Showtime Networks

1st Logo (1988-August 2010)
Logo: On a black background or superimposed on the credits, we see the white text:

A presentation of

SHOWTIME NETWORKS INC.

Starting in 1995, a white line is seen underneath the text and below is the Viacom byline in a ITC Avant Garde font.

Later Variants: Around 1997, it was changed to:

A Presentation Of SHOWTIME NETWORKS INC.

with the name "SHOWTIME NETWORKS INC." in Franklin Gothic Italic font and the Viacom byline in its "Wigga-Wigga" logo font below the white line. In 2001, it was changed to:

A Presentation Of Showtime Networks Inc.

Bylines:


 * 1988-1995?, 2006: Bylineless.
 * 1995?-1997?: "A VIACOM COMPANY"
 * August 15, 1997: "A Viacom Company"
 * 1997?-2006: "/\ VI/\CO/\/\ CO/\/\P/\NY" (in the Viacom "Wigga-Wigga" font)
 * 2006-2010: "A CBS COMPANY".

Variant: On Soul Food: The Series, "In Association With" appears below the logo.

FX/SFX: The fade in or scrolling of the credits.

Music/Sounds: Mostly none or the end theme of the show.

Availability: Common. It's seen on all original series aired on the Showtime Networks. It's also seen on Soul Food: The Series on TV One.

Editor's Note: TBA.

2nd Logo (2000-2005)

Logo: We see a pack of blurred red and white lines stretched with the Showtime circular part flashing in the center. The Showtime logo appears with the mirror effect and lens reflections rotating around.

FX/SFX: The mirror effects.

Music/Sounds: A dramatic string fanfare ending in a 4-note tune, which later became Showtime's signature fanfare, or none.

Availability: Was seen before the start of original series and movies aired on the Showtime Networks, including The L Word.

3rd Logo (2005-2010) Showtime Networks (2009)

Logo: On a black BG, we see many white light lines which rapidly weave the circular part of the Showtime logo. Suddenly, the actions zooms in to the white background, while red lines continue to swirl and weave the whole Showtime logo. A single line still runs around when the logo cuts off.

FX/SFX: The lines moving.

Music/Sounds: Sharp cutting sounds alongside an electronic beat near the end.

Availability: Rather common. It's seen on all original series aired on the Showtime Networks from the period.

4th Logo (2009-June 2013) Showtime Networks (2010)

Logo: Opening: On a black background with many blue particles, a small explosion occurs and we spin and zoom around it as we see several yellow sparks rapidly forming "SHO", not unlike the last logo. The sparks dissolve into the logo while the background bursts into white. Several red sparks appear and go into "SHO", alongside "WTIME" next to it, giving the logo its signature red color. Closing: It's the last few seconds of the opening logo, only near the end, this text fades in below:

A Presentation of Showtime Networks Inc. - A CBS COMPANY

FX/SFX: Incredible CGI, done by yU+co.

Music/Sounds: Short synth-based theme that sounds like jungle music and ending off with a synth-string rendition of the Showtime fanfare, which on here sounds similar to the Microsoft Windows XP shutdown sound.

Availability: Uncommon. It was seen on all Showtime original series from the era, but as of 2013 it has been plastered on both the opening and closing variants by the next logo.

5th Logo (June 2013- )

Logo: TBA

Variant: At the end of shows, the same byline from before in white fades in below the logo.

FX/SFX: Nice CGI!

Music/Sounds: Several whooshes, ending in a more dramatic rendition of the Showtime fanfare.

Availability: Currently used as both an opening and closing logo for original series on Showtime. It also has plastered the last logo on newer prints of Showtime series.