HBO IDs

1st ID (November 8, 1972-April 30, 1975)
TBA

2nd ID (May 1, 1975-1976)
Logo: This logo has three different variants, but the end result is the same.
 * Variant A: Everything happens on a black background. First, we see several Scanimated sets of yellow lines spinning. As they slowly zoom in, they slowly dissolve into an early version of the HBO logo (with the "O" overlapping the "B"), and ""HOME BOX OFFICE FROM TIME/LIFE" appears below it shortly after it's formed. Suddenly, the HBO logo dissolves as it zooms towards the screen, and three red studio lamps rise from the bottom of the screen. The lamps turn on one-by-one, and the lights detach from them before merging into one circle that rotates into a purple projector. The projector keeps rotating as yellow film reels move from the left of the screen to the right, turning the projector into a purple film reel when they come in contact with it. After a while, the film reel rotates into a filmstrip with yellow HBO logos on it. The filmstrip curls down as two red drama masks fly in and start rotating rapidly, before flying away as several musical notes start zooming in while rotating and flashing in different colors. This cuts to a French horn rotating in and flipping upside down, before it stretches and turns into a row of piano keys while a ballerina's legs tiptoe towards them and open to give way for a blue version of the Discobolus statue. When the Discobolus moves off-screen, what looks like a disc flies in and turns into a basketball, which falls into a basketball hoop. The hoop dissolves into a baseball glove, and a baseball falls onto it, after which both objects dissolve into a hockey puck and goal. The puck moves around until the goal dissolves into a hockey stick, which hits the puck and dissolves into a tennis racket, which hits a tennis ball. As soon as the ball flies towards the screen, we cut to a blue/red/yellow light with sparks emanating from it. A yellow "H" from the HBO logo appears from the right and glides towards the left side of the screen. After it stops, the letters "BO" flip up to complete the logo, while "HOME BOX OFFICE FROM TIME/LIFE" flips down below it.
 * Variant B: TBA
 * Variant C: TBA

Trivia: The HBO logo was designed by Betty Brugger.

FX/SFX: Scanimate effects and animations.

Music/Sounds: Depending on the variant:
 * Variant A: A jazz piece consisting of horns, saxophones and other jazz instruments. Possibly a stock piece; it also appeared on a 1978 demo reel for Sullivan & Marks.
 * Variant B: TBA
 * Variant C: TBA

Availability: Extinct. They only appeared on a 1975 demo reel by Computer Image Corporation.

Editor's Note: The fast-paced effects and music may not sit well with some. Also, the logo's design looks like it says "HEO" because the "O" is too close to the "B", but that was changed in 1980. Also, a lot of people mocked Variant B because the "O" was missing its cork.

3rd ID (1976-1978)
TBA

4th ID (1978-1981, May 21, 2013)


ID: On a black background, several neon lines of the colors red, green, and blue wipe in, forming an octagram. We zoom in as two sets of neon lines appear horizontally and morph into a tricolored trail consisting of the colors red, yellow and blue. The trail flashes and the HBO logo in white appears zooming in to the right side of the screen. The trail turns solid and the right side of the trail fades out, leaving the left side of it to the left of "H".

Variant: An HD recreation in 16:9 exists on Behind the Candelabra.

FX/SFX: The neon lines wiping in, the HBO logo zooming in.

Music/Sounds: A cheerful 5-note keyboard piece which segues into a horn fanfare.

Availability: Extinct. Seen during commercial breaks on HBO from the time.

5th ID (1990-1994)
Nickname: "Simply The Best Choice"

Opening: An orange ball bounces onto a colorful patchwork background four times. Each bounce changes its color (to pink, chartreuse, aqua and purple) and the background (ending with the patchwork background), and several multicolored pieces gradually appear. The pieces eventually form an HBO logo that turns yellow with a green border and the ball lands into the "O", still changing colors.

FX/SFX: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A short calypso theme with a harp and some percussion hits. A male voiceover says "Simply the best choice on TV. HBO."

Availability: Extinct. One of HBO's feature presentation IDs would follow this one, except before a series.

Editor's Note: None.