PBS Wisconsin

Background: Wisconsin Public Television is a PBS affiliate that serves the entire state of Wisconsin and is the oldest in the state (Milwaukee PBS premiered 3 years later in 1957).

1st Logo (1954?)
Logo: On a grey background, in 5 black squares spaced out vertically, "WHATV" is in the separate squares. On the right of the first three letters, the words "Channel 21 Madison" are there. A darker grey line in between "WHA" and "TV" has the words "Wisconsin" on the left of the black square, and "state broadcasting" on the right. On the bottom left, it says service.

Music/Sounds: An announcer saying "This broadcast was planned and produced by the Wisconsin State BroadcastingService, WHA-TV, Channel 21 Madison Wisconsin".

Availability: Extinct

Editors Note: Quite possibly the earliest known PBS/NET logo at the moment.

2nd Logo (1954-1960s)
WHA-TV logo (1954) Logo: On a gray background, we see the words "WHA-TV" on the left, with the words "MADISON WISCONSIN" above. The map of Wisconsin is shown on the right, with an antenna near Madison. Particles can be seen behind the Wisconsin map. "channel" and "20" are partially shown next to it.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: An announcer that says "This is WHA-TV, the state radio council television in Madison, presenting..."

Availability: Was only seen on the Dedication Program.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (1970s)
Wisconsin Educational Television Network (1974) Logo: On a black background, we see a big blue line with a semicircle on its left side. Below is a white line. Below the white line is "WISCONSIN EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION NETWORK" stacked, with it centered under the semicircle.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Was only seen on Target the State.

Editor's Note: None.

4rd Logo (1970s)
Wisconsin ETV Network (1974) Logo: On a blue background, we see a ton of houses with trees in front of them. On top is "Wisconsin ETV" with "Network" below it.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Was only seen onTarget the State.

Editor's Note: None.

5th Logo (Late 1970s-Early 1980s)
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Logo: On a blue background, we see a cursive "from Madison" on the top, which fades out. Orange lines come from the right, forming a "W" horizontally. Then, cyan lines come from the left, forming the "H". While they form, more orange lines come out from the "H", forming the "A". After that, 2 cyan lines move right to out of the screen each, coming from the "H", and "TELEVISION" fades in below "WHA", which fades to a cursive "Presents".

FX/SFX: The fading, the lines moving.

Music/Sounds: An exciting trumpet theme with cellos as the lines arrange.

Availability: Can be seen on the Wisconsin Energy Report.

Editor's Note: None.

6th Logo (1978-1984)
Logo: On a black background, we see a couple oforange dots appearing on random positions, with them shining as they appear. More dots appear as the dots expand to form a bloated "W". A blue glow of text that says "Wisconsin Educational Network" stacked on top of each other appears in the "W", which zooms into the screen. The text flashes, clearing it up, and "Presents" flashes in.

FX/SFX: The W writing, the shining, the zoom in, and the flashing of the text.

Music/Sounds: A trumpet theme that kinda sounds like the 1976 Viacom logo with bongo drums beating when the W zooms in.

Availability: Can be seen on theWisconsin Magazine, which can be viewed on the American Archive of Public Broadcasting.

Editor's Note: None.

7th Logo (1984-1987)
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Logo: On a black background, a large orange "C", with it thicker on one side than the other, flashes in with a tree-like object attached to it. When the glow starts to die down, the tree opens up and reveals an connected, abstract "tp". As it finishes dimming, "CENTER FOR TELEVISION TELEVISION" fades in below in a stacked formation, along with a red line. Below the red line is "UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - GREEN BAY"

FX/SFX: The glow, the letters moving, the text fading in.

Music/Sounds: A ringing bell can be heard throughout, with a flute tune playing as soon as the logo appears. When the text fades in, a single ringing note can be heard.

Availability: Can be seen on Encompass, which can be seen on video.wpt.org.

Editor's Note: None.

8th Logo (1985-1988)
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Logo: On a black background, we see the WHA logo from the 4th logo, but the colors are now gold and blue. Two white lines come out and stop at the corners of the logo and "TELEVISION" is formed by the bottom laser. "Madison" fades in during the process.

Variant: A long version exists. It starts with several gold lines slanted to the left drawing downwards, followed by blue lines slanted to the left going upwards. Thicker, larger gold lines then form part of the logo then zoom out, with the other lines collapsing into the logo as well before the rest of the animation plays out, but"Madison" fades in later.

FX/SFX: The lines, "TELEVISION" being formed by the bottom laser, "Madison" fading in.

Music/Sounds: A 5-note trumpet theme.

Availability: Can be seen on Backlash and other WHA programs of the time.

Editor's Note: None.

9th Logo (1988-1992)
Wisconsin Public Television (1988) Logo: On a rock face background, we see a gray gradient box that says "Wisconsin" with a blue line below it. Below the blue line is "Public Television", and below the gray box is "P R E S E N T S". The shadows move throughout the whole logo.

Variant: A long version exists where the gray square fades in.

FX/SFX: The background.

Music/Sounds: A guitar tune. The long version has 6 more notes at the beginning, followed by a cymbal.

Availability: Can be seen on Shadow Game. The long version can be seen on Stranded: Migrant Workers in Wisconsin.

Editor's Note: None.

10th Logo (1992-1994)
Wisconsin Public Television (1992) Logo: On a cracked grey background, we see a concrete version of the Wisconsin Public Television logo of the time, which is a box with a long "W" in it, splitting the box into a blue and green section. The frame then fades to black, revealing "WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION" on the bottom border, as well as changing the blue to a sky time-lapse and the green to a shot of grass.

Variant: A still version exists with the text already there in black.

FX/SFX: The logo changing.

Music/Sounds: A violin theme.

Availability: Can be seen on Gambling on Trial.

Editor's Note: None.

11th Logo (1994-2002)
Wisconsin Public Television (1993) Logo: On a cloudy sky background, we see a copper line coming from the left and the text "WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION" coming from the right. The sky background then fades out, revealing a rough blue background. The "W" is drawn and the rest of the rectangle comes together. When the parts connect, the sky below the "W" turns into grass and the logo shines.

Variant: A short version exists starting with the logo forming up.

FX/SFX: The sky, the logo being formed.

Music/Sounds: A long violin note, then 4 piano notes when the W is being formed.

Availability: Can be seen on America's Battleground. The short version can be seen on Campaign '94: Religion and Politics.

Editor's Note: None.

12th Logo (2002-2005)
Wisconsin Public Television (2002) Logo: On a black background, we see the Wisconsin Public Television logo in flat colors, with the PBS logo to the right in blue and "Wisconsin Public Television Production" wiping in below. The logo zooms in slowly throughout.

FX/SFX: The logo zooming in slowly, the text writing in.

Music/Sounds: The 4 piano notes from before.

Availability: Can be seen on El Derecho Al Trabajo and UW Extension.

Editor's Note: None.

13th Logo (December 8, 2005-November 4, 2019)
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Logo: On a sky timelapse background, we see the landscape W (later gaining rounded edges) and PBS logos with "WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION" below it fading in. As it fades in, a mask appears from the top and bottom of the screen. The text then shines and wipes into "ORIGINAL PRODUCTION". The logo slowly zooms in.

Variant: A widescreen variant.

FX/SFX: The sky timelapse, the logos slowly zooming in, the text wiping, the mask effect.

Music/Sounds: A relaxing and mellow theme.

Availability: Common, can be seen on Here and Now and Wisconsin Life. Don't expect to see this on Sewing with Nancy. This also appears Birds of Wisconsin

Editor's Note: The music is a favorite of many.

PBS Wisconsin
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