue/purple background with occasional purplish comets flying past, two circles slide in and form the CPB logo above the white text:


as more comets fly diagonally upward. After a few seconds, the text fades out as the logo splits into two CPB logos flying off to opposite sides of the screen so that the words "Viewers Like You" (in plain white plain serif text this time) appear in its place near the top. Later Variant:Starting in 1993, the byline "A private corporation funded by the American people" was added under the text. At that time, the text above was arranged centered, and the CPB logo was smaller to make room for the byline.

Variants:

• Like logo 3, some shows superimpose the logo over a specialty backdrop, with Nova being one example.
• A still version is seen on some programs.
• Some shows do not use the text "Viewers Like You".
• On 1991-1995 episodes of Sesame Street, the logo fades out (instead of the CPB logo splitting into two CPB logos) to make room for "PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTORS".
• On some shows, particularly those produced by WGBH Boston, would feature a still version of the logo superimposed over a background unique to that show.
• There is a version that lacks the sweeping lines, which was seen on season 3 episodes of Barney & Friends.
• There is a version that lacks the two circles forming the CPB logo, as seen on Great Performances and Barney & Friends.
• Starting on November 1, 1999, the text "Thank You" follows "Viewers Like You". This is often customized for the particular show.
  
• On The Charlie Horse Music Pizza, the logo is a solid blueish color with "The Corporation for Public Broadcasting" and the usual byline below it in a different font, all against a stylized musical-oriented background.
• On Dragon Tales, the "sweeping pink lines" and the two big circles move slower, and the text appears after the logo (in brighter colors) is formed.
• On 1998-2001 episodes of Nova, the font used was entirely different.
• Some shows, like Wishbone, just use "Viewers Like You."
• Ghostwriter used an animated sky background. In later episodes, the background was replaced with an animated green background with jacks.
• On Kratts' Creatures, the logo is a clear circle.
• Some shows, like Frontline, would not used the text for the CPB logo.
• On 1995-1998 episodes of Sesame Street, the whole text is bigger and written in cursive, and the logo is shown on the top left of the screen. The background takes place behind a green curtain

FX/SFX: The lines and the circles sliding.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: Same as the first logo. Sesame Street episodes from 1991-1992 used the famous "Funky Chimes" as background music, while Sesame Street episodes from 1992-1995 used a hip-hop instrumental based on the Sesame Street theme, and Sesame Street episodes from 1995-2000 used a jazzy version of the Sesame Street theme. The voiceovers are the same as the first logo.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover Variants:

• On all Sesame Street episodes with this logo from 1991-1995, the announcer (Gordon [Roscoe Orman] or Gabriela Rose Reagan [Gabi]) says "Funding for this program was provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting... and by public television stations and their contributors."
• On 1995-1998 episodes of Sesame Street, a kid this time says "Funding for Sesame Street was provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting... and by public television stations and their contributors."
• On 1998-2000 episodes of Sesame Street, the 1991-1995 announcer says this time "Funding for Sesame Street is provided by the annual financial support of PBS Viewers Like You."
  
• Starting sometime in the early 2000s, the "viewers like you" spiel is changed to "Contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you (or "...and viewers like you.") Thank you."The spiel varies from show to show. For example, on the revivals of Zoom, the Zoomers shout "Thanks!" instead, and the announcer for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood utters "We thank you."
  

Scare Factor: Low; the way the CPB discs suddenly zoom in may catch you off guard the first time; however, this logo is pretty tame for the most part and is a favorite to most PBS viewers.

6th Logo
(2000-2001)


Logo: On the same background as the 8th PBS logo, we see the CPB print logo, in black, centered on the screen. At the bottom is the same byline from before. This is usually followed by the "Viewers Like You" and "Thank You" disclaimers, which are often custom-made for the particular show.

FX/SFX: The background.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: An extended version of the 8th PBS logo's music, albeit entirely on guitar. For voiceovers, an announcer says "This program is made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.", often with the updated "viewers like you" and "thank you" spiel from logo 5. The music is also used during the funding credits of 2000-2004 episodes of Scientific American Frontiers.

Availability: Pretty rare; may appear on PBS programs from 2000-2001 if your station has older prints. Also seen on a few PBS Home Video tapes of the era.

Scare Factor: None; it's a peaceful logo.

7th Logo
(2001-2002)

Nickname: "CPB in a Square"

Logo: On a teal background, blue and white dots appear in the center of the screen and form the CPB logo, which has been redesigned yet again, this time looking like a square with "cpb" in it. The "p" and "b" are connected to the edge of the square. The same byline appears underneath in all capitals, but with "CPB.ORG" at the end in blue.

Variants:

• On Life 360, the whole thing is on a black background.
• On several shows, a still version is superimposed over the credits of that show.
• On American Experience, the logo is in gold.
• Some shows do not use "Viewers Like You."
• On Reading Rainbow, the blue dots bounce off the bottom of the screen, then onto the middle and form the CPB logo. The URL slides in to the top left of the screen. Then, the byline appears at the bottom and forms a smile.

FX/SFX: The blue dots forming the CPB logo.

Music/Sounds/Voiceover: The music consists of a futuristic synth tune as the dots appear, followed by a woodwind note as the CPB logo wipes in. This is followed by an updated version of the 7th PBS logo's music, performed on brass. The VOs are the same as logo 6.

Availability: May appear on PBS programs from 2001-2002 if your station has older prints. Also seen on a few PBS Home Video tapes of the era.

Scare Factor: Minimal.

8th Logo
(2002-2009)

Logo: On a blue/purple/red ethereal background with silhouettes of random people doing various things, the CPB logo wipes in vertically, and a byline appears.