Fremantle International

Credits

Descriptions by
Kris Starring and Jason Wuthrich

Captures by
Eric S., Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom, Livin', NakedTarzan01, and TheEriccorpinc

Editions by
Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom, WizardDuck, mr3urious, and DaBigLogoCollector

Video captures courtesy of
Eric S., mcydodge919, and dimalysyi

Background

Fremantle International (also known as "Fremantle Corporation" and not to be confused with "FremantleMedia") was a British-based production company founded in 1952 by Paul Talbot. In July 1994, All American Communications acquired interest in the company from Interpublic Group of Companies. All American Communications was acquired by Pearson plc. in 1996. When Pearson plc. sold Pearson Television to CLT-UFA in 2000, the companies merged to become "RTL Group" on July 25 and by renaming Pearson Television to "FremantleMedia" in 2001. Today, Fremantle International (which used the name "FremantleMedia International" until 2018) is an in-name-only distribution division of Fremantle, a sub-division of the RTL Group, and is 90% owned by German media conglomerate, Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA.

1st Logo (1971-1991)

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Nicknames: "Glitter of Doom", "Space Lights"

Logo:

• Opening: We zoom-out on a black background with white sparkles meant to represent outer space, as two copies of the word "FREMANTLE" (one yellow and the other red) fly from the right and left sides of the screen. As we stop zooming, the copies converge forming an orange "FREMANTLE", which shines, and the yellow word "International" fades in at the bottom and flashes. After two seconds, the word "presents" fades in at the bottom. The stars in the continue twinkling for the logo's duration.
• Closing: On this variant, it features the text: "A FREMANTLE International presentation" on a plain black background. Spinning reflective lights begin to appear at random places on the text. a light crawls across "presentation" and disappears.

FX/SFX: This logo has '70s written all over it, with the glittering lights and synth tune.

Music/Sounds:

• The opening version features a synth tune that begins with a slow, descending "UFO" sound, followed by a calm sweep at the end.
• The closing version features only a 3-note synth chime fanfare, much in the manner of the sweep in the opening version.
• Otherwise, it uses the closing theme of the show (such as Baywatch).

Availability: Ultra rare. Can be found on the Prism Entertainment VHS of Manhunt for Claude Dallas. This could also still appear on a few Fremantle-produced shows during the '70s in Canada, as well on syndicated and international prints of S1 episodes of Baywatch (which is also on German DVD releases). It was also seen on international VHS releases of Loving. This is surprisingly retained on Hallmark Movies Now's print of Can You Feel Me Dancing? before the early 90s All American Television logo.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1991-1994)

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Nicknames: "The Satellite"

Logo: On a CGI space background, we see the planet Earth, where a satellite swerves around the globe. We zoom past the earth and the satellite comes up from behind it. The satellite shoots lasers from its antenna, forming the text "FREMANTLE" in 3D and gold. The text shines.

FX/SFX: The satellite passing by, and the lasers. CGI effects.

Music/Sounds: A triumphant majestic fanfare accompanied with the satellite whooshing and making beeping noises as it forms the company name, and an echoing voice-over saying "FREMANTLE!" at the end.

Music/Sounds Variant: On the original UK broadcast of Penn & Teller: Don't Try This at Home!, the voiceover is cut out and it trails off into the ITV Night Time logo.

Availability: Extremely rare. Was seen on non-U.S. and non-UK airings of Baywatch episodes from the era. It has been preserved on some Russian and German broadcasts of said episodes.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (1994-2003)

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Nicknames: "The Satellite II", "The Hubble Space Telescope"

Logo: In space, we see the Hubble Space Telescope. We fade to a shot of two astronauts on a mechanical arm; what exactly they are doing is not easy to make out, but it kind of looks like they are unplugging something. We fade to another astronaut letting go of a metal panel, and the satellite fades away except for the metal panel, which remains on the screen in front of the Earth. The panel flips around to reveal a red rectangle with "FREMANTLE" in a white Trajan Pro font on it. A shining effect occurs and freezes on the "R".

Trivia: The footage is from the first repair mission for the HST on December 2, 1993. You can view the video here.

Variant: There is also a short version, beginning with the panel flipping, plus the words "International distribution by The Fremantle Corporation" are seen below.

FX/SFX: Mostly live action, but the panel animation is CGI.

Music/Sounds: Same as before, except in the later days, the voice-over echo was omitted.

Availability: Very rare. The logo was spotted on an April 30, 2021 airing of the Home Movies episode "I Don't Do Well In Parent-Teacher Conferences" and it can be seen on HBO Max in the US, due to the fact that the current prints of the episode were sourced from the international prints of the said episode. Prior to this, it was last seen in the U.S. on reruns of The Adventures of Black Beauty on FamilyNet (now The Cowboy Channel). The logo also appeared on international prints of Home Movies, Ryan's Hope, Grace Under Fire, Loving, All My Children, and 1994-2001 episodes of Baywatch. Can be found on the UK VHS release of Penn & Teller: Don't Try This at Home!. The short/International distribution version is extremely rare, as it's only seen on some older international prints of early Big Wolf on Campus episodes. Most current international prints of the show, nowadays, would have the Saban International/Fox Kids combo instead.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Logo (1994-1995)

Logo: On a gray gradient background, we see a black horse from a chess game on a blue floor, with the words "FREMANTLE" and "Fremantle International Inc" separated by a line, against it. The horse opens its eyes, then closes them.

FX/SFX: The horse's eye movement.

Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show.

Availability: Seen on the Hungarian version of Let's Make a Deal entitled Zsákbamacska.

Editor's Note: None.