RÚV

Background
RÚV is the principal television station in Iceland. The company was founded in 1966 as Rikisútvarpið Sjónvarp ("National Radio Television" in Icelandic, pronounced "ri-ki-soot-var-pith syon-varp"). In 1983 they changed their name to Sjónvarpið ("Television", pronounced "syon-var-pith"), with the introduction of their current logo. In 2011, their name was changed to RÚV. Before October 1, 1987, this television did not broadcast on Thursdays, and only broadcast for eight hours a day heading into the 21st century. Today the programming consists of mainly imported American & British shows and films, with some domestic programming as well.

(1966-1973)
Logo: We see a still image of a volcano or another rocky formation. Its reflection is shown over a lake. A clock is tacked on top, with the text "RIKISÚTVARPIĐ SJÓNVARP" below the clock.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Long extinct, as only a single video can be found containing this logo on YouTube.

1st Logo (1986-1992)
Logo: We see the logo for the network at the time (several blue curves folded inward, forming a circle as they move further out) zoom in on a sky background, moving from the top right and then to the left center. Once the logo is centered, the logo becomes 3D and rotates towards the screen, and then back to the center again. A map of the country of Iceland swoops by, revealing the word "SJÓNVARPIĐ" in a blue medium-weight font with the "J" extending below the other letters. The map of Iceland then moves through the top opening of the logo, and multiple images showcasing the country's scenery fly in various directions, some of them rotating as they do so. The logo then zooms in again in the same fashion as before, with the 3D transformation and rotation. "SJÓNVARPIĐ" flips in again.

Variant: Prior to 1989, this logo was in space, and the Earth replaced the map of Iceland.

Technique: Early CGI.

Music/Sounds: A flourish to start, followed by a saturated '80s synth-based theme with drums and orchestral instruments.

Availability: Extinct; seen on the network at the time.

2nd Logo (1992-199?)


Logo: We pan from space where two planets are shown near the corner. We move towards a beige planet, while a yellow ball is seen orbiting it. It then collides with the planet, forming an hole as the planet turns, and red, green and blue balls appear behind it, forming another hole below. The planet moves towards the bottom corner and bursts, revealing the logo as described above. It slowly turns near the center as the letters of "SJÓNVARPIĐ" float around it and place below. After more than ten seconds, we see the logo formed in the screen.

Technique: 3D CGI.

Music/Sounds: A spacy synthesizer soundtrack with whooshes, arpeggios and choir, ending with an orchestral note.

Availability: Extinct; seen on the network at the time.

3rd Logo (1999-2004)
Logo: Depending on the version shown, we primarily see a model of an icy landscape, with the Sjónvarpið logo partially shown somewhere. There are two shots overall that respectively show a part of the landscape before fading into a portion of the logo in close-up.

Technique: Live-action shots.

Music/Sounds: A drumroll, segueing a bell note with a choir singing in C.

Availability: Extinct; seen on the network at the time.

1st Logo (2011-2016)


Logo: Against a nature background, the company logo in silver is seen spinning on the right side of the screen. It gradually moves towards the center before rapidly zooming to the left. As it does so, a blue-cyan gradient box forms itself, covering just over a quarter of the screen. After the logo places itself in the box, the logo becomes white and 2D whilst a "ripple" effect occurs around the shape. The text "RÚV", also in white, appears from the rippling on the right side of the shape.

Technique: A mix of CGI and live action.

Music/Sounds: A 14-note orchestral piece consisting of a piano, violin and viola, with a whoosh accompanying the zooming.

Availability: Extinct.