PBS Digital/High-Def Presentation IDs

1st Logo

(November 9, 1998-2007)

Nickname: "Welcome to the Future" Logo: On a black background, we see a wide, fuzzy pale gray/blue-textured line appear in the very center. Above it are the words "The following program is available in high-definition TV" in white is at the top and below is the tiny PBS "Circle P-Heads" logo with the words "WHERE AVAILABLE" in white under it. Then, the PBS logo rotates and turns into a bug for "HD." Just after that happens, the top words disappear and becomes "PBS Welcomes You to the Future" in white and the words "WHERE AVAILABLE" fade out. Suddenly, the wide, fuzzy line expands as the screen becomes letterboxed and tons of numbers and letters all in computer graphic-oriented fonts emerge to all directions of the screen. The screen then fills with a mixture of tan/mustard yellow/beige colors as the words "PBS A DIGITAL PRESENTATION" (with"PBS" in black and in its usual ITC Lubalin Graph Bold font and the other text in white and in a plainer, condensed font) appear at the lower-right corner of the screen with violet streaks of light behind them. As this happens, the PBS logo, an extreme close-up of a woman's eye and some nature-oriented clips appear.

Variant: On programs and specials presented in widescreen, the top words at the beginning instead read "The following program is available in wide-screen TV". Also, the PBS logo instead changes into a purple Wide Screen bug with two brackets, the words "WHERE AVAILABLE" are large and in a different font, and the words "WHERE AVAILABLE stay on screen until the numbers and letters emerge to directions of the screen.

FX/SFX: All computer effects used here.

Music/Sounds/Voice-over: A very futuristic soundtrack with analog synths culminating into a dramatic 2-note orchestra fanfare. All throughout, a computer-generated female voice says "Welcome to the future. PBS Digital.".

Availability: Rare, and not quite as easy to find as the 7th PBS ident. Was occasionally seen at the beginning of any PBS program or specials presented in HD. Some pre-2007 HD shows may still be reran on some PBS stations. It first appeared on Chihuly Over Veniceand Digital TV: A Cringely Crash Course.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo

(2007-2009)

Logo: On a white BG, the PBS "Circle P-Head" appears in the center then fades out. It's replaced by the words "The following program is available in high-definition" in a black Bulldog Light font zooms in. Then the usual "Be More PBS" logo appears a la the 3rd PBS Home Video/DVD logo. In the BG, various live-action clips are playing, all in expanding letterboxed rectangular screens (similar to the one from the CBS/Fox Video widescreen logo). Among some of the clips are:

(November 9, 1998-2007)
 * A 1st Logo

shirtless man piggy-backing his son and smiling Music/Sounds/Voice-over: A brief 2-note tuba fanfare with a timpani/harp backing, followed by a variation of the 8th PBS logo. There is no voiceover. Availability: Previously seen at the beginning of PBS HD programs. Now retired. Preserved whenever your local PBS station decides to rebroadcast Carole King/James Taylor Live at the Troubadour. Editor's Note: None.
 * Spaceships
 * A dune
 * An elderly woman and her grandchild smiling
 * A leopard running
 * The cello and French horn sections of a philharmonic
 * A mom, dad, son, and daughter in swimsuits, hugging each other in front of a canal.FX/SFX: TBA