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Viacom

Logo descriptions by Jason Jones, James Fabiano, Cameron McCaffrey, Dan DeCosta, Matt Williams, and Yoshidude987
Logo captures by AsdfTheRevival, Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom, Eric S., mr3urious, Mr. Logo Lord, and ASja2002
Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom, WizardDuck, Bob Fish, and Optimus Prime 2000
Video captures courtesy of JohnnyL80, BobsVintageVideo, and ASja2002

Background: Viacom was the second name of the syndication division of the CBS Television Network, originally known as CBS Films. It was renamed as Video & Audio Communications, or Viacom Enterprises (its original name) in 1971. In 1973, it was spun-off because it was against the FCC regulations for a television network to distribute its programs under its own name, becoming independent, and formed Viacom Productions one year later. The company was popular during the 1970s and 1980s, distributing mainly CBS shows such as I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show. In 1986, Viacom was bought by theatre company National Amusements, being reincorporated after 13 years. On January 1, 1990, Viacom changed its logo for the first time in 14 years. Viacom later acquired Paramount Communications in 1994 and folded its distribution division into Paramount Domestic Television in 1995 and unveiled the name "Productions" on their logo in 1998. In 1999, they received a new logo to reflect the company's new status after having merged with former parent company CBS. Alas, this logo was to be Viacom's last. The final two series to end under the Viacom Productions name were Sabrina: The Teenage Witch and The Division. The new millennium brought serious financial troubles to the company, and as a result, the production unit was folded into Paramount Network Television as well in 2004. Paramount took control of the remaining Viacom-produced series in 2005. On December 31 of that year, Viacom was renamed "CBS Corporation", ceasing to exist officially. A brand-new company also featuring the name Viacom was also established on December 31 from the international arm as a spin-off company. This new Viacom still owns all Paramount and MTV subsidiaries, including Paramount Pictures. However, all previous Viacom-distributed TV productions now come from CBS Paramount Television (now CBS Television Distribution).

1st Logo
(1971-1976)

Nicknames: "Pinball Music", "A Viacom Presentation", "V-IA-COM", “V-IA-COM Pinball”, "Pinball Game", "ViaPinball"

Logo: This logo had the word "Viacom," a group of letters at a time (in an ascending number: "V" (1), "IA" (2) and "COM" (3), slide in from the right, with the background changing color as each one stops. As the screen fades to purple, the V slides in. Then the IA slides in, changing the background to green. Then the COM slides in, changing the background to red. When the word "VIACOM" is formed, the camera pans outward and the words "A" and "PRESENTATION" are seen to the left and right of the word "Viacom", over a blue background. The logo had a font similar to the one on the "Mary Tyler Moore" logo (called "Peignot") with white lettering.

Variants:

One version of the logo replaces the red background with black. Could possibly be because of film quality, however.
Other sources would have this logo completely out of sync with the sound effects.
There is a B&W variant.
There is also a rare dark (not B&W) variant (possibly) due to the film deterioration.
There is also a Sepia variant.

FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: Animation was very rough, primitive keyboard music, the changing backgrounds. Also, shouldn't the letters have animated as "VI-A-COM" instead of "V-IA-COM"?

Music/Sounds: Consists of four synthesized ascending pinball-like chimes, also kind of sounds like the sound effects you hear on some news programs. The first three bring up the syllables to "Viacom", and the last, which plays over the zoom-out, has a zap-like "WHOOSH" that blends in with the last bell.

Availability: Extinct, as the shows have had other syndicators or have been updated with the 2nd or other logos. However, it turned up on at least 5-10 color episodes of My Three Sons on The Hallmark Channel years ago. Supposedly these include episodes last seen on Nick at Nite around 1988-1990. The B&W variant was seen on early 70s prints of The Dick Van **** Show, The Andy Griffith Show, and The Beverly Hillbillies among other classic shows. Very early episodes of The (New) Price is Right carried this logo as well, but have since been deleted.

Scare Factor: Low to medium; it has scared some by its cheesy animation, fast pace, "zoom out", and primitive music. But compared to the 2nd logo, it's nothing.

2nd Logo
(1976-1986)

Viacom Enterprises/Productions - CLG Wiki

Viacom Green Videotaped "V of Doom" (1983)

Nicknames: "Mountainous V", "Big V", "Zooming V", "Dark/Black V", “A Viacom Presentation”, "VIACOM!", "Viacom The Menace", "Bad V", "Creepy/Evil V (of Death)", "V of Death", "The Purple/Black V (of Doom), "V of Doom", "Killer V", "V of Final Judgement", "V of Armageddon", "Viarmageddon", "Viapocalypse", "ViaDoom", "Attack of the Killer V", "Growing V", "The Personification of All That Is Evil"

Logo: On a sky blue (or lavender) background, the phrase "A Viacom Presentation" zooms in from the center of the screen at a very fast pace. Then, a fancy-cut, navy-blue "V" comes from the center and moves gradually closer and closer to the screen. When it gets to the point where the "V" takes up nearly the entire screen, the screen suddenly fades to black, with the "V" still moving ever closer.

Variants:

A network television version, used from 1979 until 1985, usually had the black "V" and the name "Viacom" zooming in together and stopping once it has come to a huge size. A variation of this version features copyright information for Viacom International appearing at the bottom once the V stopped. However, some showings have the "V" and the word "Viacom" sliding in from opposite sides of the screen.
The original version of this logo was filmed, and was used from 1976 until 1982. Color variations include black-and-white and sepia.
On the earlier color variant of the filmed version, the "V" is black.
Videotaped versions have "A" and "Viacom" spaced farther apart, and the animation is more crisp and smooth. This was used from 1978-1986.
An extremely rare videotaped variant featuring a golden "V" was used on syndicated prints of The Honeymooners. This is a result of a chroma-key mistake.
There is also a rare videotaped variant with the light green BG and the dark green "V" with two extra pounds of the timpani drum at the end.
Some videotaped variants feature the "V" actually stopping at the end.
A videotaped variant of this logo has an orange background and a black V seen on 1978 episodes of You Don't Say.
There is an uncommon "warp-speed" videotaped variation that has a much sped up logo and music. This was used alongside co-distributor idents and was seen from 1979-1986.

FX/SFX: All the animation in this logo.

Cheesy Factor: The filmed version has the appearance that a camera zoomed in on the "V" and the text zoom-in looks like it was cheaply animated, even though it doesn't look like a camera zoom-in. The videotaped version has better graphics and animation, thanks to the Scanimate effects, but still looks cheaply done. With the music, was the composer in a hurry and in a bad mood that day?

Music/Sounds: Here are the main music variants used on this logo:

Generally, the music was a 5-note synthesized tune, complete with a timpani drum crescendoing throughout with a final, rather loud pound at the end. Even after the logo faded to black, the timpani's echo could still be heard.
The very first version of this logo featured the "pinball" music of the first logo and was used from 1976-1977.
For the Network TV variant, it used only the closing theme of the show or TV movie.
In other cases, the closing theme of the show was used, or none.

Availability: Most shows that had this ID usually have been updated mainly with any of the Paramount Television, the CBS Paramount Television, and/or the CBS Television Distribution IDs among others. The first version in B&W with the "pinball" music is extinct on TV as the previous logo, but the color variant of this logo was seen on the TV movie Eric, and mid 70s prints of early color episodes of Gunsmoke. 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, The Twilight Zone, and Gomer Pyle USMC. The filmed version of the logo was on the 1970-1971 season finale of My Three Sons on Hallmark, TV movies of the era, such as Police Story, The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan, and Top Secret among others, and on earlier video prints of the 1981 movie The Unseen. Is also seen at the end of most Cannon episodes shown on TV Land Canada. The silent variant is rare, being seen only on the TV movie The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. The Network TV variant is extinct nowdays; however, during the 1980s, it was seen on various (short-lived) shows and TV movies produced by this company, such as The Master, The Devlin Connection, Amanda's, and the legendary Dear Detective, among others. Currently, the 1978 and 1983 variants of the videotaped logo can be seen on two episodes of The Twilight Zone on SyFy. Several of the "Classic 39" episodes of The Honeymooners on WGN America have this logo, and the warp speed version was spotted on one episode.

Scare Factor: Nightmare for the filmed and videotaped variants and high for the earlier filmed variant with the "pinball" music, the silent variant, and the network TV variant, because the music and "V" zooming in had been a source of bad dreams and nightmares for many. The general quality is also poor. One of the scariest logos ever created. But the scare factor is lower for those who are used to seeing it.

3rd Logo
(1981)

Nicknames: "Flashing V", "Color Surge V", "Syndireel V", "V of Rainbow", "ViaRainbow"

Logo: On a black background, we see the "V" rotating to the center in a rainbow streak. Then, the rainbow streak lines out of the logo. After that, the "V" flashes to blue and the word "Viacom" in blue flashes in with the word "presents" below. As the opening theme comes up, we zoom up to the left corner of the "V" step-by-step. At the end of the reel, we see the "V" with the word "Viacom" in blue and the word "from" above the "V" and they all zoom in towards the viewer.

FX/SFX: The rotating of the V to center, the colors lining out of the logo, the flash of "Presents" and the "V", the zoom in to the corner of the V in step with the opening theme. The quick zoom in to center with a flash at the end of the reel.

Music/Sounds: The opening and closing themes of the syndie promo, or none.

Availability: Extinct, this is the only sighting that has come up, and was not even seen on television, it was a sales tape for individual stations to purchase syndication rights for Viacom-owned shows.

Scare Factor: None; it's absolutely tame. If Viacom made any feature movies at the time, this was definitely the logo to go with.

4th Logo
(1984-1986)

Nicknames: "Special Delivery", "The Viacom Emblem", "The Winged V", "V of Gold", "ViaGold", "ViaStreak"

Logo: We start off in outer space. The words "Special" and "Delivery" streaks through the sun that is in the background leaving a rainbow trail. Then on a blue/black background, the two words fly to a ring with wings. "From Viacom" is also in this logo.

FX/SFX: TBA

Music/Sounds: After the drumroll at the start, a majestic 11-note fanfare plays

Availability: Extinct; seen on the 1984 Twilight Zone Silver Anniversary special, as well on mid 80s prints of classic Rankin-Bass TV specials, and some TV movies of the era, among others.

Scare Factor: Low to medium. A refreshing change to the standard "V of Doom" fanfare of the 2nd logo.

5th Logo
(1985-1987)

Nicknames: "Stale V”, “V of Happiness”, "V of Boredom", "V of Annoyance", "Blue V", "V of Delight", "ViaBlue"

Logo: On a black background, we see a still image of the Viacom "V" logo in light blue. Below that is the Viacom name in white.

Variant: On Really Weird Tales, the logo is completely yellow-ish orange.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show, or none.

Availability: Extremely rare; was once seen on original airings of the 1st season of Matlock plus its two-part pilot episode (from March 1986) as well as on the Andy Griffith reunion special Return to Mayberry and the first five made-for-TV movie adaptations of Perry Mason, but have all fallen victim of being plastered with any of the later Viacom, Paramount Television, or CBS (Paramount) Television logos.

Scare Factor: None.

6th Logo
(1986)

Nicknames: "City Skyline V", "Metallic V", "V in the Big City", "V and the City", "V on the Town", "V of Night", "Early V of Steel"
Viacom Enterprises/Productions - CLG Wiki

Logo: Against a city skyline with a purple night sky (and with most of the building's lights switched on), we see a metallic-textured "V" (in the same design as the "V of Doom" logo) situated above the word "Viacom".

FX/SFX: None.

Cheesy Factor: The 3D effects look unconvincing.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Extremely rare; seen only on the 1986 Honeymooners Reunion special.

Scare Factor: Low; this is a welcome change from the dreaded "V of Doom".

7th Logo
(1986-1990)

Nicknames: "Mountainous Silver V", "Giant Silver V", "Ultra Majestic Silver V", "Silver V", "Rotating Silver V", "Shining Silver V", "V of Steel", "ViaSteel"

Logo: We start out with a screen, divided half purple on top and half silver on the bottom. The silver part then rotates counter-clockwise (ala CBS-FOX) and a fancy-cut V (same design as "V of Doom" in 2nd logo) appears. The word "Viacom" flies in from the upper-left of the screen and places itself under the V, and the V shines.

Variants:

The music had a couple of variations over the years. A couple of "warp-speed" versions, one of which is a ultra warp speed version featuring a higher-pitched jingle, can be seen on various programs, if they haven't been plastered.
VHSs containing this logo have the V shining three times.
There is a variant where there is no shining.
There is a silent variation.
There is also a B&W variant.
There is another sped-up variant of this logo with the music at the normal speed.
There is also a variant that plays at a slightly slower speed.

FX/SFX: The rotating V, the V "shining". Actually pretty good CGI for it's time.

Music/Sounds: Has pin drop-like sounds that are followed by a sound similar to the "Deep Note" sounder on the THX sound system ID. In some cases, it used only the closing theme of the show.

Availability: Shows up on plenty of episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies on Superstation WGN and TV Land and on '80s prints of other Viacom-distributed shows. May also be seen on pre-1990 Perry Mason made-for-TV movies that haven't been plastered with the 6th logo. The silent variant is rare, because it was seen only on the movie The Stepford Wives. The ultra warp speed version can be seen on both The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! and The Legend of Zelda. Recently, it was spotted on the 1989 film Sonny Boy on TCM.

Scare Factor: Low for the original, extended, and B&W variants, low bordering on medium for the warp speed variants, and none for the silent variant. The "THX-like" sound and the similar aspect to the "V of Doom" logo might have scared a few here and there, but it's mainly harmless.

8th Logo
(1990-1999)

Nicknames: "Wigga-Wigga", "\/|/\CO/\/\", "Zig-Zags of Steel", "Zig-Zags of Silver", "Zig-Zags of Aluminum"

Logo: On a shaded blue background, a silver "V" flies from the bottom left and then backwards. As it does so, a zig-zag line comes out of it to form the other letters in the name (it shines as it does this), with the "A" and "M" still taking the form of zig-zags. The completed logo shines, as a voice-over (Don LaFontaine) says the company name "Viacom".

Variants:

Many people think the announcer is mispronouncing the word Viacom. It is indeed long "i", like in "enterprises", although the original pronunciation of the name pre-1986 was indeed with a short "i", like in "Venus".
Several shows would have the name already formed during the later years.
There is a text variation on this logo for Viacom Productions. It has the "Viacom" text already formed, but a line slides in from the right and forms into "PRODUCTIONS", after which the "C" and the "O" in "\/|/\CO/\/\" shine. This shorter variation was seen on network TV productions from 1998-1999.
There is also a B&W variant.

FX/SFX: The CGI coiled line turning into "\/|/\CO/\/\".

Cheesy Factor: The other letters in the logo seem to "drop out" from the zig-zags rather than the zig-zags just morphing into them. Also, the excessive shining makes this look somewhat gaudy.

Music/Sounds: Again, there have been several musical variations:

Generally, new age-type synthesized rock music is used, complete with drums, a synthesizer and even a guitar. Telephone-like "wigga-wigga" sounds are heard as the line zig-zags. Viacom International logos have the flute tune as described above.

For the newly-formed Viacom International, the same logo is accompanied by different music. A timpani drum beat is heard first, leading into a jingle played on a flute being heard as the line uncurls. As the logo finishes, a faint choir is heard in the background. The LaFontaine voice-over is still heard.

There is a version where the LaFontaine cuts in earlier.

Some versions have no LaFontaine voice-over. The Viacom Productions logo is one of these. An extremely short version with no LaFontaine voice over was seen for a brief time in 1996.

There was a warped version during later years.

Music/Sound Variants:

In some cases, it used the closing theme of the show, or none.
A "spoofed" variant of this logo with the "V of Doom" music was seen on some episodes of The Twilight Zone and '90s prints of some TV movies.

Availability: Rare, many of the shows that had this logo have been updated with either the Paramount Television or CBS Television Distribution by now. A recent sighting of the logo was after the film I'm All Right Jack on Turner Classic Movies, while the ''Productions'' variant can be found on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch on ABC Family and The N. As for the Viacom International version, it was present on syndicated and international prints of The Cosby Show but is now bordering on extinction, since it is now plastered with the Carsey-Werner Distribution logo for now.

Scare Factor: Minimal; some might be caught off-guard by dramatic FX.

9th Logo
(1999-2004)

Nicknames: "VIACOM 2000", "Robocom", "ViaBot", "Spreading Out", "\/|/\CO/\/\", "Wigga-Wigga 2000", "Zig-Zags of Glass"

Logo: This one is similar to the 1998-1999 network TV logo. First we see the letters of \/|/\CO/\/\ in front of each other, spreading out. The background is full of "Wigga-Wigga"-type "\/|/\CO/\/\" letters. The company is referred to as "Viacom Productions, A Paramount Company" with the Paramount byline in its majestic cursive logo font.

FX/SFX: The letters spreading out.

Music/Sounds: A descending crystallized wind chime-like sound effect culminating in a synth explosion, followed by a robotic voice saying the word "Viacom". The robotic voice was shortened in 2003.

Music/Sound Variants:

Very early showings featured the 1998 network TV music.
There is also a silent variant.
A version in which the wind chime sound effect plays faster also exists.

Availability: Fairly common; can be seen on any show produced by Viacom from 1999-2004; these include Sabrina, The Teenage Witch on ABC Family and The N, The Division on Lifetime: Real Women, and season one of The 4400 on USA Network.

Scare Factor: Minimal, bordering on low; the robotic voice may get to some.

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	Keyword tags: CBS Corporation CBS Enterprises CBS Films CBS Paramount Television CBS Television Distribution CBS Television Film Sales CBS Television Studios National Amusements Inc. Paramount Television Viacom Viacom Enterprises Viacom International Viacom Productions More Info: links to this page

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Green_lantern40

Recent "V of Doom" Sightings? (page: 1 2 3)

Aug 2 2009, 2:32 PM EDT by IWP

Thread started: Nov 23 2007, 6:42 PM EST Watch

The last time I've ever seen the "V of Doom" was back in the late-'90s on an episode of "I Love Lucy." When's the last time you've seen the "V of Doom?"

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Yoshidude987

Thanks for Font switching.

Oct 19 2009, 9:52 PM EDT by VofDoom

Thread started: Oct 16 2009, 6:07 PM EDT Watch

Good Job, Vofdoom. Thanks for giving my words: Special and Delivery an Enchanced look.

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supersmashmelee

Now I know why the first logo has the font...

Oct 11 2009, 3:12 PM EDT by supersmashmelee

Thread started: Oct 11 2009, 3:12 PM EDT Watch

The reason is this. Mary Tyler Moore was the first to be distributed by Viacom. It was also ran on CBS. Mary (I think) was thought of,
, so the newly formed Viacom used the font to represent her.But, that wasn't the earliest disturbed. The Green Cockatoo
was the earliest disturbed. But that doesn't really matter! So, tell me what you think about that.

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thebiglogoman

Viacom 5th logo

Sep 24 2009, 10:48 PM EDT by thebiglogoman

Thread started: Sep 24 2009, 10:48 PM EDT Watch

Uh, the Beverly Hillbillies now has the 6th logo when it is shown on TV land...

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