Wisconsin Public Television

Background
Wisconsin Public Television is a PBS affiliate that serves the entire state of Wisconsin. The station launched on May 3, 1954, making it the oldest station in the state (Milwaukee PBS premiered 3 years later in 1957).

1st Logo (1988-1992)


Visuals: On a rock face background, there is a gray gradient box with the word "Wisconsin" and 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 box fades in.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: 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.

2nd Logo (1992-1994)


Visuals: On a cracked gray background, there is 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 formed and in black.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A violin theme.

Availability: Can be seen on Gambling on Trial.

3rd Logo (1994-2002)


Visuals: On a cloudy sky background, there is 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 in 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.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: 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.

4th Logo (2002-2005)


Visuals: 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.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: The 4 piano notes from before.

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

5th Logo (December 8, 2005-November 4, 2019)


Visuals: On a sky timelapse background, we see the Wisconsin Public Television and PBS logos with "WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION" below them 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.

Variants:
 * A widescreen variant exists.
 * The Wisconsin Public Television logo was later changed to be in a rounded rectangle.
 * Sometimes, the text doesn't wipe.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A relaxing and mellow theme.

Availability: Can be seen on Here and Now and Wisconsin Life. This also appears on Birds of Wisconsin.