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PolyGram TelevisionThis is a featured page

Logo descriptions by Sean Beard and Shadeed A. Kelly
Logo captures by Eric S.
Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly and V of Doom
Video capture courtesy of Phasicblu



Background:
PolyGram Records also had a television division in 1981 (first known as PolyGram TeleVision Ltd.), whose logo was similar to the PolyGram Pictures ID seen on feature films. This division managed to survive until 1987 but it was resurrected in 1993 when PolyGram Filmed Entertainment bought ITC Entertainment Group and affixed the new PolyGram Television logo on prints of ITC shows aired on British TV and elsewhere, but in America kept the ITC name and logo (operating as ITC Distribution, Inc.) until 1997. Later that year, ITC Distribution was folded into the parent company to continue producing and distributing television shows in Britain and other countries, including the U.S., until 1999 when it was folded into Universal Television (now NBC Universal Television Distribution/Universal Media Studios) in 2000. However, the ITC library was later bought by Carlton International Media and is currently owned by ITV Global Entertainment, a subsidiary of ITV plc.


1st Logo

(1981-1984)

Nickname: "P.G.T.V."

Logo: On a metallic sky-blue background, the PolyGram logo appears almost completely formed with the letters P,G,T and V in large, thick uppercase letters (but still closely matching the font used in the PolyGram print logo). As this appears, the uppercase letters spread apart revealing the rest of the company name (in thinner font, again closely matching the PolyGram print logo) and the line of stars slide into place under the company name. Streaks of glare pass over various parts of the logo.

FX/SFX: The line of stars zipping into place, the larger letters splitting apart, the glare streaks passing over the logo.

Cheesy Factor: The logo's near Time-Life Television levels with the crude early CGI animation (the line of stars and the "glide-in" of the rest of the company name).

Music/Sounds: Either the end theme music or none.

Avaliability: Extinct; give yourself a round of applause if you find this. Apart from a few TV movies and the few films PolyGram made between 1979 and 1982 (which were later syndicated by King Features Entertainment) plus the panel-discussion show Agronsky and Co., PolyGram in the early '80s had virtually no presence outside music. Their very limited TV output; whenever aired should have this logo intact folowed by the MGM Lion.

Scare Factor: Low to medium; given its omnipresence in music (and familiarity from album covers and print ads), the PolyGram logo as seen on a TV screen might have been more awe-inspiring.



2nd Logo
(1984-1987)
PolyGram Television (1985)

Nickname: "Star Line"

Logo: On a black background, we see the name "PolyGram Television", in blue, flying from right to the center of a logo white an orange star zooms out to place itself under the "P" and makes more stars underneath the name. We later see an orange (or red) light shining across the stars to make a line.

FX/SFX: The name flying and the stars forming.

Music/Sounds: Simple '80s music.

Availability: Extremely rare; however, it appears at the end of the now out of print DVD release of
Rehearsal for Murder replacing the first logo, and may possibly be on the DVD release of The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd.

Scare Factor: Low.




3rd Logo
(1993-1997)

Nickname: "BANG!"


Logo: Same as the video counterpart, except with "Television" replacing "Video".

FX/SFX: The same as the 1993-1997 PolyGram Video logo.

Cheesy Factor: The same PolyGram Video-style flipping letters and shrinking red line, the "BANG!"

Music/Sounds: The same as the 1993-1997 PolyGram Video logo.

Availiability: Extinct; if you'v
e see this, you are very lucky indeed. This was primarily a distribution logo in the UK and other countries outside the U.S.

Scare Factor: Same as its video counterpart.



4th Logo
(1997-1999)
PolyGram Television (1998)PolyGram Television DistributionPolyGram Television - CLG Wiki


Nicknames: "PolyGram Wing Man", "Icarus"

Logo: Same as its film counterpart, except with "TELEVISION" replacing "FILMED ENTERTAINMENT".


Variants:
  • A still version with "DISTRIBUTED BY" in a blue type above the Icarus was put onto some ITC feature films and television shows.
  • The print version was seen in the closing credits of the Nick Jr. cartoon Maisy.
  • A version existed with the phrase "POLYGRAM TELEVISION INTERNATIONAL" under the winged man.
  • "VISUAL PROGRAMMING" may replace "TELEVISION".

FX/SFX: State-of-the-art CGI animation (the full version of which was never used by the television unit).

Music/Sounds: None, or the end theme of the show.

Avaliability: Extremely rare; the distribution version can be seen on The Moderns on the Showtime networks, and on The Tamarind Seed on Netflix.com. The regular version is intact on the mini-series The Billionaire Boys Club (originally produced by ITC) on DVD from A&E Home Video.

Scare Factor: Same as the 1997-1999 PolyGram Filmed Entertainment logo.


Newave
Newave
Latest page update: made by Newave , Sep 22 2009, 1:54 PM EDT (about this update About This Update Newave Edited by Newave


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