Worldvision
Complied by Jason Jones and Sean Beard
1st Logo
(1973-1974)
Nicknames: "Radar Globe," "Radar W," "Worldvision W Globe"
Logo: On a yellow screen, we see a blue, radar-like line going upward to slowly form a blue, oval-shaped globe with longitude and latitude lines. In the center of this globe, a "W" is seen by connected filled latitude and longitude squares. The "W" is stylized such that it blends with the spherical shape. The radar continues its path downward, making the company name (with WORLDVISION ENTERPRISES INC. in the style you see here) appear below the globe.
FX: The globe being drawn, kinda simple, but decent.
Music: None.
Availability: Pretty much extinct, was only seen on early syndie prints of The Mod Squad and Let's Make A Deal to replace the ABC Films ID.
Scare Factor: Minimal, unless tape hiss gets to you.
2nd Logo
(1974-1988)
History: Used on '70s-'80s prints of old TV shows originally aired on ABC, among others. Also the top distributor of most Hanna-Barbera TV shows from post-1979 when Taft acquired Worldvision.
Nicknames: "Radar Globe," "Radar W," "Worldvision W Globe"
Logo: On a red screen, we see a white, radar-like line going upward to slowly form a white, oval-shaped globe with longitude and latitude lines. In the center of this globe, a "W" is seen by connected filled latitude and longitude squares. The "W" is stylized such that it blends with the spherical shape. The radar continues its path downward, making the company name (which is in a more plainer font) appear below the globe. Some fine print appears below the company name from this point onward.
What's That Print?: The fine print on the bottom of the later Worldvision logos read: "Not affiliated with World Vision International, a religious and charitable organization."
Variations: When Taft Entertainment acquired Worldvision, these bylines would appear under the company name:
FX/Cheesy Factor: The globe being drawn looks pretty simple, but isn't as bad as some logos of the era.
Music: None.
Availability: This was used exclusively in distribution, unlike the next logo. But it all depends on the prints shown on a particular station or cable outlet. For example, "The Love Boat" and other former Worldvision shows seen on TV Land have the current Paramount logo. Other stations may still be using older (pre-1997) Worldvision prints. A few Dark Shadows episodes do air on the Sci-Fi Channel with this logo.
Scare Factor: Same as 1st Logo
3rd Logo
(1989-99)
History: Used mainly on 1990s prints
of pre-1973 ABC shows, but also applied to the Hanna-Barbera
(until the cartoon studio's sale to Turner Broadcasting),
NTA/Republic Pictures Television (after 1996), Carolco Pictures
(the company distributed their films to TV as part of a
syndication package) and Spelling Entertainment libraries. Also
appeared on some first-run syndicated programs, such as
"Judge Judy".
Nicknames: "WHOOSH Globe," "90s Worldvision
W Globe," "Black Radar Globe"
Logo: On a white screen, the Worldvision globe logo from
the first logo with a red "W" comes from the center, as
the camera zooms out, the Worldvision name emerges from the front
and both layer themselves into position as the background fades
to black. The Radar Globe then shines and the "Not
affiliated with World Vision International…"
disclaimer-in much smaller type-fades onto the bottom of the
screen.
Variations: When introduced in 1989,there was no byline
present (like the chyroned version of the previous logo it
replaced).
After Great American Broadcasting (the former Taft Broadcasting
Co.) sold Worldvision to Spelling Entertainment in 1991, these
bylines would appear:
1991-94: A UNIT OF SPELLING ENTERTAINMENT
INC.
1994-96: When Blockbuster Entertainment bought Spelling, their
movie ticket logo appeared below Worldvision's logo (it was
briefly placed next to the globe after the Blockbuster purchase
of Spelling), underneath Spelling's byline (itself having the
"A Blockbuster Entertainment Company" byline underneath
it).
1996-99: A SUBSIDIARY OF
SPELLING ENTERTAINMENT GROUP INC.
FX: The globe zooming in at warp speed, the layering FX on
the company name, the Radar Globe shining at the end of the
sequence.
Music: Begins with an annoying WHOOSH and then a 3-note
synthesized tune with "air" plays in the background.
Availability: Still commonplace on 1990s prints of many
syndicated shows in all of its variations, despite several series
recieving the Paramount logo in recent years. Also currently
appears on PAX reruns of "Bonanza" (replacing the
Republic Pictures Eagle), FX reruns of "Beverly Hills,
90210", and occasionally on "I Married Joan"
reruns on GoodLife Network.
Scare Factor: Median, since this logo can catch a
daydreaming viewer off-guard with the "WHOOSH" and
creepy "w".
Worldvision Home Video
(1985-93)
Nickname: "Radar
Globe","WHOOSH" (for the 2nd logo)
History: Primarily distributed videos derived from classic
network television shows aired from the 1960s through early
1990s. Also issued tapes from the Hanna-Barbera library and a
number of special-interest titles (most notable among these: pro
golf legend Jack Nicklaus' "Golf My Way" series).
1st Logo
(1985-1989)
Logo: The same Red Radar Globe logo
as seen on television but with a minor variation-the phrase
"HOME VIDEO INC." replaces "ENTERPRISES,INC."
here. The logo is otherwise unchanged from its familiar form.
FX: The same as explained above.
Cheesy Factor: This version seems to be chyroned together
(å la the bylineless 1987-89 version of this logo).
Music: None.
Avaliability: Extinct-check your video store's stock for
mid-1980s releases from the company.
Scare Factor: About the same for this home video twin of a
familar logo.
2nd Logo
(1989-93)
Logo: The same as the third
Worldvision logo, but somewhat slower. On a white screen, the
Worldvision globe logo comes from the center, as the camera zooms
out, the Worldvision name emerges from the front, and both
plaster themselves into place. The phrase "Home Video
Inc." slides in from the Worldvision name, as the background
fades to black. As with its television counterpart, the Radar
Globe shines and the disclaimer (in VERY small type here) fades
onto the bottom of the screen.
FX: The zoom-out, lettering layering FX, shining Radar
Globe.
Music: Starts with an extended WHOOSH and gets a 5-note
synthesized tune with "air" in the background (read:an
extended version of the TV logo's jingle).
Availability: Extinct-seen on most 1986-93 releases of
classic TV shows and feature films from the Worldvision library.
Other notable releases were the Filmation-produced feature film
"Happily Ever After", "Cujo"(made by Sunn
Classic and Warner Bros.) and "Get Smart…Again!".
Much of the back catalog (mainly the feature films, TV movies and
some miniseries) was reissued by Republic Pictures Home Video in
the mid-1990s (much of it in EP mode with Worldvision packaging),
so check your video store's backstock.
Scare Factor: About the same as it's TV counterpart,
probably a tad higher.