South African Broadcasting Corporation

Background
SABC or South African Broadcasting Corporation is the official public broadcaster of South Africa, founded in 1936, but didn't start broadcasting until 1976 after years of controversial desicions.

1st Logo (January 5, 1976)
Logo: On a black background, a row of orange, white, and blue stripes (actually the South African flag at the time) moves onto the screen, forming the TV letter symbol. The texts "SAUK" and "SABC" scroll in horizontally from the right. Then the TV symbol transforms into a 5 symbol, then it zooms out. "Jan" and "1976" move in from top and bottom.

Technique: The TV symbol forming and transforming, the texts moving.

Music/Sounds: An exciting trumpet theme, which is actually "Fanfare A" by James Howe.

Availability: This was only seen on the day the channel was inaugurated. This did reair on some anniversary specials.

Legacy: Often this logo was compared to the London Weekend Television in similarities.

2nd Logo (1976-Mid 1980s)
Logo: The letters "SABC" appear one by one. Then the letters zoom to the top right. The TV letter symbol forms on a black background exactly like the 1st logo.

Technique: The letters appearing and moving, and the TV symbol forming.

Music/Sounds: A rather dramatic trumpet theme.

Availability: It was used as a station ID at the time.

3rd Logo (1996-2003?)
Logo: On a black background, a white mist is seen in the center left, with white curves spinning and drawing. The mist then disappears, turning the curves green, which are followed by much thicker ones. More curves then appear and draw, including yellow, blue, and red shapes appearing in it. The curves then arrange into an abstract version of Africa (with the colors, from top to bottom, being yellow, green, blue, and red. The top also fades to a shape more like the Horn of Africa), with a white thin curve quickly rotating into the shape. The letters "SBC" then rotate into view, starting off as silver with light behind them, before fading to white as the light retracts into them, and a bar appears in the Africa shape, forming "SABC" in the first incarnation of the current logo. Below, "The Pulse of Africa's Creative Spirit" appears below in grey and varying sizes, just off center.

Technique: The rotating curves, the logo forming.

Music/Sounds: A rather complex tune, before leading into a rather chaotic section and ending with a trumpet and piano fanfare.

Availability: This was used during start-ups around the time.

Legacy: Nice animation, especially considering its time, but the music doesn't really fit.