Viacom (CBS)

Logo descriptions by Jason Jones, James Fabiano, Cameron McCaffrey, WileE2005, Matt Williams, and Yoshidude987

Logo captures by AsdfTheRevival, Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom, Eric S., mr3urious, Mr. Logo Lord, ASja2002, Dean Stewart Rumsey, Mr.Logo, wisp2007, BenderRoblox, Blatch-O, LogoGuy94, Derrick Anderson, Gilblitz112, and TrickyMario7654

Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom, WizardDuck, Bob Fish, Optimus Prime 2000, MrThorax281, BenderRoblox, ClosingLogoLover, tbone2004, MariluHennerArtist45, PluMGMK, and KirbyGuy2001

Video captures courtesy of JohnnyL80, BobsVintageVideo, ASja2002, Dean Stewart Rumsey, narutofire3, mcydodge919, PluMGMK, TheJAMMan1988, TheJAMmanLogos, Steve Grayson, TVLOGOS708090, Eric S, travis7310, and MegaMoneyMan99

Background
Viacom Enterprises (or simply "Viacom") was the television distribution division of the CBS Television Network formed in 1971 as the successor of CBS Films (not to be confused with the "current" CBS Films, the new film production/distribution company of CBS Corporation), later reincorporated as"CBS Enterprises, Inc." (who would later reform in the 1990s) starting in 1968. 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. In 1974, Viacom formed "Viacom Productions" to produce first-run television series airing on the major television networks. The company was popular during the 1970s and 1980s, distributing CBS-produced shows such as I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show In later years, they distributed shows from MTM, Tandem's All in the Family (only until 1991, when the rights went to Columbia Pictures Television Distribution, now Sony Pictures Television), Filmways, Carsey/Werner, Lorimar, Rankin-Bass, Hanna-Barbera (mostly internationally), and early Nelvana TV specials, among others, as well as most movie releases from Hallmark Hall of Fame, Tomorrow Entertainment, the Schick Sunn TV and movie library, several of the Charles Fries films, New World, Orion, Palomar Pictures, New Line, Trans-Lux, and the Terrytoons library, among others, until they formed their own syndication companies. In 1976, Viacom and its production division formed "Viacom International, Inc." as their new parent company for distributing programs overseas. In 1986, Viacom was bought by cinema company National Amusements, Inc., becoming part of the newly-reincorporated "Viacom, Inc.". On January 1, 1990, Viacom changed its logo for the first time in 14 years as part of a reorganization of the company and "Viacom Pictures" was also formed. On March 11, 1994, Viacom acquired Paramount Communications, Inc. and Viacom Enterprises was folded into Paramount Domestic Television (now "CBS Television Distribution"), by transferring the domestic rights of the Viacom library, and Viacom International was later reorganized as the parent company for the MTV Networks and the Showtime Networks (the latter now part of CBS Corporation), and transferring the international rights of the said library into Paramount International Television (now "CBS Studios International") as well, while Viacom Productions was reincorporated as a production sub-division of Paramount Television. The Viacom Enterprises logo of the era was still used for "Viacom Productions" with an updated variant, and would remain until 1999, receiving another update to the logo to reflect the company's new status after merging with former parent company CBS. The 1999-2004 Viacom logo would be its last as the final two series to end under the Viacom Productions name would be 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 (now "CBS Television Studios") as well in 2004, and Paramount took control of the remaining Viacom-produced series in 2005. On December 31 of that year, Viacom was reincorporated as "CBS Corporation", ceasing to exist officially. The "new" Viacom was also established on December 31 from Viacom International as the holding company for Paramount Pictures, the MTV Networks and BET Networks (the two latter now part of the "Viacom Media Networks (VMN)"), and their non-television firms; however,Viacom International remains currently as its in-name-only unit. Today, most of previous Viacom-distributed TV productions are distributed under CBS Television Distribution (formerly "CBS Paramount Domestic Television") and outside the U.S. under CBS Studios International (formerly "CBS Paramount International Television"). Viacom stands for "Video & Audio Communications".

=== 1st Logo (1971-1976)===

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

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 along with a smoke effect slowly clearing out. The company is referred to as "VIACOM PRODUCTIONS, a Paramount company" with "PRODUCTIONS" under "VIACOM" with the Paramount byline in its majestic cursive logo font, with a line above it.

Variants:
 * A still version of this logo exists.
 * A later version exists where the words are bolder, and the letters at the start are brighter.

FX/SFX: The letters spreading out, the smoke.

Cheesy Factor: The animation of the letters forming is rather primitive.

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/Sounds Variants:
 * Very early broadcasts featured the 1998 network TV music. This can be seen on at least one episode of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.
 * There is also a silent variant.
 * A version in which the wind chime sound effect plays faster also exists.
 * A sped-up higher pitch version also exists.

Availability: Fairly common. It can be seen on any show produced by Viacom from 1999-2004; these include Sabrina, The Teenage Witch on TeenNick, The Division on Lifetime Real Women, and season 1 of The 4400 last aired on USA Network. The still version can be seen on some season 8 episodes of Diagnosis: Murder on Encore Suspense and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and original 2000-01 CBS airings of that season. This logo was also used to plaster older logos, as seen on early to mid 2000s airings of Matlock. Also appeared on Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story.

Scare Factor: Minimal bordering on low. The robotic voice may get to some.

=== 10th Logo (2017- )=== Nickname: "ViacoMatrix"

Logo: Just the word "VIACOM", in the 2006 font, appearing letter-by-letter as separate letters and numbers flash by in a more normal font.

FX/SFX: The letters/numbers appearing and/or disappearing. For a logo that looks simple (which happens to be somewhat of a trend in the latter-day New Tens), its designer must've put some thought into it for once.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the program.

Availability: Seen on Season 2 of The Shannara Chronicles on Spike TV (now The Paramount Network).

Scare Factor: None, though it may surprise those expecting to see the Spike Originals logo. In any case, it looks pretty cool for a modern-day simplistic logo.