Medstar Television

Background

Medstar Television is a television production company based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, They were founded in 1981 by Paul Dowling and William Ferretti to produce medical news and health information, they are known for creating Forensic Files, which became a big hit, they didn't use a logo until 1996.

1st Logo (April 23, 1996-January 29, 2002)

Visuals: On a smoky background (from the credits of the first 6 seasons of Forensic Files), there are the words "MEDSTAR" in a blue smokey border, with "PRODUCED BY" on the top and "FOR..." at the bottom of the logo. Copyright info is seen below.

Variant: Later in the logo's life, the text is now purple and in 3D, there's no blue smokey border over the logo, and the logo now shines

Technique: A still image for the early version, 2D animation in the later version.

Audio: The ending theme of Forensic Files, the later version has a swoosh sound effect as the logo shines.

Availability: Seen in original airings of the first 4 seasons of Forensic Files when it was called Medical Detectives, DVD prints and FilmRise prints of these seasons plaster this logo with the 3rd logo and HLN airings just cut off the logo entirely, The later version was seen in original airings of seasons 5-6 and early season 7 of Forensic Files, was seen in at least 1 episode in the FilmRise prints of the show

2nd Logo (February 5, 2002-July 26, 2003)

Visuals: Set in a live action setting with computers and a man using one of them, there's the same "MEDSTAR" as before, but this time in blue and has a blue shining effect. It rotates to the center of the screen and zooms out, "PRODUCED BY" fades in as the Copyright info appears below.

Variants:

• in 2014-2016 FilmRise prints of Forensic Files, The logo is slowed down, as a result the CourtTV Original Productions music play in this logo and fades out
• in newer FilmRise prints of Forensic Files, The logo fades out before the CourtTV Original Productions logo plays.

Technique: Live-action for the background, CGI for the text.

Audio: The ending theme of Forensic Files.

Availability: Seen in most episodes of Season 7 of Forensic Files, persevered in FilmRise and DVD prints of the show, HLN airings cut off this logo entirely.

3rd Logo (April 1, 2003-November 30, 2005)

Visuals: On a black background with different colored balls that look like gumballs, the same "MEDSTAR" animation from the previous logo plays, but this time the text has a red shining effect instead, "PRODUCED BY" is at the top once again and fades in, Copyright info is seen below.

Variants:

• Much like the previous logo, in 2014-2016 FilmRise prints of Forensic Files, The logo is slowed down, as a result the CourtTV Original Productions music play in this logo and fades out
• in newer FilmRise prints of Forensic Files, The logo fades out before the CourtTV Original Productions logo plays.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The ending theme of Forensic Files.

Audio Variant: In some episodes of Seasons 5-6 of Forensic Files, there's a swoosh sound effect due to it plastering the 1st logo.

Availability: Seen in seasons 8-9 and early Season 10 of Forensic Files, it also plasters the first few logos in DVD and FilmRise prints of Seasons 1-7 of said show, much like the first 2 logos, HLN airings cut off this logo entirely.

4th Logo (December 7, 2005-January 21, 2008)

Visuals: On a water-like background, the text "MEDSTAR" starts flying and spinning by each letter, The letter then go back to their usual place by one by one, after that, the words "PRODUCED BY" appears at the left side of the logo and the copyright info then appears at the same time. The background then stop moving and slowly rotates.

Variants:

• Much like the last 2 logos, in 2014-2016 FilmRise prints of Forensic Files, The logo is slowed down, as a result the CourtTV Original Productions music play in this logo and fades out
• in newer FilmRise prints of Forensic Files, The logo fades out before the CourtTV Original Productions logo plays.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The ending theme of Forensic Files.

Availability: Seen in Seasons 10-12 of Forensic Files, persevered in FilmRise and DVD prints of the show, HLN airings cut off this logo entirely.