Granada Television

Background
Granada plc was a British conglomerate, best known for its Manchester-based subsidiary Granada Television, one of the biggest broadcasting studios among other ITV-based brands. It was incorporated in 1934. In 1994, it bought out ITV franchisee London Weekend Television, making it the company's first expansion into television; this was followed two years later by the launch of a media subsidiary Granada Media Group plc, encompassing Granada Sky, Granada and LWT. This was followed by three more ITV franchise acquisitions, including Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Enterprises on June 26, 1997, the television arm of United News & Media in July 2000 and Border Television in July 2001. Following its merger with Carlton Communications on February 2, 2004, Granada became known as ITV plc, saving its former name for the North-West broadcast area. Granada was involved in a large amount of television series and movies.

1st Logo (November 5, 1956)
Logo: On a black background, the word "Serif" appears at the top of the screen. An arrow moves upwards from the bottom of the screen until it disturbs the "Serif", which bounces three times before settling again. The word "Presents" in a sans serif font then appears under the point of the arrow.

Variant: A static variant was phased in after only a few weeks, reportedly because company boss Sidney Bernstein was unhappy with the way the animation in the original variant portrayed his company.

Technique: Traditional cel animation. None for the static version.

Audio: None to accompany either variant; Granada were known for producing logos without any accompanying jingle until the late 1980s.

Availability: So far, this has only been known to have appeared on the program What the Papers Say.

2nd Logo (May 3, 1956-1968)
Logo: On a background, a black arrow moves upwards from the bottom of the screen. When it gets near the top it stops, and the words "from the North" appear in italics. Then, seven white squares spin round to face the viewer. Each square has a black letter on it forming the word "Serif" (in the same font as before, but italicised). After that, the word "PRESENTS" appears letter by letter.

Accompanying clock ident: An analogue clock is used with a full set of numbers, spokes for each minute, and is foil-printed directly onto a cloudy background. Originally, the second hand was a sweeping-type and the numbers were displayed in a serif font, but were changed to a sans-serif font and a juttering-type second hand in the mid-60s.

Variants:
 * A static variant was being phased in by the end of the 1950s.
 * A rare version exists where the logo is reanimated, the arrow is thicker than before, the “From the North” text is replaced with “From round the Globe”, and the “PRESENTS” text just appears instead of appearing letter by letter.
 * An inverted version exists.
 * A version exists where a “TRAVELLING EYE” text is added above the “PRESENTS” text; this was only used on Outside Broadcast programmes made by Granada around this time. A superimposed version of this version also exists.
 * A version exists where the logo is seen on a curtain, then a jester pops out of it and looks around.
 * A version exists where the logo is on a background instead of a black one.
 * A rare Welsh variant exists, where the “From the North” and “Presents” text are in Welsh.

Technique: Cel animation. None for the static version.

Audio: None, or the opening and closing of the show’s music.

3rd Logo (1959-1964)
Logo: A map of Great Britain is shown on the left of the screen, with most of the remainder being just a background. A black arrow points to the company's base. Above the arrow are the "Serif" squares from the previous logo, while "presents" is written in white below it.

Technique: None.

Audio: None, or just the opening or closing of the show’s music.

4th Logo (1968-1969)
Logo: We simply see the word "Serif" in Clarendon and with a drop-shadow, between two horizontal black lines on a background.

Variant: An animated variant is known to exist, which was used only before local programmes.

Technique: None.

Audio: None, or just the opening or closing of the show’s music.

Availability:
 * It appeared on programmes like Nice Time, Big Breadwinner Hog, and Football.
 * It might have appeared on 1960s episodes of Coronation Street, but just like the 2nd and 3rd logos, it has also been affected by plastering, so it may be hard to find.

5th Logo (1968-1990)
Logo: On a black background, the word "Serif" is written in the same typeface and colour as before. Below the word is Granada's symbol, which is a letter "G" with an arrow pointing upward from the end of its middle line. This is also in white.

Trivia: Although the symbol was used as early as 1968, it wasn't copyrighted until 1971.

Accompanying clock idents:
 * Starting in the mid '70s, an analog clock with a thick ring of colour surrounding it is seen, along with a Granada logo below it (contained in a box), the "Serif" text, and an underline as well. The colour combination differs greatly from time to time, ranging from black BG/white and ring to  BG/white and yellow ring.
 * Starting in 1985, the background is black with a yellow ring, though the lower section is and has the Granada logo in yellow and "Serif" beside it; this even had a "transparent" variant.
 * In 1987, the clock was changed one final time, turning it into a digital clock with no ring, a black/ gradient background, and the "Serif" text below it, though it was also white during the final year of its usage.

Variants: There were several variants:
 * A version exists where the background is white and the word and symbol are black.
 * From 1969 onward, with the advent of colour television, the background was made and the "G-Arrow" symbol was made yellow.
 * There exists a colour version where "Serif" is yellow and the "G-Arrow" symbol is white.
 * Some season variants exist, with a different colour scheme depending on what season currently was when in use.
 * From 1986-1987, the ident was upgraded with a gradient background, and the word and symbol were rendered in.
 * From 1987-1989, the word and symbol became platinum instead of.
 * After 1989, the word and symbol changed back to white and yellow, but upgraded with a purple gradient background.
 * During Christmas time, a version of the logo covered in holly and rendered in gold was used. "Christmas on" in a Roman font is displayed above "Serif".

Technique: None; the Christmas variant has some shining/twinkling effects.

Audio: None, the continuity announcer, or the closing theme. Also uses startup and closedown music with "Drifting" (by Kevin Peek), "Easy Go" (by Nick Glennie-Smith) and "New Station March" (by Keith Mansfield).

6th Logo (1986)
NOTE: The logo appears at 0:27.

Logo: On a black background, we see several close-up shots of a birthday cake that turns out to be in the shape of the Granada symbol. We then see the entire cake and the Granada logotype fading in below it, together with two white lines below the logotype, each drawing out a digit of the number "30" in a stylised italic font.

Technique: Live-action.

Audio: A celebratory fanfare.

Availability: This logo was used only for Granada's 30th anniversary.

7th Logo (1986)
Logo: On a gradient background, we see a yellow trail forming the Granada symbol. The Granada logotype fades in above.

Variants:
 * Sometimes, the background is pixelated.
 * An extended version has the second logo appear on a black background before zooming into the camera and transitioning into the trail animation.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A cheerful synth fanfare, similar to the one in the 6th logo.

Availability: Same as before.

8th Logo (1989-1990)
Logo: We see some sped up footage of a cloudy sky while a transparent version of Granada's symbol unfolds from the centre of the screen.

Accompanying clock ident: On a different cloudy sky, a digital clock can be seen in the centre, along with "GRANADA" below. The Granada logo can be seen poking out on the left, containing an image of a hot air balloon in it.

Variant: Sometimes, we see a bank and some barbed wire fence against the cloudy sky.

Technique: A mix of live-action and computer animation.

Audio: A dreamy synth cue. This is a sped up version of part of a library music piece that was also used by the IBA to precede their engineering announcements during the 1980s.

9th Logo (1989)
Logo: Over an implied globe showing Granada's broadcast area, a two-dimensional ring containing people's faces floats in from the top left corner of the screen. A north-pointing arrow, in a similar style, then comes in from the bottom. As the arrow positions itself on the top of the ring, two right-angled triangles, coloured gradient and forming a rectangle with a diagonal from the top left to the bottom right, rotate into view behind them. The arrow and ring then turn into the Granada symbol, coloured, and as this happens, the logo zooms out and a gradient background fades in in place of the globe. Finally, a white flash moves through the aforementioned diagonal from the bottom right, filling it in in the same colour, before a large arrowhead fades in at the top left; at the same time, the words "Serif" and "Serif" fade in below the logo.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: A simple brass fanfare, complete with a violin and synthesised drumbeats.

Availability: This logo was used only locally.

10th Logo (December 1989)
Logo: On a background, we see a bunch of paper dolls circling around. Behind them is the famous "Arrow G" made out of snowflakes. The word "Serif" appears.

Technique: Possibly CGI.

Audio: Same as the eighth logo, followed by an announcer.

Availability: Only seen during the 1989 Christmas season.

11th Logo (1989)
Logo: See ITV for description.

12th Logo (June 4, 1990-January 1, 1995)
Logo:
 * 1990-1991: On a white background, a stripe descends from the top of the screen. When it gets slightly beyond the middle of the screen, it stops and the "G-Arrow" symbol fades onto the stripe. Shortly afterwards, the word "Serif" fades in at the bottom of the screen.
 * 1991-1992: The "G" is changed to dark blue, and the background is different as well.
 * 1992-1995: Same as the 1989 version, but the stripe starts out in a rainbow colour before changing to dark blue.

Variants:
 * There was a special autumn version with a leaf falling and morphing into the stripe.
 * A Christmas version had the stripe replaced with a swaying gift tag.
 * A North West version had a stripe with North West scenes that zooms out. The stripe forms part of the text "NORTH WEST".
 * A version with the number "888" below the logo preceded shows with subtitles.
 * A special Olympics variant was used during Manchester's submission for the 2000 Olympic Games in 1992.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: Same as the eighth logo; from 1991 on, it was played on a celesta.

Availability: By this time, ITV regional symbols were only used in the region they served.

13th Logo (1994-1995)
Logo: A scene that takes place somewhere in the North West of England is shown before a flag with the Granada logo appears. The slogan "Serif" appears before the logo.

Variants: Many variants were used during the logo's short lifetime.

Technique: Live-action.

Audio: A newly composed jingle that varied in style from variant to variant.

Availability: It was used in conjunction with the previous logo mainly as a promotional sting, but sometimes served as a local ident.

14th Logo (January 2, 1995-November 7, 1999)
Logo: On a and purple abstract background, a large silvery version of the "G-Arrow" symbol flies away from the viewer and onto a metallic version of the stripe that fades in before the symbol lands on it.

Technique: The background is CGI, but the symbol is actually made of perspex and shot using a camera, and keyed into the logo.

Audio: An orchestrated version of the last few notes of the jingle to the previous logo.

Availability: It was only used as a local ID until November 7, 1999.

15th Logo (September 1996-November 7, 1999)
Logo: The main focus is the Granada arrow symbol appearing on its own in several different environments.

Variants:
 * Locomotive: We see a small model train turning in the turntable, then the train starts riding along the tracks. The scene switches inside the train, but it quickly switches into another scene, which moves around in a circle, zooms out and reveals the tracks are in the shape of the Granada arrow symbol.
 * Rocket: We see a rocket with the door open on a planet. The door closes and the symbol shaped lock turns itself to align with the arrow. The rocket takes off from the planet, leaving behind a smouldering Granada symbol burn mark on the ground where the camera zooms towards.
 * Fish: In the water, we can see a goldfish, who blows out a bubble coming out of its mouth, which has the Granada arrow appering in inside. The camera goes above as we pan away from the fish and it reveals the Granada logo emerging from the sea and moving around in it on a sky blue background with clouds moving and sunrays.
 * Ice: We see a man walking towards the ice covered, and scrapes some of it off, leaving behind a Granada symbol-shaped hole.
 * Break bumper: We see a black glass Granada symbol shining with an light beam and turning anti-clockwise.
 * Eye: We see a woman standing in front of a TV set. The camera zooms towards her right eye and as she blinks, the Granada symbol is revealed in the iris.
 * Soap: We see a shot of a man's hand hanging a rope. The next shot reveals the same man wiping some steam off a glass panel, revealing a Granada symbol-shaped soap hanging on the rope as the camera zooms towards it.
 * Art: In an art museum, we see a, and  painting on the wall. The camera then pans and zooms towards a sculpture that has an "O" shape and hole at the top. We can also see through the hole, where the Granada symbol in  and yellow appears on the painting.
 * Football: We see the Granada symbol in white and dressed in a football kit, receiving a football and heading out of the camera shot.
 * Formula 1: We see a few race cars speeding down a track, leaving behind Granada symbol-shaped sparkles on the ground.

Technique: Either live-action, CGI or stop-motion.

Audio: Unknown.


 * Used in tandem with the 14th logo, with one of the idents being notably used to introduce the then-newly renamed ITV Evening News on March 8, 1999.

16th Logo (November 8, 1999-October 27, 2002)
Logo: See ITV for description.

Variants:
 * From December 13, 1999 to 2000, the G-Wizz URL appears on the bottom right of the screen reading "www.g-wizz.net/granadatv".
 * From 2000 to 2001, the URL was changed to "www.granada-tv.com".

(1989)
Note: This ident was never used on air, except as a modified variant (see above).

Logo: See ITV for description.