RDF Television

Credits

Descriptions by
Blue2000, Camenati, DisneyInternationalFan, SubparMario63 and RSX-798

Captures by
SubparMario63, TheRealMarcel2000, RSX-798 and Camenati

Video captures courtesy of
Retrocon's Logo Archive and deliciousdigital

Background

RDF Television was founded in 1993. In 2006, RDF launched a Bristol-based division called RDF West. Zodiak Entertainment merged with it in 2010, thus forming Zodiak Media. The American arm became Zodiak USA, but the RDF name was saved for UK productions.

On January 2024, it was announced that RDF would be closing.

1st Logo (January 30, 1994-1996)

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Visuals: On a black background, there is a silver rectangular border with the 3D red words "RDF". The logo shines. Above it was the text "An" and below the rectangle is the word "Production".

Variant: On programmes co-produced by Channel 4, a disclaimer for Channel 4 and a copyright info is shown below the logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None or the end theme of the show.

Availability: Seen on early RDF programmes from the time, such as the documentary Cybersecrecy.

2nd Logo (1996-2000)

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Visuals: Over a black background is the red circle, with the black text "RDF" inside the circle, with "television" below the letters. The circle shines behind the red circle from left to right. Extra credit is shown over the logo.

Variants:

• On programmes produced by its Manchester and Bristol divisions, either "Manchester" or "Bristol" would replace "television" below the logo.
• Sometimes, the logo is letterboxed on either a white or black background.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None or the end theme of the show.

Availability:

• Seen on many RDF documentaries from the time period.
• Most of these are long gone from television and never reran, although it was seen on the original UK version of Junkyard Wars.

3rd Logo (2000-2006)

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Visuals: On a white background, there is a red circle that swirls brightly to form the white code-out letters "rdf" in an ABC-like font that was shown over the circle. Below the whole logo is the red words, reading either "RDF TELEVISION" or "RDF MEDIA".

Variants:

• On programmes produced by its Bristol, then West subsidiary, the text says either "RDF BRISTOL" or "RDF WEST".
• Sometimes, the logo is still.
• In its early years, the web address "www.rdfmedia.com" is shown below over the red circle.
• On programmes produced for the BBC such as Ella and the Mothers, this logo shares the screen with the 1997 BBC logo.
• On programmes produced for Channel 4 such as Shipwrecked and Trust Me, I'm A Teenager, this logo shares the screen with the 1999 Channel 4 "Square" logo.

Technique: 2D CGI.

Audio: The end theme of the show.

Availability:

• Most of RDF's old programmes have neither been rerun, nor it was shown on home video.
• It can be seen on episodes of Junkyard Wars and Wife Swap at that time, plus documentaries.

4th Logo (2006-2016)

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Visuals: On a black or white background, a red sphere is revealed by light spot. The white letters "rdf" appears inside, with "television" in red or white fading in at the right and the byline below.

Bylines:

• 2006-2010: "part of the rdf media group"
• 2010-2013: "part of the zodiak media group" or "part of zodiak media group"
• 2013-2016: "a zodiak media company"

Variants:

• On Mister Maker, there is a paintbrush transition from the BBC website notice.
• On programmes produced by its West subsidiary, the text "west" in either red or white is shown on the right of the logo.
• An in-credit version of this logo exists.
• It also sometimes shares the screen with other logos.
• There is an alternate version where the logo is enhanced.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The ending theme of the show, or a whoosh with a beep. The sound is composed by Delicious Digital.

Availability:

• Seen on Secret Millionaire, Tipping Point (from season 1 until season 4), season 1 of Mister Maker and Escape from Scorpion Island, among others.
• The "West" variant appears on Dickinson's Real Deal and Emergency Bikers, among others.

5th Logo (2016-2024)

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Visuals: On a black background, there is a red circle, which slides to the right to reveal the letters "rdf" from the previous logo now appearing in a different font with the byline fading in below.

Bylines:

• 2016-2020: "We are Banijay"
• 2020-2021: "A Banijay Company"
• 2021-2024: "We are Banijay", with the Banijay logo to the left of the byline.

Variants:

• Sometimes, this logo also shares the screen with other logos (including the 1997 BBC and 2013 ITV logos).
• An in-credit version of these logos exist.
• Earlier uses of the logo, including the 2016 showreel rendered it bylineless.
• On programmes produced by its West division, the text reads "rdf west".

Technique: 2D CGI.

Audio: The end theme of the show.

Availability: Seen on current and new RDF programmes from the era, like The Crystal Maze, new episodes of Only Connect and documentaries.