Compiled by Eric Hartman, Jason Jones, James Fabiano, Cameron McCaffrey, Dan DeCosta and Matt Williams
Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly and V of Doom


Background: Viacom was originally the syndication division of CBS, known as CBS Films. It was renamed as Video & Audio Communications, or Viacom, in 1971. In 1973, it was spun-off and formed Viacom Productions one year later. The company was popular during the 1970s and 1980s, distributing CBS shows such as "I Love Lucy" and "The Andy Griffith Show." In 1986, Viacom was bought by theatre company National Amusements, and was reincorporated. 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 unvieled the name "Productions" on their logo in 1998. In 1999, they recieved 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 absorbed 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," and the company officially ceased to exist. A brand-new company also featuring the name Viacom was also established on December 31 as a spin-off company. This new Viacom still owns Paramount Pictures. However, all previous Viacom-distributed TV productions now come from CBS Paramount Television.


1st Logo
(1971-1976)

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

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 too a rare dark (not B&W) variant (possibly) due to the film deteroration.
  

Cheesy Factor/FX: Animation was very rough, primitive keyboard music, the changing backgrounds.

Music: 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: Pretty much extinct, the shows have had other syndicators or have been updated with the 2nd or other logos. However, it has turned up on at least 5-10 color episodes of "My Three Sons" on The Hallmark Channel. Supposedly these include episodes last seen on Nick at Nite around 1988-90.

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)

Nicknames: "Mountainous V", "Big V", "Zooming V", “A Viacom Presentation”, "Creepy/Evil V (of Death)", "V of Death", "The Purple V (of Doom), "V of Doom", "Killer V", "V of Final Judgement", "V of Armageddon", "Viarmageddon", "The Personification of All That Is Evil"

Logo: On a sky blue (or lavender) background, the words "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 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 appearing at the bottom once the V stopped.
• The original version of this logo was filmed, and was used from 1976 until 1982. Color variations include black-and-white and sepia, and there is a silent variation.
• 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 too a rare videotaped variant with the light green BG and the dark green "V". This version features the "V" actually stopping and two extra pounds of the timpani drum at the end.
• There is an uncommon "warp-speed" videotaped variation that has a much sped up logo and music. This was used alongside co-distibutor idents and was seen from 1979-1985.
• There is a silent variation of the film version. This was seen on "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman", but is near extinction with the distribution of Classic Media for now.
  

FX: 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, but still looks cheaply done. With the music, was the composer in a hurry and in a bad mood that day?

Music: There are some music variants used on this logo:

• Generally, the music was a 5-note synthesized tune, complete with a timpani drum cresending 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, in black-and-white, featured the "pinball" music of the first logo and was used from 1976-1977.
• For the Network TV variant, it used only the outro of the show's/made-for-TV movie's closing theme.

Availability: Most shows that had this ID usually have been updated with the current Paramount ID. The first version with the "pinball" music is extinct as the previous logo; but newer variants might be seen on local stations that show older Viacom shows like "The Honeymooners", "I Love Lucy", "The Andy Griffith Show", "The Twilight Zone", and "Gomer Pyle USMC". Also, the filmed version of the logo is on the 1970-71 season finale of "My Three Sons" on Hallmark. Is also seen at the end of most Cannon episodes shown on TV Land Canada. In the case of the Network TV variant, it's very rare actually; however, in the 1980s, it was seen currently on various (short-lived) shows and TV movies produced by this company, which include "The Master", "The Devlin Connection", "Amanda's" and the mythical "Dear Detective".

Scare Factor: Nightmare for the filmed and videotaped variants and high for the first version with the "pinball" music 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.



3rd Logo
(1985-1987)

Nicknames: "Stale V”, “V of Happiness”, "V of Boredom"

Logo: On a black background, we see a still image of the dreaded "V" of Viacom in light blue. Below that is the Viacom name (same font as in 1976).

FX: None, this is a still logo. Also consider this came after the use of the dreaded "V of Doom" and before the use of the "Silver V."

Music: None, except for the outro of the show's closing theme.

Availability: 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 the "V of Steel" and/or the "Wigga-Wigga".

Scare Factor: None. This logo looks very similar to the Network TV variant of the "V of Doom" logo, but don't worry; this logo is totally still and BORING.


4th Logo
(1986)

Nicknames: "City Skyline V", "Metallic V", "V in the Big City"


FX: None; it's a still logo.

Cheesy Factor: The 3D effect looks unconvincing.

Music: The show's closing theme.

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."



5th Logo
(1986-1990)

Nicknames: "Giant Silver V", "Silver V", "Rotating Silver V", "Shining Silver V", "V of Steel"

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" is seen under the V and the V shines.

Variants:

• The music had a couple of variations over the years. A couple of extremely short "warp-speed" versions, one of which featuring a higher-pitched jingle, can be seen on various programs, if they haven't been plastered.
• VHSs containing this logo have the V shine three times. There is also a variation where no shining is seen.

• There is a silent variation.
• There is too a B&W variant.

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

Music: Has pin drops with a sound similar to the opening sound on the THX sound system ID. In some cases, it used only the outro of the show's closing theme.

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.

Scare Factor: Low for the original and extended variants, and low to medium for the warp speed variants. The "THX-like" sound might have scared a few here and there, but it's mainly harmless.


6th Logo
(1990-1999)

Nicknames: "Wigga-Wigga", "\/|/\CO/\/\"

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, with the "A" and "M" still taking the form of zig-zags. The completed logo shines, as a voiceover says the company name "Viacom."

Variants:

• Many think the announcer is mispronouncing the word Viacom. It is indeed long "i", like in "enterprises", although the original pronounciation 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 too a B&W variant.

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

Cheesy Factor: The other letters in the logo seem to fall out of the zig-zags rather than the zig-zags just turning into them.

Music: Again, there have been several musical variations:

• Generally, new age-type synthesized rock music was heard, complete with drums, a synthesizer and even a guitar. Telephone-like "wigga-wigga" sounds were heard as the line uncurled. Viacom International logos have the flute tune as described above.
• For the newly-formed Viacom International, the same logo was accompanied by different music. A timpani drum beat was heard first, leading into a jingle played on a flute being heard as the line uncurled. As the logo finished, a faint choir was heard in the background. The voiceover was still heard.
• There is a version where the announcer cuts in earlier.
• Some versions have no voiceover. The Viacom Productions logo is one of these. An extremely short version with no voice over was seen for a brief time in 1996.
• There was a warped version during later years.

Availability: Common. The standard version can still be seen on the many shows syndicated or produced by Viacom, but mainly on old cable prints or on local stations. This logo is being phased out with the 1995 Paramount ID. The Viacom International version was present on syndicated prints of "The Cosby Show" but is now bordering on extinction, since it now plasters with the Carsey-Werner Distribution logo for now.

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



7th Logo
(1999-2004)

Nicknames: "VIACOM 2000", "Robocom", "ViaBot", "Spreading Out"

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: Letters spreading out.

Cheesy Factor: The CGI animation of the letters is just very professional.

Music: 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 Variants:

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

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

Scare Factor: Low; the robotic voice may get to some.