ABC National IDs

1st logo (1948-1953)

Nickname: "The Map of the United States"

ID: In a gradient background, we see a map of the United States. In front of the map,we see: American Broadcasting Company in the middle of the screen.

Variant: A rare variant exists, where we see a globe in a cloudy background. We zoom in to the USA, and we see the letters "American Broadcasting Company" zoom towards us.

FX/SFX: None or in the globe variant, the globe spinning and the letters zooming.

Music/Sounds: An announcer is heard saying "This is ABC, the American Broadcasting Company."

Music/Sounds Variant: A variant exists where the announcer says: "The preceding program, originally telecast by ABC in New York (or in rare cases, Chicago), is accompanied by a special video recording. This is ABC, the American Broadcasting Company."

Availability: Extinct. This logo has been spotted on Tales of Tomorrow and some other shows from the time. The globe variant can be seen in You Asked For It.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1950s)

ID: Just the word "ABC" in a camera lens.

FX/SFX: Just the camera lens opening.

Music/Sounds: An announcer says "This is ABC Television Network."

Music/Sounds Variant:A different variant exists where the announcer says "The preceding program, originally telecast by ABC in New York, is accompanied by a special video recording. This is ABC,the American Broadcasting Company."

Availability: Extinct.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd (known) Logo (1953-1957)

Nicknames: "ABC Eagle"

ID: A weird-looking eagle with a bolt through its head, and the text "ABC" is at the bottom where the feathers are sticking out.

Variant: The logo is dark at first,but it brightens up on the second after it.

FX/SFX: None in the regular variant. The other variant has brightening.

Music/Sounds: An announcer says "This is ABC Television Network.".

Availability: Extinct, but can be found on ABC releases from that time. It has recently been spotted on a Disney+ print on an episode of The Mickey Mouse Club.

Editor's Note: None.

4rd Logo (1957-1963)

Nicknames: "Weird ABC", "Prototype ABC"

ID: We see a prototype version of the current ABC logo, which is a giant lowercase A with "abc" situated within it.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: An announcer says "This has been an ABC Television Network Presentation.".

Availability: Extinct.

Editor's Note: None.

5th Logo (1963-1969)

Nicknames: "Circles", "Early ABC", "Not-So-Froot Loops"

ID: In a black background, six rings move from left to right on different speeds. Three of the rings stop,while the other 3 move away from the screen. The rings that stopped transform into letters "abc". After transforming,the letters zoom out,revealing that the black background was a circle. We see the finished ABC logo in a grey background.

Variant: A color variant exists.

FX/SFX: The movement of the circles and their formation into the respective letters in the logo.

Music/Sounds: A loud bombastic theme with the last note being held for 2 seconds.

Music/Sounds Variant: If the logo was in color, an announcer would be heard saying "This is an ABC color presentation."

Availability: Unknown, but probably extremely rare.

Editor's Note: The music is quite loud, the animation is choppy, and the B&W variant does not help.

6th Logo (Late 60s?) ABC ID (October 5th, 1968)

Logo: Pretty much, a still of the ABC logo with some trails.

FX/SFX: None, unless you count the fade in.

Music/Sounds: Three dings.

Availability:Extinct.

Editor's Note: None.

7th Logo (1974) ABC (1974)

ID: We see an array of clips from ABC shows of the period, all in a black background. Then, the music starts, and the clips disappear, one by one, in rhythm with the music. Then the words:

What you see on ABC this fall you'll be talking about tomorrow!

in white zoom in. Then, it fades out, and see aburnt orange ABC circle with "abc" in the corporate font. The circle has anorangey-yellow-ish glow.

Variant: The logo described is the main logo, but this logo is used for promos of shows from the period as well.

FX/SFX: The clips disappearing, the text zooming in and fading out, the logo fading in.

Music/Sounds: One clip has audio, which is heard before music starts. The music itself includes, at the beginning, a 7-note bass playing with a 7-note trumpet that starts at the third bass note, and is at a faster pace. Then, groovy music plays, as a choir sings "What you see on ABC this fall you'll be talking about", then a man finishes the slogan saying "Tomorrow!". The choir then sings that same line and holds it for a bit.

Availability: Extinct. It was only seen on ABC in Fall 1974.

Editor's Note: None.

8th Logo (1999) ABC Television Network (1999)

ID: The ABC Logo appears suddenly in a yellow background and the words "America's Broadcasting Company" appear one by one in the bottom.

FX/SFX: The ABC Logo suddenly appearing.

Music/Sound: A dramatic fanfare of the four-note ABC jingle.

Availability: Extinct. Only appeared in the late 1990's.

Editor's Note: None.

9th logo (2002) ABC ID (2002)

ID: As the ABC logos forms in the middle, a yellow circle drops down behind the ABC logo and fills the rest of the screen. After this, a red circle drops down in front of the ABC logo and covers the screen including the ABC logo. Also after the yellow circle drops, a shadow turns clockwise and zooms out revealing that it is the ABC text in the signature font. After green, blue, and orange circles drop down in tune with the beat, a black circle drops down. Once it hits the middle, a white shine appears. This white shine focuses and reveals to be the ABC logo, whilst the black circle fills the screen. Once the ABC logo is done forming, another green circle appears, drops down behind the ABC logo, and fills the screen. With this, the words "America's Broadcasting Company" appear in white. The logo stays on screen, while the Green BG lights up in certain places.

Variant: The ID is sometimes shortened.

FX/SFX: The Circles, the ABC logo, and the Green BG.

Music/Sound: The ABC theme, but dramatized and an extra note at the beginning. This gets shortened to the 2nd note on the shortened variant.

Availability: Extinct. Was only seen around this time, and can be seen if one has a recording (VHS, DVD, etc.) from ABC at this time.

Editors Note: This logo design was used for the ABC Entertainment logo for programs around this time.