PolyGram Television (1997-1999): Difference between revisions

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Background

In 1995, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (the second incarnation of PolyGram's film division) entered the television business by acquiring ITC Entertainment Group. In 1997, ITC was folded into a new incarnation of PolyGram Television, which retained most of ITC's staff and produced series mainly for the U.S. syndication market as well as continuing ITC's focus at the time on made for TV movies, in addition to operating a visual programming division for live musical videos and children's series. However, this incarnation had an extremely short lifespan, as with the first incarnation, due to PolyGram's acquisition by Seagram and its merger with Universal Studios. PolyGram TV was folded into Universal Television in 1999, as the unit was renamed to Universal Studios Network Programming. In 2002, Vivendi, by that time the corporate parent of Universal, re-acquired the entertainment assets of USA Networks, resulting in Universal Worldwide Television (the renamed PolyGram TV) being folded into Studios USA Television and being renamed under the Universal name, effectively shutting down the former ITC for good. NBCUniversal Syndication Studios is the current distributor of the PolyGram Television library. However, the ITC library was bought by Carlton Communications on January 19, 1999 and is currently owned by ITV Studios Global Entertainment, a subsidiary of ITV plc.

Logo (September 22, 1997-1999)

Visuals: Same as its film counterpart (the short videotaped variant, also used by the PolyGram Video logo), except with "TELEVISION" replacing "FILMED ENTERTAINMENT".

Variants:

A version with "distributed by" in a blue font above the Icarus exists, which is seen on some feature films and television shows from the ITC and Epic libraries; the animation for this variant is also slightly different, apparently based off the long movie logo, with the word "TELEVISION" not zooming out (instead it simply fades in under the PolyGram text) and the shining of the Icarus is also different, with less of a "glow" around it.
- A version without "distributed by" in a blue font above the Icarus also exists, which was seen on a full-screen SBS airing of Countryman (1982).
The print version is seen in the closing credits of the Nick Jr. cartoon Maisy and the 1998 TV movie Outrage.
A variant where the "TELEVISION" text is replaced with "VISUAL PROGRAMMING" exists.
A version with the words "TELEVISION INTERNATIONAL" also exists.

Technique: CGI animation.

Audio: None or the end theme of the show.

Availability:

The distribution version was last seen on The Moderns on the Showtime Networks, The Tamarind Seed when it was on Netflix and is preserved on Netflix/Tubi prints of Winter People (1989) (it was also present on MGM HD Europe's print), the 1998 PolyGram VHS release of Ski Patrol (plastering the Epic Productions logo), the Epix and Paramount+ streaming service prints (and possibly the MGM Limited Edition Collection DVD-R release) of the 1986 TV movie The Right of the People (preceded by the 2008 MGM logo), and supposedly on the 2008 Hen's Tooth DVD release of The Boys in Company C (1978).
The regular version is intact on the mini-series The Billionaire Boys Club (originally produced by ITC) on DVD from A&E Home Video and on the pilot of The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (however, the DVD release of that show plasters it with the 1998 Universal Worldwide Television logo on the rest of the series).
- It was also seen on the TV special Barney's First Adventures on Fox Kids, which is still intact as a bonus feature on the Barney's Great Adventure: The Movie DVD.
- It also plastered the 1982 Moonlight Productions logo on a late 1990s syndicated print of the 1984 TV movie Obsessive Love.
It was seen on Motown Live! as well as the third season of Due South.
This was seen on Netflix viewings of The Lunatics.
The "VISUAL PROGRAMMING" variant is seen on Cats, the 1998 UK VHS releases of More Adventures at the Faraway Tree and The Adventures Of The Wishing Chair from Tempo Video, at the start of the 1999 UK VHS release of Introducing... Maisy! from PolyGram Video, and some prints of The Best Bits of Mr. Bean, respectively.
The in-credit print version is still seen on Maisy episodes from the era on Peacock.
The in-credit print version was seen on the TV movie Outrage (1998), which can also be found on DVD and a Virgin Media Two airing.
This logo is intact on Shout! Factory TV's print of the 1979 TV movie Friendly Fire.

Copyright Stamps

Here is some information about the copyright stamps on the PolyGram Television series and TV movies:

1997-1999: Copyright © [YEAR] PolyGram Television LLC. All Rights Reserved.

◄	ITC Entertainment Group

PolyGram Television (1997-1999)

Universal Studios Network Programming
Universal Worldwide Television

►

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{PageCredits|description=Sean Beard and Shadeed A. Kelly|capture=Eric S, iheartparamount, Dean Stewart Rumsey, and TheEriccorpinc|edits=Shadeed A. Kelly, Eric S., V of Doom, Michael Kenchington and others|video=Phasicblu and EnormousRat}}
+{{distinguish|PolyGram Television (1980-1983)}}
 ===Background===
-PolyGram Records also had a television division in 1981 (first under the name of "PolyGram TeleVision Ltd."), which distributed mainly TV movies. In 1983, the company was closed down along with it's film counterpart, with [[King Features Entertainment]] acquiring it's assets (including syndication rights to 1981-1983 PolyGram Pictures films). In 1995, [[PolyGram Filmed Entertainment|PolyGram Filmed Entertainment]] (the second incarnation of PolyGram's film division) entered the television business itself by acquiring [[ITC Entertainment Group|ITC Entertainment Group]]. In 1997, ITC was folded into a new incarnation of PolyGram Television, retaining most of ITC's staff and producing series mainly for the U.S. syndication market as well as continuing ITC's focus at the time on made for TV movies. Also setting up a visual programming division for live musical videos and children's series. However this incarnation lasted an extremely short lifespan similar to the first incarnation, due to PolyGram's acquisition by Seagram and it's merge with Universal Studios, PolyGram TV was folded into [[Universal Television]] in 1999, as the unit was renamed as a second incarnation of Universal TV. In 2002, Vivendi Universal re-acquired the entertainment assets of USA Networks resulting in Universal Worldwide TV (the renamed PolyGram TV) being folded into [[USA Cable Entertainment|Studios USA Television]] and being renamed under the Universal name, and effectively shutting down what was once ITC for good. [[NBCUniversal Syndication Studios]] currently distributes the 1997-1999 library of this company. However, the ITC library was later bought by [[Carlton Television|Carlton International Media]] on January 19, 1999 and is currently owned by ITV Studios Global Entertainment, a subsidiary of [[ITV1 IDs|ITV plc]]. The film ''Rehearsal for Murder'' is in the public domain, although [[Lionsgate]] has the official rights to the title, due to [[Hearst Entertainment]].
+In 1995, [[PolyGram Filmed Entertainment]] (the second incarnation of PolyGram's film division) entered the television business by acquiring [[ITC Entertainment Group]]. In 1997, ITC was folded into a new incarnation of '''PolyGram Television''', which retained most of ITC's staff and produced series mainly for the U.S. syndication market as well as continuing ITC's focus at the time on made for TV movies, in addition to operating a visual programming division for live musical videos and children's series. However, this incarnation had an extremely short lifespan, as with the first incarnation, due to PolyGram's acquisition by Seagram and its merger with [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]]. PolyGram TV was folded into Universal Television in 1999, as the unit was renamed to [[Universal Network Television|Universal Studios Network Programming]]. In 2002, Vivendi, by that time the corporate parent of Universal, re-acquired the entertainment assets of USA Networks, resulting in [[Universal Worldwide Television]] (the renamed PolyGram TV) being folded into [[Studios USA Television]] and being renamed under the Universal name, effectively shutting down the former ITC for good. [[NBCUniversal Syndication Studios]] is the current distributor of the PolyGram Television library. However, the ITC library was bought by [[Carlton Television|Carlton Communications]] on January 19, 1999 and is currently owned by [[ITV Studios Global Distribution|ITV Studios Global Entertainment]], a subsidiary of [[ITV1|ITV plc]].
-=== 1st Logo (May 12, 1981-1983) ===
-{{YouTube|id=1lsxiTg9prQ}}
-'''Logo:''' On a black background, we see the name "{{color|dodgerblue|'''{{Big|P}}oly{{Big|G}}ram Television'''}}", in {{color|dodgerblue|blue}}, flying from right to the center of a logo while an {{color|orange}} star zooms out to place itself under the "{{color|dodgerblue|{{Big|'''P'''}}}}" and makes more stars underneath the name. We later see an {{color|orange}} (or {{color|red}}) light shining across the stars to make a line.
-'''Technique:''' Early CGI animation.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' A simple synth tune.
-'''Availability:''' Extremely rare. It appears at the end of a DVD release of ''Rehearsal for Murder'' (which is in the public domain), and appeared at the end of an Amazon Prime Video print of the TV movie ''The Five of Me''.
-=== 2nd Logo (September 22, 1997-1999) ===
+===Logo (September 22, 1997-1999) ===
 <gallery mode="packed" heights="205">
 File:Polygram Television (1997).png
@@ Line 28: / Line 18: @@
 {{YouTube|id=-aNWzXwjx_8|id2=T4KFBwAAT7A|id3=eUCR3EiEYtA|id4=bRKoPDbHp3A}}
-'''Logo:''' Same as its film counterpart (the short videotaped variant, also used by the [[PolyGram Video]] logo), except with "{{color
+'''Visuals:''' Same as its film counterpart (the short videotaped variant, also used by the [[PolyGram Video]] logo), except with "{{color
 |blue|TELEVISION}}" replacing "{{color|blue|FILMED ENTERTAINMENT}}".
 '''Variants:'''
+* A version with "{{color|blue|distributed by}}" in a {{color|blue}} font above the Icarus exists, which is seen on some feature films and television shows from the ITC and Epic libraries; the animation for this variant is also slightly different, apparently based off the long movie logo, with the word "TELEVISION" not zooming out (instead it simply fades in under the PolyGram text) and the shining of the Icarus is also different, with less of a "glow" around it.
-* A version with "{{color
-|blue|distributed by}}" in a {{color
+** A version without "{{color|blue|distributed by}}" in a {{color|blue}} font above the Icarus also exists, which was seen on a full-screen SBS airing of ''Countryman'' (1982).
+* The print version is seen in the closing credits of the Nick Jr. cartoon ''Maisy'' and the 1998 TV movie ''Outrage''.
-|blue|blue}} font above the Icarus was put onto some feature films and television shows from the ITC and Epic libraries; the animation for this variant is slightly different, apparently based off the long movie logo, with the word "TELEVISION" not zooming out (instead it simply fades in under the PolyGram text) and the shining of the Icarus is different, with less of a "glow" around it.
+* A variant where the "{{color|blue|TELEVISION}}" text is replaced with "{{color|blue|VISUAL PROGRAMMING}}" exists.
-* The print version was seen in the closing credits of the Nick Jr. cartoon ''Maisy'' and the 1998 TV movie ''Outrage''.
-* There is a variant which replaces the "{{color|blue|TELEVISION}}" text with "{{color|blue|VISUAL PROGRAMMING}}".
 * A version with the words "{{color|blue|TELEVISION INTERNATIONAL}}" also exists.
-'''Technique:''' Same as its film counterpart or none.
+'''Technique:''' CGI animation.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' None or the end theme of the show.
+'''Audio:''' None or the end theme of the show.
-'''Availability:''' Extremely rare.
+'''Availability:'''
-* The distribution version was last seen on ''The Moderns'' on the Showtime Networks, ''The Tamarind Seed'' when it was on Netflix, Netflix/Tubi prints of ''Winter People'' (1989) (it was also present on MGM HD Europe's print), the 1998 PolyGram VHS of ''Ski Patrol'' (plastering the [[Epic Productions]] logo), an Epix print (and possibly the MGM Limited Edition Collection DVD-R) of the 1986 TV movie ''The Right of the People'' (preceded by the 2010 MGM logo), and supposedly on the 2008 Hen's Tooth DVD of ''The Boys in Company C'' (1978).
+* The distribution version was last seen on ''The Moderns'' on the Showtime Networks, ''The Tamarind Seed'' when it was on Netflix and is preserved on Netflix/Tubi prints of ''Winter People'' (1989) (it was also present on MGM HD Europe's print), the 1998 PolyGram VHS release of ''Ski Patrol'' (plastering the [[Epic Productions]] logo), the Epix and Paramount+ streaming service prints (and possibly the MGM Limited Edition Collection DVD-R release) of the 1986 TV movie ''The Right of the People'' (preceded by the 2008 MGM logo), and supposedly on the 2008 Hen's Tooth DVD release of ''The Boys in Company C'' (1978).
-* The regular version is intact on the mini-series ''The Billionaire Boys Club'' (originally produced by ITC) on DVD from A&E Home Video and on the pilot of ''The Crow: Stairway to Heaven'' (the DVD release of that show plasters it with the Universal Worldwide Television logo on the rest of the series).
+* The regular version is intact on the mini-series ''The Billionaire Boys Club'' (originally produced by ITC) on DVD from A&E Home Video and on the pilot of ''The Crow: Stairway to Heaven'' (however, the DVD release of that show plasters it with the 1998 [[Universal Worldwide Television]] logo on the rest of the series).
-** It is also seen on the TV special ''Barney's First Adventures'' on Fox Kids, which can be found as a bonus feature on the ''Barney's Great Adventure: The Movie'' DVD.
+** It was also seen on the TV special ''Barney's First Adventures'' on Fox Kids, which is still intact as a bonus feature on the ''Barney's Great Adventure: The Movie'' DVD.
-** It also plastered the [[Moonlight Productions]] logo on a late 1990s syndicated print of the 1984 TV movie ''Obsessive Love''.
+** It also plastered the 1982 [[Moonlight Productions]] logo on a late 1990s syndicated print of the 1984 TV movie ''Obsessive Love''.
-* It also appeared on the ultra short-lived ''Motown Live!'' as well as the third season of ''Due South''.
+* It was seen on ''Motown Live!'' as well as the third season of ''Due South''.
-* This also appeared on Netflix viewings of ''The Lunatics''.
+* This was seen on Netflix viewings of ''The Lunatics''.
-* The "VISUAL PROGRAMMING" variant can be found on ''Cats'', and some prints of ''The Best Bits of Mr. Bean''.
+* The "VISUAL PROGRAMMING" variant is seen on ''Cats'', the 1998 UK VHS releases of ''More Adventures at the Faraway Tree'' and ''The Adventures Of The Wishing Chair'' from [[Tempo Video]], at the start of the 1999 UK VHS release of ''Introducing... Maisy!'' from PolyGram Video, and some prints of ''The Best Bits of Mr. Bean'', respectively.
-* The in-credit print version is still seen on ''Maisy'' episodes from the era on Peacock. It was also seen on the TV movie ''Outrage'' (1998), which can be found on DVD.
+* The in-credit print version is still seen on ''Maisy'' episodes from the era on Peacock.
+* The in-credit print version was seen on the TV movie ''Outrage'' (1998), which can also be found on DVD and a Virgin Media Two airing.
-* This appears on Shout! Factory TV's print of the TV movie ''Friendly Fire'' from 1979.
+* This logo is intact on Shout! Factory TV's print of the 1979 TV movie ''Friendly Fire''.
+===Copyright Stamps===
-{{TV-Navbox}}{{Navbox-Comcast}}
+Here is some information about the copyright stamps on the PolyGram Television series and TV movies:
+*1997-1999: Copyright © [YEAR] PolyGram Television LLC. All Rights Reserved.
+{{Chronology|[[ITC Entertainment Group]]|[[Universal Network Television|Universal Studios Network Programming]]<br>[[Universal Worldwide Television]]}}
-[[Category:Television logos]] [[Category:Universal]] [[Category:Universal Television]] [[Category:Comcast]] [[Category:NBCUniversal]] [[Category:United Kingdom]] [[Category:British television logos]]
+{{TV-Navbox}}{{Navbox-Comcast}}
+[[Category:Television logos]]
+[[Category:Universal]]
+[[Category:Universal Television]]
+[[Category:Comcast]]
+[[Category:NBCUniversal]]
+[[Category:United Kingdom]]
+[[Category:British television logos]]
+[[Category:PolyGram]]