The Family Channel Originals

Background
The Family Channel was the predecessor to Freeform. Its roots take place in 1977, when the CBN Satellite Network was formed. On August 1, 1981, the channel was relaunched as CBN Cable Network, repositioning it as a family-friendly entertainment network and moving away from its primarily religious roots, though certain Christian programs still remained on the schedule. On August 1, 1988, the network was renamed to CBN Family Channel; the network's success was becoming worrisome for CBN, who feared it would contradict its main, non-profit business, so they chose to sell it in 1990 to International Family Entertainment, a joint venture between CBN founder Pat Robertson's son, Timothy, and TCI/Liberty Media owner Dr. John C. Malone; they later that year renamed the channel fully to The Family Channel. IFE would later purchase MTM Enterprises and the assets of UK network Television South, adding to their portfolio.

In July 1997, the company was purchased by then-Fox owner News Corporation, as a means of broadcasting programs they now owned through Saban Entertainment. The channel became Fox Family the year after, and International Family Entertainment was merged into Fox Kids Worldwide, with the MTM library moving to Fox, and the company later becoming Fox Family Worldwide.

1st Logo (September 2, 1990-1993)
Logo: On a blue/red gradient background, we see the Family Channel logo A red circle encased in a big blue circular outline, with "Times New Roman" and "Times New Roman" within separate ends of said outline, with "Family" set in a script font in the middle. A row of fourteen curved lines come down from the top corner of the screen and move toward the right.

Variant: Sometimes, the text "in association with" is above the logo.

Technique: Simple computer animation.

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

Availability: Seen on Big Brother Jake, Zorro and certain prints of The Adventures of the Black Stallion.

2nd Logo (1992-1995)
Logo: On a sky background, we see a ball with a big  circle containing the words "Times New Roman" and "Times New Roman" above and below circling it. Afterwards, the word "Family" in an script font is written in by a laser, then zooms out to position itself on the ball.

Variant: There's a longer version of this logo that was used as a station ident.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: A 4-note horn fanfare with an etching noise as the laser writes "Family", or the closing theme to the feature.

Availability: Uncommon. Preserved on Golden Book Video releases of Madeline, and Snowy River: The McGregor Saga. Can also be seen at the end of almost any MTM Enterprises program or filming during the 1992-1998 era along with later logos.

3rd Logo (1995-August 25, 1996)
Logo: Against a fiery orange/yellow background with concentric spinning circles, we see pieces of the network's logo zoom back and fall into place, as "Family" fades in.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: An eight-note majestic fanfare.

Availability: Seen on Night of the Twisters and other programs.

4th Logo (September 30, 1996-August 14, 1998)
Logo: On a dark cloudy background with moving red rays, we see the ball from the previous logo in orange. It gradually darkens as the outline moves upward. The "Family" text slides in from the top right corner, along with copyright information and a registered trademark symbol to the right of the logo.

Technique: CGI akin to the previous logo.

Music/Sounds: A four note somber fanfare.

Availability: It's currently intact on the 1996 Christmas special The Angel of Pennsylvania Avenue when Hallmark Channel airs it, and appeared at the end of Doomsday Rock. It also appears on game shows like Shopping Spree and the 1996 version of Shop 'til You Drop.