Deutscher Fernsehfunk 1

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum



Background

Deutscher Fernsehfunk (DFF, "German Television Broadcasting"; 1952-1972, 1990) or Fernsehen der DDR ("Television of the GDR", 1972-1990) was the state television broadcaster in the German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany). The first test broadcasts started in 1950, and regular broadcasts were launched in December 12th 1952, although they were still described as test broadcasts until January 3rd 1956. A second channel was launched in October 3rd 1969, alongside with SECAM colour television. While DFF still existed sometime after the end of the GDR, it was properly dissolved in December 31st 1991, and its frequencies were reused by ARD and its affiliates.



1st ID (December 12, 1952-1972)


Visuals: In a (usually black) background, there is a white silhouette of the Brandenburg Gate with a small East German flag above it, and an ovaled text saying "Deutscher Fernsehfunk DDR"

Variants:

  • There's a variant with a white background and an animation of a cartoonish man painting the logo.
  • For the clock variant, there's a clock instead of the Brandenburg Gate and the small DDR flag.
  • With the introduction of the second channel, the Roman number "I" was added to the ovaled text, and the clock design was changed.

Technique: Probably none for the main version. Cel animation for the 1960s animated ID described above.

Audio: Unknown

Audio Variants: Unknown

Availability: The second clock variant was only discovered as a TV-DX capture.

2nd ID (1972-1976)


Visuals: Same as above, but with a text change, now saying "DDR Fernsehen I Fernsehen DDR I"

Variants: Like the previous logo, there's a variant with a white background, probably used for the second programme.

Technique: Unknown.

Audio: Unknown.

Audio Variants: Unknown.

Availability: It only survives as a TV-DX capture.

3rd ID (1976-1980)



Visuals:

  • There is the Berlin Palace of the Republic with the Fernsehturm behind it, and in the bottom of the screen, a white text saying "Fernsehen der DDR".
  • In a plain beige background, there is the channel's logo (its description Unknown) in a lighter beige at the centre of the screen.

Variants:

  • For programming lists, the "DDR" label is replaced by "heute".
  • For the clock, there's a beige background with "TV DDR" repeated as a mosaic, a "1" in the bottom-left of the screen, and a large clock at the right of it; a similar design was used in the 1980-1985 clock.

Technique: Likely none, but unknown.

Audio: Unknown.

Audio Variants: Unknown.

Availability: No on-screen footage of this logo is known to exist.

4th ID (1980-1985)


Visuals: In a black background, there is a rotating cube with recordings from East Germany and the text/label "Fernsehen der DDR" at the bottom of each cube face.

Trivia: One of the captures/videos of this logo is in B&W due to East Germany using SECAM for colour TV, while most western countries close to the GDR used PAL, and probably also due to unproper TV DX reception; as of 1976, DFF had just achieved full time color programming.

Variants:

  • There's a variant with "DDR Fernsehen 1" in the bottom-left of the cube face instead of "Fernsehen der DDR", and the text appearing every face (text, no text, text, no text, text, no text, text...).
  • There's also a slide version of this logo with an orange-ish cream background and no text inside the cube, instead we have a black small "DDR Fernsehen 1" in the bottom-left of the screen.

Technique: CGI and live action.

Audio: It seems to usually variate:

  • One variant uses a 60s-style jazz theme.
  • Another variant of the ident uses a disco tune.
  • Another variation of the ident uses a more synthesised, sci-fi esque theme.
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