Viacom (1970–2006)/Summary

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

Logo : 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 letter "V" slides in. Then "IA" slides in, changing the background to green . Then "COM" slides in, changing the background to red . When the word "VIACOM" is formed, the camera quickly 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 is in the same font as The Mary Tyler Moore Show logo (called "Peignot") in white.

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.
 * The in-credit text is seen, instead of the main logo, such as "A Viacom (Enterprises) Presentation (or "Production")" or "In Association With Viacom Enterprises" would be shown on The $25,000 Pyramid and Goodson-Todman game shows among other co-produced series and TV movies. This continued on into the '80s on shows like Family Feud.

FX/SFX : The three portions of "Viacom" sliding to the center from the left one by one, and the zoom out and appearance of "A" and "Presentation".

Music/Sounds : 4 synthesized ascending pinball-like chimes. The first 3 bring up the letters to "Viacom", and the last, which plays over the zoom-out, has a zap-like "WHOOSH" that blends in with the last bell, combined with a synth chord and gurgling/telephone-like sounds.

Music/Sounds Variants :
 * Sometimes, the logo is silent.
 * Sometimes, especially on PAL prints, the music is of a slightly higher pitch.

Availability : Extremely rare. Consider yourself very lucky if you see this logo anywhere. Whirlybirds, Petticoat Junction, pre-mid-1970s prints of The Rookies (which is now with Sony Pictures Television), Family Affair, The Houndcats, and the Canadian produced TV series The Amazing World of Kreskin, among others; that includes 16mm kinescopes.
 * Until recently, it was near extinction due to excessive plastering with later Viacom logos, Paramount Domestic Television logos, the CBS Paramount Domestic/Network Television logos, and the CBS Television Distribution logos.
 * The color version turned up on many season 11 & 12 episodes of My Three Sons on Odyssey Network/The Hallmark Channel back in the early 2000s. Many variations have also been spotted on these episodes when shown on Me-TV, as part of an unusual combo with CBS Television Distribution preceding it (with the exception of one episode, season 12's "Barbara Lost") These sightings mark the first time this Viacom logo has been seen on American television since the early 2000s.
 * This logo also appears on earlier 16mm syndication dupes of shows/movies distributed by Viacom, mostly before 1976; Such shows include: My Three Sons, Hogan's Heroes, and The Beverly Hillbillies, which occasionally appear on eBay.
 * This logo can also be seen on some older prints of episodes of The Banana Splits and Friends Show, Josie and the Pussycats,
 * Only a small amount of home media releases retain this logo. At least one VHS release of The Houndcats has this logo, but it is unknown how many more have it, including releases from Trans World Entertainment, or the DVD from Film Chest. It was also spotted on a VHS of The Andy Griffith Show by Premiere Promotions.
 * The in-credit text can be seen on What's My Line? on Buzzr.

Editor's Note : The logo was standard for the early '70s with its simple and rough animation and eccentric sound effects. This logo isn't anywhere close to being as well known (or perhaps even feared) as its successors, not only because of its short lifespan but also because it was commonly plastered with newer logos.

2nd Logo (1976-1986)
Nicknames : "V of Doom", "Big V", "Zooming V", "Dark/Black V", "Viacom the Menace", "Creepy/Evil V (of Death)", "V of Death", "The Purple /Black V (of Doom)", "Killer V", "V of Final Judgement", "V of Armageddon", "Viapocalypse", "V of Psycho", "Attack of the Killer V", "A Nightmare on Viacom Street", "Attack of the V of Doom", "V from Hell", "Viacom V", "V of Moon"

Logo : On a sky blue  (or lavender ) background, the text "A Viacom Presentation" in a Palatino-like typeface 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 cuts to black or fades to black (depending on the version of the logo), with the "V" still moving ever closer.

Trivia : On some episodes of The Twilight Zone on SyFy, the logo (specifically the videotaped variant) is plastered by the 1990-2000 "Wigga-Wigga" logo. However, in the few split seconds before that appears, listen carefully during the black screen between credits and logo. You can sometimes hear, faintly, the V of Doom jingle.

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, with a sea green /dark blue  background.This variant was warp speed and silent, but also sometimes had the end of the show's theme accompanying it. A variation of this version features a copyright stamp 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. A version with a mirrored "V" also exists.
 * On the 1978 TV movie For Heaven's Sake, this variant appears on a character's TV during the closing credits sequence. The regular variant is shown soon after.
 * The original version of this logo was filmed, and was used from 1976 until 1982. Color variations include black & white  and sepia . It is believed that the filmed version was used on all Viacom programming, both newer shows and prints of older shows, from 1976 to 1978, and then on prints only from 1978 until 1982.
 * A dark/deteriorated variant where the background is almost black and the V and text are barely visible exists. This appears on film deteriorated prints of network shows.
 * Also, there is a uber dark network TV variant in existence, where the background is black, the V can't be seen, and the text is barely legible. This was seen on The Master due to an editing mistake.
 * On the earlier color variant of the filmed version, the "V" is black, with a light blue  background.
 * Videotaped versions have "A" and "Viacom" spaced farther apart, and the animation is more crisp and smooth. This was used from 1978-1986. Color variants include monochrome, purple  background with <span style="color:rgb(1,30,133);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">dark blue  V and faint <span style="color:rgb(200,0,255);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">purple  with <span style="color:rgb(0,0,255);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">blue  V, among others. It is believed that this version was used only on newer Viacom shows from 1978 until 1982, then on all Viacom-owned material from 1982 until 1986.
 * Some videotaped variants feature the "V" actually stopping at the end. Early filmed variants also do, with the "V" stopping right before it cuts to black.
 * An extremely rare videotaped variant featuring a <span style="color:rgb(255,217,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">yellow  "V" was used on some syndicated prints of The Honeymooners, appearing in a giant moon over a cityscape where the credits appear. This is a result of a chroma-key mistake. This variation was given the nickname "V of Moon".
 * There is also a rare videotaped variant with a <span style="color:rgb(102,237,136);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">jungle green  background and the Charleston green "V" with two extra pounds of the timpani drum at the end.
 * An extremely rare <span style="color:rgb(96,224,148);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">turquoise  variant with an <span style="color:rgb(13,62,130);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">ultramarine blue  "V" was used in 1984.
 * A videotaped variant of this logo has an <span style="color:rgb(176,103,14);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">orange  background and a black "V" seen on 1978 episodes of You Don't Say! There is also a warp speed version of this.
 * There is an uncommon "warp-speed" videotaped variation that has a much sped up logo and music. This was used along side co-distributor idents and was seen from 1979-1986.
 * An extremely rare videotaped variant that flashes different colors reportedly exists. It is unknown if this does actually exist, but it was reported to be seen on a Comedy Network airing of The Honeymooners "Classic 39" episode "A Man's Pride".
 * Likewise, it is said that the 1985 syndicated series The Star Games had a variant where the "V" appears on a pink background. This has yet to be officially confirmed/denied.
 * Dark variants of the Film-O-Vision version in color and B&W, due to film deterioration, exist.
 * An extremely rare variant featuring a <span style="color:rgb(224,224,224);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">white  background and a "<span style="color:rgb(11,64,156);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">True Blue " "V" exists
 * The first second was lopped off on Magnetic Video's VHS release of Blue Hawaii.
 * There is a rare "Bottomed" version of the filmed "V of Doom" where viewers can see two separate frames.
 * A filmed variant of this logo has the logo completely warped. At the beginning, the logo and audio is sped up. As the logo progresses, the audio frequently changes pitch. The cause of this is due to heavy film deterioration. It was spotted on a VHS of The Andy Griffith Show.
 * Also, there's a videotaped variant which is distorted and the screen blacks out for a second at the start. (Likely because of a messed up tape). This was also spotted on a VHS of The Andy Griffith Show.
 * There was a high pitched, slightly sped up version of the videotaped variant spotted on the Cannon episode "He Who Digs a Grave (Part 2)" on Me-TV.
 * A variant exists where the V is yellow and the background is orange, and after the logo ends it fades to a red background. This is due to film cellulose decay and a phenomenon entitled "vinegar syndrome." It was seen on heavily degraded 16mm prints of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
 * A B&W filmed version has both the text and background colored white, making the logo appear ghostly and almost invisible.
 * The in-credit text is seen, instead of the main logo, would either say "A Viacom (Enterprises) Presentation", "In Association with Viacom Enterprises", or "Distributed by Viacom Enterprises" would be shown on The $25,000 Pyramid, the Goodson-Todman game shows, and some TV and theatrical movies.
 * A variant exists where a white puddle can be seen on the dark V of Doom logo, due to splice glue (which is used to seal the film splice, obviously). This was on The Beverly Hillbillies.

FX/SFX : The text zooming in from screen center and the "V" logo zooming in.

Cheesy Factor : The filmed version has the appearance that a camera zoomed in on the "V" that was chroma-keyed onto a lighter background, and the text zoom-in looks like it was cheaply animated and somewhat choppy, 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. The filmed variant's quality is very poor for a logo that debuted in 1976. On the "Bottomed" version, as the "V" begins zooming in, the very top edge of the green-screen or whatever the "V" was placed on can briefly be seen.

Music/Sounds : Here are the main music variants used on this logo:
 * Usually, the music was a 5-note synthesized tune, complete with a timpani drum roll playing 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 until late 1976 (and was also often used when replacing the original "Pinball" logo).
 * The very first version of the normal 1976 music had a slightly faster tempo/low-pitched sequence of synthesizer notes, used on the same logo with the very dark blue/black "V" logo, and it was also used in tandem with the standard filmed variant.
 * For the network TV variant, it used only the closing theme of the show or TV movie.

Music/Sounds Variants :
 * PAL versions of the logo were in a higher pitch and had a slightly faster sequence of synthesizer notes.
 * In some rare cases, the closing theme of the show was used, or none.
 * Sometimes, the V of Doom music cuts off right before the last timpani beat, removing the final echo in the process. This was heard on the Magnetic Video release of Don't Give Up the Ship.

Availability : Uncommon, bordering on rare, but it has become a bit easier to find than in the past many years due to many parodies on YouTube. Most shows that had this ID usually have been updated mainly with of the "V of Steel" or "Wigga Wigga", Paramount Domestic Television, or CBS Paramount Domestic/Network Television logos, among others; but in most cases, the CBS Television Distribution logo is nowadays used to replace this logo on newer prints. 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, Rawhide, Hogan's Heroes, The Twilight Zone, and Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C. All variants of the "V of Doom" (with the possible exception of the "V of Pinball") can be seen on VHS tapes of The Andy Griffith Show released by various video outfits such as Premier Promotions and sometimes (though mostly the videotaped variant) by UAV Corporation. Madacy Entertainment, Mill Creek Entertainment, and GoodTimes Entertainment, among other companies, and is also seen on Cozi TV airings of episodes from the first two seasons, due to their using public domain prints of those seasons
 * V of Pinball : The B&W filmed variant with the "Pinball" theme is near extinct at this stage. It appears on the Magnetic Video releases of King Creole (also on the 1985 Key Video re-release) and Visit to a Small Planet. This variant was also discovered on a 16mm print of The Phil Silvers Show. Its color counterpart has been seen on the 1975 TV movie Eric, and may be intact on that film's VHS release, the Magnetic Video release of Girls! Girls! Girls! (also on the 1985 Key Video re-release), and mid-1970s prints of early color episodes of Gunsmoke.
 * Filmed Variant :
 * It appears at the end of most Viacom syndication prints of the time, on shows such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show, The Phil Silvers Show, and My Three Sons.
 * It appeared on the Season 11 finale ("After the Honeymoon") of My Three Sons on Hallmark back around 2000 (it was again seen on a Me-TV airing of the latter on July 2, 2018, with CBS Television Distribution preceding it); TV movies from the era, such as Police Story, The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan, and Top Secret (1978), among others; the original Magnetic Video VHS releases of many feature films, such as Last Train from Gun Hill and possibly All in a Night's Work, those featuring Elvis Presley, including G.I. Blues (also on the 1985 Key Video re-release) and Blue Hawaii, and those featuring Jerry Lewis, including Don't Give Up the Ship (don't expect to see this on any of their laserdiscs or Greatest Sports Legends tapes, though); and at the end of the 1985 Media Home Entertainment VHS of Sleuth and earlier video prints of the 1981 films Firebird 2015 AD and The Unseen, while the videotaped variant makes a strange appearance at the beginning of the latter film (the same also applied to an Eighties broadcast on the USA Network).
 * It also appeared on Nelvana's first special A Cosmic Christmas; this is intact on current prints of the special whenever it gets aired on TV, as well as YTV Direct's print on YouTube (where it is followed by the 2004 Nelvana logo).
 * The B&W filmed variant was once spotted on an episode of Perry Mason on Me-TV before it was replaced with a later print sometime in 2015. It can also be spotted on almost every episode of The Millionaire whenever reran.
 * The color filmed variant was seen on some prints of The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and, as of 2018, on three episodes of Gunsmoke on Me-TV ("The Witness", "Kitty's Love Affair", and "Eleven Dollars") and one episode ("Like Old Times") on CBS Drama in the UK.
 * The B&W filmed variant variant can also be spotted on DVDs of The Beverly Hillbillies released by Platinum Disc Corporation,
 * It is unknown if this was seen on the Magnum Entertainment releases of The Deerslayer, The Last of the Mohicans (1977) or California Gold Rush, the Magnetic Video and Key Video VHS releases of Roustabout, or the 1985 Key Video re-issue of Blue Hawaii.
 * Videotaped Variant :
 * The videotaped version used to be somewhat common on Perry Mason on Me-TV, but since 2015, the CBS Television Distribution logo has been shown instead due to the use of remastered copies, though these older prints have been seen on FETV as of late.
 * It's also seen at the end of most Cannon episodes, mostly between seasons 3-5, shown on Me-TV (and whenever it airs on Decades, owned also by the parent company of Me-TV, Weigel Broadcasting).
 * Several of the "Classic 39" episodes of The Honeymooners, as well as the "lost" episodes, had this logo when they were aired on WGN America, but newer prints of the latter use the MPI Home Video logo instead.
 * It was also seen on episodes of The (New) Price is Right from 1976-80.
 * The 1978 and 1983 variants were formerly seen on two episodes of The Twilight Zone on Syfy ("You Drive" and "One for the Angels") until Syfy acquired updated prints sometime in 2015.
 * The 1983 variant was surprisingly seen on a 2012 airing of The Missiles of October on Me-TV, before the 1990 "Wigga Wigga" logo; However, newer prints, such as a more recent Decades airing, used CBSTD instead.
 * The warp-speed variant was also spotted on a rerun of the season 5Bob Newhart Show episode "Making Up is the Thing to Do" on Me-TV, Hallmark Channel, Decades (occasionally), Sundance, and FamNET, after the decorated MTM Enterprises logo and preceding the 20th Television logo, and is also available on various season 5 and 6 episodes on Shout! Factory's 2014 complete series set, as well as its solo releases and Me-TV airings of most season 6 episodes, with the logo on a majority of those episodes being followed by the 20th Television logo.
 * It was also seen on two season 3 episodes of Have Gun-Will Travel on Me-TV and H&I ("Fragile" and "The Black Handkerchief").
 * It was also seen on some episodes of All in the Family before Columbia Pictures Television Distribution acquired the syndication rights.
 * The videotaped variant was also spotted on two Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C. VHS tapes released by Forum Home Video in 1989, as well as The Devil and Daniel Mouse, which is included as an extra on the Unearthed Films Blu-ray of Nelvana's Rock & Rule.
 * It also makes a strange appearance at the start of the original VHS release of the 1981 film The Unseen (also intact on an Eighties USA Network airing), while the filmed variant appears at the end.
 * It can also be found on seasons 3-5 of Cannon on DVD; Season 3 has an odd combo of this and CBSTD preceding it, while the remaining two seasons have the videotaped VoD alone.
 * This logo also made a surprise appearance on a Decades airing of the season 2 Bob Newhart Show episode "The Modernization of Emily". This variant had also made a surprise appearance on GSN and Buzzr airings of a 1980 episode of To Tell the Truth.
 * Silent Variant : Rare.
 * It was seen on the Magnetic Video VHS releases of the Elvis movies Fun in Acapulco and Paradise, Hawaiian Style (both of which plaster over the Paramount logo at the end of the film, though the Spanish-dubbed version, as well as the 1985 English-language Key Video reprint of the latter film, used the standard "V of Doom" music), the 1974 TV movie The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman from Prism Entertainment (it is unknown if this appears on the 2003 Classic Media DVD or the 2021 Universal Blu-ray), and the 1976 movie The Amazing World of Psychic Phenomena. It is also retained on the 1985 Key Video re-issue of Fun in Acapulco. It was also spotted on an Eighties USA Network airing of the 1968 movie Mission Mars (it is unknown if it's intact on any VHS releases of the movie). 16mm prints of Fun in Acapulco also have this variation.
 * Network TV Variant :
 * Near extinction nowadays. 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, Dear Detective, Ace Crawford: Private Eye, The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair, and To Race the Wind, among others; however, very few have been released onto VHS or DVD.
 * Older prints like on VHS releases might have this logo intact but the more recent releases such as on DVD or Blu-ray generally plaster this with the CBSTD logo. Cases in point: To Race the Wind, on which this variant is intact, and The Devlin Connection, The Master and The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair, which were released on video by Trans World Entertainment.
 * It is unknown if it's preserved on the USA Home Video releases of East of Eden (1981) or For Ladies Only; it is, however, surprisingly preserved on the Starmaker Video reprint of the former film.
 *  Rainbow Variant : Unknown. This variant's existence has yet to be confirmed.

Editor's Note : It is very well known as one of the most popular 'scary logos' ever created during the time frame, along with "The S from Hell", "The Mask of Guo Xiang", "Princess Ozma", and "THX". In fact, this is the very first logo known to be labeled as such on the Internet. Despite this, though, it's a favorite among some of those who are used to it.

3rd Logo (1981)
Nicknames : "Flashing V", "Color Surge V", "Syndireel V", "V of Rainbow", "Viacom V II"

Logo : On a black background, we see the "V" rotating to the center in a <span style="color:rgb(255,0,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">r <span style="color:rgb(255,128,64);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">a <span style="color:rgb(255,255,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">i <span style="color:rgb(0,255,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">n <span style="color:rgb(0,0,255);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">b <span style="color:rgb(255,0,255);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">o <span style="color:rgb(128,0,128);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">w <span style="font-weight:normal;color:rgb(0,0,255);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;">  streak. Then, the <span style="color:rgb(255,0,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">r <span style="color:rgb(255,128,64);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">a <span style="color:rgb(255,255,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">i <span style="color:rgb(0,255,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">n <span style="color:rgb(0,0,255);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">b <span style="color:rgb(255,0,255);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">o <span style="color:rgb(128,0,128);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">w <span style="font-weight:normal;color:rgb(0,0,255);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;">  streak lines out of the logo. After that, the "V" flashes to bright cerulean and the word "Viacom" in the same color 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 until it engulfs the screen with blue. 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. The only sighting that has come up is a sales tape for individual stations to purchase syndication rights for Viacom-owned shows.

Editor's Note : This is a very underrated and under-appreciated logo. If Viacom made any feature movies at the time, this was definitely the logo to go with (with or without the 'Presents' moniker). They already had some TV movies out, so this would have been perfect, yet they never used it.

4th Logo (1984-1986)
Nicknames : "Special Delivery", "The Viacom Emblem", "The Winged Emblem", "V of Gold", "Viacom V III", "Golden V", "Golden Viacom V"

Logo : We start off in outer space. The words "Special" and "Delivery" streaks through the sun that is in the background leaving a <span style="color:rgb(255,0,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">r <span style="color:rgb(255,128,64);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">a <span style="color:rgb(255,255,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">i <span style="color:rgb(0,255,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">n <span style="color:rgb(0,0,255);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">b <span style="color:rgb(255,0,255);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">o <span style="color:rgb(128,0,128);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">w <span style="font-weight:normal;color:rgb(0,0,255);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;">  trail. Then on a <span style="color:rgb(11,64,212);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">blue /black gradient background, the two words fly to a ring with wings. "From Viacom" with "Viacom" bigger, are also in this logo above the familiar "V" from the 2nd logo. At the end, a firework flash effect emerges from the logo.

FX/SFX : The words streaking leaving a rainbow trail, the firework flash.

Music/Sounds : After the drum roll at the start, a majestic 13-note fanfare plays, with the last note held out.

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

Editor's Note : This is a beautiful and majestic logo with awesome Scanimation.

5th Logo (1985-1987)
Nicknames : "Stale V", "V of Happiness", "V of Boredom", "V of Annoyance", "Blue V", "V of Delight", "Viacom V IV", "Friendly V", "Friendly Viacom V", "A Welcome Change"

Logo : On a black background, we see a still image of the Viacom "V" logo in <span style="color:rgb(86,143,227);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">light blue. Below that is the "Viacom" name in white.

Variant : On Really Weird Tales, the logo is tinted in orange.

FX/SFX : None.

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

Availability : Extremely rare, bordering on near extinction.
 * It was once seen on original airings of the first 3 episodes ("The Judge," "The Stripper," and "The Affair") of the 1st season of Matlock on NBC 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 revivals of Perry Mason, but most have all fallen victim of being plastered with the "V of Steel" or "Wigga Wigga", 1995 or 2003 Paramount Domestic Television, CBS Paramount Network Television ("Wallpaper"), or CBS Television Distribution logos.
 * Surprisingly, a November 2013 airing of Return to Mayberry on Me-TV left this logo intact, followed by a silent 1995 Paramount Domestic Television logo. However, on a November 21, 2017, it was plastered with the CBS Television Distribution logo as it used a newer print.
 * It is preserved on the VHS releases of Return to Mayberry, Perry Mason Returns, Really Weird Tales, and a Brazilian VHS release of the Matlock pilot movie Diary of a Perfect Murder, among possible others.
 * It was also preserved on Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious Nun when it aired on Encore Mystery/Suspense, but later airings cut the end theme off early and plaster it over with the CBS Television Distribution logo, while Me-TV and Hallmark airings plaster it over with the 1990 "Wigga Wigga" logo.
 * It is preserved on the 2016 Kino Lorber DVD of Really Weird Tales, followed by the "Wigga Wigga" logo.

Editor's Note : This is either a calm or boring logo, depending on what you think about still logos.

6th Logo (1985-1986)
Nicknames : "V in the Big City", "Early V of Steel", "Silver Viacom V", "Viacom V V"

Logo:


 * Opening: Against a space background with twinkling stars, a <span style="color:rgb(128,128,128);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">metallic steel outline of the Viacom "V" and "Viacom" in its familiar Palatino like font zoom back with a metallic steel trail effect. The trail effect finishes as the "V" turns solid and metallic textured and "Viacom" turns solid grey. The logo shines in a similar manner as the "Special Delivery" logo before flying downwards and offscreen.
 * Closing: Against a city skyline with a <span style="color:rgb(92,18,135);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">purple night sky with most of the building's lights switched on and twinkling stars, the <span style="color:rgb(128,128,128);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">metallic textured "V" forms out of light particles. The word "Viacom" forms in the same manner as before. The logo shines once completed.

FX/SFX : For the opening variant, the trailing text, and the shining. For the closing variant, the trailing text, the "V" forming, and the shining.

Music/Sounds : The closing theme of the show. Promotional reels featured a voice over (from Vee-a-Com.)

Availability : Extinct on television.
 * It appeared on a sales tape for The Lost Honeymooners.
 * The closing variant also appeared on Jackie Gleason Presents: the Honeymooners Reunion which has not been seen since its one and only airing in 1986.

Editor's Note : The scanimate-like 3D effects on the logo are admirable, even if the results can look unconvincing. It's also a precursor to the next logo below.

7th Logo (1986-1990)
Nicknames : "V of Steel", "Mountainous Silver V", "Giant Silver V", "Majestic Silver V", "Silver V", "Rotating Silver V", "Shining Silver V", "ViaSteel", "Viacom V VI", "Silver Viacom V II"

Logo : We start out with a screen, divided half black/<span style="color:rgb(157,30,199);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">purple  gradient on top and half <span style="color:rgb(128,128,128);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">silver  on the bottom with a bright light flare shining between. The <span style="color:rgb(196,196,196);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">silver  part then rotates counter-clockwise (a la CBS-FOX) and a fancy-cut V (same design as "V of Doom" in the 2nd logo) appears as the background changes to a black/blue/purple gradient. The word "Viacom" flies in from the upper-left of the screen and places itself under the "V", and the "V" shines.

Variants :
 * VHS tapes containing this logo and select TV broadcasts have the "V" shining three times. There is also a warp speed version of this, which has been seen on the syndicated version of Super Sloppy Double Dare.
 * There is also a variant where the "V" shines four times. It has been seen on episodes of Rawhide, Perry Mason, Matlock, Hogan's Heroes, The Adventures of the Little Koala, Finders Keepers (Larry Toffler version), and the 1986 revival of Split Second. There is also a warp speed version of this.
 * There is a still variant.
 * There is a variant where the "V" doesn't shine at all. It was only seen on We Love Lucy.
 * On the 1987 Celebrity Double Dare pilot, the logo is revealed with a computer-generated effect before animating.
 * There is also a B&W variant.
 * 1990: 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.
 * On Fox's Family Double Dare, the logo fades in after the Nickelodeon logo with the "V" is already in place, then the "V" shines two times before fading out. This variant also has the syndicated Double Dare theme playing over the logo.
 * There is a variant where both the "V" and the "Viacom" appear to be in higher contrast, making the logo look shinier than before.
 * One version had a <span style="color:rgb(22,33,130);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">midnight blue  screen with text saying "DISTRIBUTED BY", and then after a second, it cut to the "V" in the middle of its animation, with the full music playing throughout.

FX/SFX : The rotating "V", the "V" "shining", and the light flare behind the "V" illuminating in the background. Actually pretty good CGI for it's time.

Music/Sounds : Pindrop-like sounds, followed by a descending synth note similar to the THX "Deep Note". The single note, along with the faux-"Deep Note", shares a similar musical key as the "V of Doom".

Music/Sounds/Voice-over 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.
 * In some cases, it used only the closing theme of the show or none.
 * Some episodes of Cannon and Perry Mason on Me-TV have the V of Doom's music playing over this.
 * Some episodes of Gunsmoke and Matlock have the Wigga-Wigga's music playing over this.
 * A very rare variant of the extended warp speed variant includes a voice-over. This was seen on a sales tape for the unsold game show pilot I Predict. As the logo animates, the voice-over is heard saying: "A Ron Greenberg Production, in association with Viacom." (Pronounced "Vee-a-com", similar to Sandy Hoyt on Split Second).

Availability :  Uncommon, bordering on rare in its unaltered form.
 * Regular Variant (One Wipe) :
 * Its most recent prominent source is on Rawhide on Me-TV, Decades (occasionally) and H&I.
 * It was also seen on most episodes of The Phil Silvers Show on Me-TV, Forces TV (United Kingdom) and occasionally seen on Decades, and it is preserved on the season 2 Shout! Factory DVD of the show, and on most episodes from seasons 3-4 of TPSS on DVD (season 1 on DVD and the British DVD releases use CTD instead), and was on most episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies, as well as Gunsmoke (mostly color reruns) on Me-TV before they were issued updated prints by CBS, although for The Beverly Hillbillies, it can still be seen on some episodes, and as for Gunsmoke, it can still appear on certain episodes from season 13 (the second color season) onward.
 * It was spotted on the 1989 film Sonny Boy on TCM as well as AMC, and has been spotted on syndicated prints of Cannon films, such as Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. This can also be seen on most episodes of The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams on the Timeless Media Group DVD releases.
 * Also seen on Eighties prints of other Viacom-distributed shows, including at one point in time, episodes of The Andy Griffith Show (particularly reruns on TBS), as well as episodes of I Love Lucy on Nick at Nite (as well as AMC briefly), Have Gun-Will Travel on Starz Encore Westerns, various prints of The Cosby Show and Roseanne, Rawhide on the Hallmark Channel as well as Encore Westerns, The Millionaire on TV Land, and various episodes of Hogan’s Heroes on Forces TV in the United Kingdom and Fox Classics in Australia, among possible others.
 * It is unknown if this was seen on Eighties prints of The Dick Van Dyke Show, The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse, Petticoat Junction, The Houndcats, The Harlem Globetrotters, Hawaii Five-0, Amigo and Friends, Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C., The Alvin Show, The Honeymooners, Whirlybirds and Our Miss Brooks, among possible others.
 * It can be seen on the Perry Mason made-for-TV movies from 1987-89, and some from the earlier part of 1990 along with some prints of previous ones (though most use the warp speed variant), but DVDs plaster it over with the CBS Television Distribution logo. However, it is preserved on some VHS tapes such as the British VHS release of Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson, but these aren't easy to come by, and in fact, some of these may have never had North American tape releases. It was also seen on some episodes of Perry Mason on Me-TV before they were issued updated prints by CBS, but these prints can still be seen as of recently on FETV.
 * This logo (and its extended variants) is also seen on various game shows syndicated by Viacom from 1986-1990, including Split Second, Double Dare (this includes recent prints on iTunes), and Remote Control.
 * The B&W variant can be found at the end of select VHS tapes of The Andy Griffith Show that were released by Premier Promotions, including notably The Andy Griffith Show Collector's Series Volume 12: Mayberry Classics, and was recently spotted on an episode of Rawhide on Me-TV.
 * This logo was also spotted on British VHS releases of Fun in Acapulco, King Creole, Roustabout and All in a Night's Work, older prints of Dempsey and Makepeace, Father Dowling Mysteries, a Decades broadcast of The Blue Knight (1975), at least one episode of The Twilight Zone on the French version of the Sci-Fi Channel, a Movies! broadcast of the 1971 docudrama Evel Knievel, and international prints of seasons 1-4 (and some of season 5) of Matlock, though most use the warp speed variant.
 * The "in-progress" variant can be found on the MCA/Universal Home Video VHS of Super Force, the unsold Baby on Board pilot from 1988, as well as at least one episode of Rawhide on Me-TV. It has also been seen on some episodes of A Different World on Netflix (it is unknown if HBO Max's prints also use it as well). It was also spotted on syndicated prints of the 1979 Canadian sports drama, Running.
 * Extended Variant (3-4 Wipes) :
 * The three-wipe variant can be found on the Family Home Entertainment VHS of The Adventures of the Little Koala and was on at least one episode of Perry Mason on Me-TV, again before the print was updated, while the original version with 4 wipes is extremely rare, and made its premiere on the short-lived NBC-aired sitcom Easy Street, and was last spotted on the Toffler version of Finders Keepers on the now-defunct Nick GAS network.
 * This is also seen on various game shows syndicated by Viacom from 1986-1990, including Split Second, Double Dare (this includes recent prints on iTunes), and Remote Control.
 * The 3 wipes variant was also spotted on an FETV broadcast of the Perry Mason episode, "The Case of the Poison Pen Pal".
 * Silent Variant : Extremely rare.
 * Originally, it could only be seen on syndicated TV prints of The Stepford Wives, though it was recently spotted on the Forces TV print of the season 2 Hogan's Heroes episode, "The Most Escape Proof Camp I've Ever Escaped From," although Fox Classics’ print has the theme present on it.
 * Warp Speed Variant :
 * This can currently be found on some episodes of Rawhide on Me-TV, Decades (occasionally) and H&I.
 * It's also seen on older prints of Matlock (season 1-5, 1990 episodes; current TV prints use the 8th logo instead, while the DVD of S1 uses CBS/Paramount and every other season on DVD uses CTD instead.
 * Oddly, FETV's print of the Matlock S1 episode, "The Don, Part 1" had this preserved, as well as its spin off Jake and the Fatman (DVDs and TV prints of seasons 1 and 2 use CTD instead), Father Dowling Mysteries (including a few early season 3 episodes), and a Brazilian VHS of Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery. This is also preserved on the season 1 DVD release of Father Dowling Mysteries, preceded by CTD and can be seen on the other two seasons as well. Decades airings use the DVD prints of Father Dowling Mysteries as well. It was also seen on a 2016 British Horror Channel airing of Murder by Moonlight, and was presumably present on the film's original CBS broadcast. It is unknown if this is preserved on seasons 3, 4 and 1990 episodes of season five of Jake and the Fatman on DVD. The "DISTRIBUTED BY" variant is ultra rare, as it's only known to exist on older prints of Superboy.
 * Warp Speed Variant (Extended) : Extremely rare, usually plastered by either the "Wigga-Wigga", Paramount Domestic Television, CBS/Paramount Domestic/Network Television ("Eye in the Sky" or "Wallpaper"), or CBS Television Distribution logos, though they have been spotted on a few episodes of Rawhide on Me-TV and H&I, and the 4 wipe version was spotted on the Australian television print of the Hogan's Heroes season 1 finale, "Request Permission to Escape." When the episode aired in the UK on Forces TV, the last wipe was cut off.
 * Sped-Up Variant : Seen on Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen.
 * Ultra Warp Speed Variant : This can be seen on streaming prints, some VHS tapes, and Family Channel airings of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show and The Legend of Zelda (which are both inspired by the video game series).
 * Ultra Warp Speed Variant (Extended) : Extremely rare. Could probably be seen on The Super Mario Bros. Super Show and The Legend of Zelda.

Editor's Note : This was a great effort that displayed some pretty good CGI for its time. It's also a favorite among the logo communit.

8th Logo (1990-2001)
Nicknames: "Wigga-Wigga II", "Abstract Viacom II", "VIACOM 2000", "Robocom","ViaBot", "Spreading Out", "Zig-Zags of Glass","Viacom Wigga-Wigga II"

Logo: On a smoky blue background,we see the letters of "\/|/\CO/\/\" stacked in front of each other, spreading out. The background is full of "Wigga-Wigga"-type "\/|/\CO/\/\" letters along with a blue smoke effect slowly clearing out. The company is referred to as "VIACOM PRODUCTIONS, a Paramount company" with "PRODUCTIONS" set in the Wigga-Wigga font under "\/|/\CO/\/\" with the Paramount byline in its famous 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.
 * A short version of this logo exists.
 * A filmed version exists on some TV movies.

Prototype Variant: On the Digital Computer Projected, The logo is prototyped.

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

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

Music/Sounds Variants:
 * The robotic voice was shortened in 2003.
 * 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, but not quite known.
 * It can be seen on any show or TV movie produced by Viacom from 1999-2004; these include seasons 4-7 of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch on Antenna TV (plastered on the DVDs by CBS Television Distribution), The Division on Start TV, season 1 of The 4400 last aired on USA Network, and seasons 7 & 8 of Diagnosis: Murder on Me-TV, Decades (occasionally), Encore Suspense, DVD (possibly), and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, as well as the final two TV movies spun off from that show.
 * The still version can be seen on some season 8 and "updated" season 7 episodes of Diagnosis: Murder whenever reran.
 * It was also spotted at the end of Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story.

Editor's Note : It's not a well-known logo like the previous ones, but it's another well-made logo with some really cool effects. This was also a fitting way to end a company with an amazing and memorable library of logos.