WOSU

Credits

Descriptions by
Ian16545 and 19Joshua

Captures by
19Joshua and Doctorine Dark

Video captures courtesy of
PaulBlartfan2018 by PFS

Background

WOSU is a PBS affiliate located in Columbus, Ohio. It went on the air in February 20th, 1956.

1st Logo (1985)

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Visuals: On a faded sheet of lined paper, there is a lot of ink splat on it, and the texts "WOSU", "tv 34" and "Columbus OH!" are seen stacked on each other on the splat.

Technique: A painting filmed by a camera.

Audio: Former announcer Fred Andrle says "WOSU TV/34 Columbus and WPBO TV/42 Portsmouth."

Availability: It was used as a station ID.

2nd Logo (1986-1992)

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Visuals: On a blue-dark blue gradient background, 5 silver horizontal bars fly out from the left (just like a gate closing) and position themselves on the screen. As soon as they reach the middle, a white upside-down triangle made of lines, with a red-gold gradient abstract "34" and a red-and-white "WOSU-TV" below on it, fly in from the right of the screen and position themselves on the center of the screen. Afterwards, the white text "Columbus, Ohio" in a plain font appears at the bottom of the screen. Then two lights wipe across the silver bars on which the "34" is positioned, as if emanating from the logo.

Variants: A shorter ID had just the still of the shiny bars and the "34" logo. Also, one of the following announcer spiels is used:

• "WOSU-TV/34 in Columbus, and WPBO-TV/42 in Portsmouth."
• "Public broadcasting from the Ohio State University, this is WOSU-TV/34 in Columbus, and WPBO-TV in Portsmouth."
• "You're watching WOSU-TV/34 in Columbus, and WPBO-TV/42 in Portsmouth."
• When the station was 34 years old in 1990, instead of "Columbus, Ohio" appearing at the bottom of the screen, the phrase "34 is 34!" flipped up on the bottom of the triangle. The announcer spiel was "Celebrating 34 years of public broadcasting - WOSU-TV/34 in Columbus, in WPBO-TV/42 in Portsmouth. TV-34... is 34!"

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A warping synth tune, ending with 4 synth-chime notes. Also featured is the voice of station personality Boyce Lancaster: "Public broadcasting from the campus of the Ohio State University, this is WOSU-TV/34 in Columbus, and WPBO-TV/42 in Portsmouth."

Availability: Seen on local programs of WOSU, like Just Jazz. Also used as a station ID.

3rd Logo (1992-1999)

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Visuals: The sequence starts with the back of a triangle and a square zooming out on a black background, with some glass bars can be seen behind it. Then, it turns around to reveal the logo, consisting of a pink triangle, a purple square, and a big teal "34", with the words "WOSU-TV" and "COLUMBUS" below. After the logo turns around, the logo faces forward and the "34" shines as the glass bars go up until the logo fades out.

Variants:

• There is a shorter version that has the entire logo (except the glass bars) stay still, the big "34" shining, and the glass bars go up.
• On 1992-1993 promos, the text reads the show and the day's time in yellow and white, with the red WOSUtv34 logo below. The frame zooms out, and the same glass lines go up, with the same logo formation.
• On 1993-1999 promos, the text reads the show and the day's time in a purple gradient rectangle, with the WOSU logo next to it. The frame zooms out, and the same glass lines go up, with the same logo formation.
• When WOSU celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1996, the text "40 Years" can be seen next to the logo.
• On "TONIGHT" promos, the same glass lines go up and the text "TONIGHT" can be seen on a glass rectangle, with the WOSU-TV logo below. Then, there is a still shot of the title card for a PBS show, with the text reading that night's time onscreen, and ends with the text reading the show and time onscreen.
• On "LATE NIGHT" promos, it's the same as the "TONIGHT" promos; the text "LATE NIGHT" can be seen on a glass rectangle, with the same glass lines going up, and the WOSU-TV 34 logo below. Then, there is the same still shot of the title card for a PBS show, with the text reading the time onscreen.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A piano and chime orchestral tune, followed by announcer Boyce Lancaster saying "You're watching WOSU-TV 34 Columbus, and WPBO-TV 42 Portsmouth."

Audio Variants:

• There is also a version with drums, Westminster chimes, and an orchestral tune.
• There is also a version with just the Westminster chimes.
• In the shorter version, Boyce Lancaster says "WOSU-TV 34 Columbus and WPBO-TV 42 Portsmouth."
• There is also a version where Lancaster says "Public broadcasting from the Ohio State University, this is WOSU-TV 34 Columbus, and WPBO-TV 42 Portsmouth."
• In the 40th anniversary WOSU logo in 1996, Lancaster says "Celebrating 40 years of public broadcasting, WOSU-TV 34 Columbus and WPBO-TV 42 Portsmouth; TV34 is 40 Years!"
• There is a version with the announcer and no music.
• There are some versions with music and no announcer.