KCPT

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum

Not to be confused with Los Angeles-based KCET.

Background

KCPT (abbreviated "Kansas City Public Television") is a PBS affiliate located in Kansas City, Missouri. It went on the air on March 29, 1961 as KCSD, and became KCPT in 1972.



1st ID (1983)

Visuals: On a blue background, there is a silhouette of a large sycamore tree (without leaves) on the left side of the screen. About a second later, an orange glow illuminates the tree from behind. Following this, the KCPT logo with a rounded-edge box with a "19" cutout beside it and "KANSAS CITY" underneath appears on the lower right of the screen.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: The voice of former KCPT president Robert Fuzy says, "KCPT Kansas City -- Channel 19".


2nd ID (1983-1984)

Visuals: Over a teal/orange/yellow gradient background is the KCPT logo in a fancy-cut font with "KANSAS CITY" below it. To the right of the logo is the same "19" box, but with a segmented "1" and a partially segmented "9". The entire logo is colored with a metallic teal/white gradient. Below the logo is a dark teal-blue field with light blue intersecting lines (straight and diagonal) that form a dodecahedron-like grid.

Technique: None. [possible misuse]

Audio: The voice of former KCPT president Robert Fuzy says, "This is Kansas City Public Television -- KCPT Kansas City, Missouri -- Channel 19". There is no music.


3rd ID (1984-1985)

Visuals: On a dark blue background of patterned white dots is the KCPT logo in chrome gold.

Technique: None. [possible misuse]

Audio: A relaxing six-note tune (comprised of synthesizers) that ends with a piano chord. The voice of Robert Fuzy says, "This is Kansas City Public Television -- KCPT Kansas City, Missouri -- Channel 19".


4th ID (1985-1989)

Visuals: On a shady blue background, a CGI rectangle (in a glossy purple color) flies in from the top of the screen that bares this logo:

K C P T

The letters are in a chrome lavender Book Antiqua font with the plain text "PUBLIC TELEVISION" below it. As the rectangle flies in, it rotates counter-clockwise until it faces the viewer head-on. The KCPT letters shimmer as they appear, and a reflection of the logo is visible while all this is happening.

Variants:

  • A variant with the words "KANSAS CITY" replacing "PUBLIC TELEVISION", and the word "PRESENTS" seen below exists.
  • A still variant exists.

Technique: Early computer animation.

Audio: There are a few variants:

  • The main ID features the same music from the 1984 logo. Once again, the voice of Robert Fuzy says, "This is Kansas City Public Television -- KCPT Kansas City, Missouri -- Channel 19".
  • The still variant has no music, and a different announcer says, "You're watching KCPT: Kansas City Public Television".
  • As an opener for KCPT produced shows, the music was a light synth tune followed by a soft "woosh" sound effect.
  • The "TV Worth Watching" jingle, with mention of "KCPT" in place of "Public TV". Sometimes the announcer says "KCPT--Kansas City--Channel 19".
  • Another local variant has a news like synth with the announcer saying "You're watching member supported public television in Kansas City--KCPT, channel 19--serving eastern Kansas and western Missouri.
  • For the "KANSAS CITY" variant, an 8 note synth bell is used.

Availability: Old tapes of the series Kansas City Illustrated plus PBS specials (produced by KCPT), pledge drives, and auctions from that period should have this logo. The variant with the 1984 A music was used as a local station ID. The "KANSAS CITY" variant is seen on the 1988 Missouri Governor Candidates Debate, which can be found here.

5th ID (1989-1998)

Visuals: On a black background is a blueprint-like sketch formation of the KCPT logo with each letter in a different font. The sequence starts at a close angle, then pan across as each letter gets "painted" or "marked" a different color. The "K" is in a thin lavender sans-serif font, the "C" is in a red brushstroke font, the "P" is in a light teal-blue serif font, and the "T" is in a thick yellow Helvetian font. Once the logo pans out to a comfortable distance, the text "PUBLIC TELEVISION 19" fades in below.

Variant: Beginning in 1992, this logo was animated over a purple marble background.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: There are also a few variations:

  • The first variant of the main ID (from 1989) had a light piano/synth chord and a new male announcer (from the 5th ID) that says, "You're watching KCPT -- Kansas City's home for the best in viewer-supported public television".
  • The second variant of the main ID (from 1992) had a majestic orchestral theme, which sounds similar to the 1990 Universal Pictures theme. A different announcer says, "The best of adventure, drama, mystery, and nature. It's all yours on television worth watching -- KCPT Channel 19: Kansas City's viewer-supported public television".
  • The same synth tune from the 1985 logo (with the "woosh" sound effect) was also used with this logo as an opener for KCPT produced shows until around 1992.

Availability: Should be seen on programs from the era.


6th ID (1998-2000)

Visuals: Against a letterboxed view of Kansas City's skyline (the letterbox bars have the light blue and white light trails from the PBS ident used at the time) is the same KCPT logo from the previous logo with "PUBLIC TELEVISION 19" underneath. Surrounding the logo are two circular rows of text, the inner row containing the slogan "THE BEST TELEVISION ON TELEVISION" and the outer row containing the station's name "KCPT KANSAS CITY" and the website domain "WWW.KCPT.ORG". Both rows of text rotate as the KCPT logo slowly approaches the frame.

Variant: A shortened version of the ID features a view of Bartle Hall's rooftop structure. The announcer says, "KCPT Kansas City".

Technique: Simple computer animation coupled with live action.

Audio: A funky contemporary jazz tune with percussions and bass guitars. The second male announcer from the 5th ID says, "You're Watching KCPT -- The Best Television on Television".


7th ID (2000-2002)

Visuals: To the left, there is a light red column with animated circles (and outlined circles) moving in and out on the inside. The KCPT logo is completely black with the PBS "P-Head" on a circle (the 1998-2019 logo) to the right of it. Below that is the text "CHANNEL 19 Kansas City, MO" and toward the bottom is the website domain name "kcpt.org". The column is suspended a bit to fit the width of the KCPT and PBS logos, and there's a dark red border on the outside of the column (with a view of the nighttime skyline inside of that). The remaining right side of the screen is a view of the city's skyline (viewed from the Missouri River) at sunset.

Technique: 2D animation and live action.

Audio: Usually a light jazz tune or an acoustic guitar/violin melody; although the music would randomize at times. An announcer (male or female) says, "You're watching KCPT -- Kansas City Public Television".


8th ID (2002-2006)

Visuals: On a blue/purple/red ethereal background of vertical light streaks (similar to that of the 2002 Corporation for Public Broadcasting logo) is the KCPT logo with the PBS "P-Head" and the text "KANSAS CITY" in all white. On the bottom of the screen is a small white and navy blue bar with thin lines forming parallel outlines above the white half. Inside the bar are the various town and region names of the city's metropolitan area with the text "KCPT" next to each name. The bottom text in the white half is navy blue and the colors invert as it scrolls slowly from left to right.

Technique: Simple animation.

Audio: A female announcer that says "You're watching KCPT -- Kansas City Public Television".



9th ID (2006-2012)

Visuals: A large circle (with footage of a statue, monument, or building representing a part of the city) takes up a good portion of the screen, and is bordered by a background of animated circles (usually in bright red, but sometimes in different colors such as limegreen, purple, or yellow). Near the lower right-hand corner is the PBS "P-Head" logo in a black circle, which expands and fades to a white circle baring the KCPT logo (with the PBS "P-Head" beside it). The text "KANSAS CITY" wipes across underneath the logo.

Variant: There are several variants of this logo. The generic ID (pictured here) has no announcer, but other IDs that represent the different towns or regions of the metropolitan area has a female announcer that says, "You're watching (REGION NAME)'s public television -- KCPT Kansas City".

Technique: Live-action coupled with 2D computer animation.

Audio: Usually a soft violin and/or acoustic guitar melody, but the music is somewhat randomized.



10th ID (2012-2016)

Visuals: Unknown

Technique: Unknown

Audio: Unknown



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