Annenberg Media

Background
Annenberg/CPB, originally known as The Annenberg/CPB Project, was a joint venture of the Annenberg Foundation and the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, formed in 1981 through a gift from Walter Annenberg, founder of the Annenberg Foundation. In 2006, the Annenberg Foundation (and the Annenberg Channel) withdrew their partnership from CPB, and renamed its channel to Annenberg Media. Despite that, the Dish Network channel University House Channel continued to rerun pre-2006 programs of the former Annenberg/CPB library until October 2008, when UHC permanently discontinued its satellite stations. However, Annenberg Media remains active as Annenberg Learner; their website, www.learner.org, still exists, and you can check it out to find information on their programs, FAQ, email, and much more.

1st Logo (1981-2004)
Visuals: On a shady blue-black background, a tall bracket-like bar folds up from the ground, followed by a shorter one and then a trapezoid, all colored and casting a long shadow across the ground. The final result of this resembles a stylized lowercase "a". Then, a star wipes in the text "Optima", in the Optima font, from left-to-right, and then the shadow disappears.

Variants:
 * A filmed version exists.
 * Starting in 1999, the logo is revised with smoother animation and a slightly redesigned "a", The text now reads "arial" in Arial, and the byline "arial" fades in when the shadow disappears.
 * A version exists where the byline just reads "arial"
 * A version exists where the entire logo is remade with CGI, with a dark green "a" and the text reading "Optima" instead.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: 3 synth notes with a "wah" effect as the "a" unfolds, then 8 higher synth notes as the star reveals the text, with the 8th note longer. Then, an announcer would be heard (during the 8th note of the jingle), announcing the above channel's name. Overall, there have been a couple changes between the announcing. Here are a couple variants:
 * From 1981 to 1999, the announcer would say "(Major) Funding for this program (or the name of the show) was provided by The Annenberg/CPB Project."
 * In 1999, along with its revised logo, a different announcer would say "Funding for this program is provided by Annenberg/CPB. To advance excellent teaching."

Availability:
 * It can be found on re-runs of shows such as The Arts of Every Classroom and Biography of America (the later version) on local PBS stations such as UNC-TV and UNC-ED.
 * Also preserved on certain Annenberg shows on the Learner on Demand website and maybe some other Annenberg shows if your local PBS station still shows them.

2nd Logo (2004-October 2008)
Visuals: Same as the revised previous logo, but with the text "Annenberg Media" wipes in with a sparkle effect below. The logo is also more saturated.

Variant: From 2004-2006, the logo faded out to make room for the following text: Funding for this program provided by Annenberg/CPB "Funding for this program provided by" is aligned to the left.

Technique: Modern computer effects.

Audio: A redone version of the last logo's music done with pianos, strings and modern synths. A female announcer says "Annenberg Media."

Audio Variant: In 2006, the announcement was changed to say "Funding for this program is provided by Annenberg Media."

Availability:
 * Mostly preserved on shows on the Learner on Demand website.
 * This may also be preserved if, like the last logo, your local PBS station still broadcasts Annenberg programs.
 * It was also seen on almost all programs shown on the defunct University House Channel (sans American Cinema, which had the last logo).

Logo (Late 2008?-)
Visuals: Same as the previous logos, with the text now reading "ANNENBERG LEARNER" in a spaced out font and wipes in with a less vibrant sparkle effect. The "a" zooms out after the text wipes in, and the colors have returned to their original shades.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Same as the last logo, except the narrator now says "Funding for this program was provided by Annenberg Learner."

Availability: Can be seen on newer on-demand programs from Annenberg's website, including Against All Odds.