PRISM

Background

PRISM (Philadelphia Regional In-Home Sports and Movies) was an American regional cable television channel intended for cable customers in the Philadelphia, PA metropolitan area. Launched in September 1976, PRISM was primarily broadcast through area cable systems, although it was also available through a scrambled signal on WWSG-TV from 1983 to 1985. The channel's programming consisted primarily of theatrically released motion pictures, although it was most well known for its telecasts of sporting events. It was owned by various companies, and then it was shut down in 1997.

Contents

1st ID (September 1, 1976-1980)	2nd ID (1980-1982)	3rd ID (1982-1985)	4th ID (1985-1990)	5th ID (1990-1992)	6th ID (1991)	7th ID (1993-October 1, 1997)

1st ID (September 1, 1976-1980)

Visuals: Three curvy zig-zagging white lines move horizontally across the screen. Above the lines are four coloured triangles (green, yellow, blue and red) arranged in a semicircle and below are a line of yellow icons of people performing various activities with a white camera icon in the centre. The lines form the word "PRISM" in a striped 1970s font and the finished animation fades to a static card version in which the people icons are various colors.

Technique: Early computer animation.

Audio: A series of arpeggiated electronic beeps that abruptly cut out once the logo animation is finished.

2nd ID (1980-1982)

Visuals: On a space background with a black surface, a prism is rotating as many lights come to it and emits rainbows. The word "PRISM" emerges and moves on the center while the prism transforms into the mid-circle from the previous logo and moves to the top of the screen. The word glows in blue and shines.

Technique: Scanimate which is advanced for the time.

Audio: A majestic fanfare with synth sounds.

3rd ID (1982-1985)

Visuals: Rays of light form the PRISM logo, and then it colours itself in rainbow colours, making the rays disappear. The logo then shines.

Technique: Early computer animation.

Audio: A bouncy jazz ensemble with twinkle effects throughout.

4th ID (1985-1990)

Visuals: On a black background, an outlined PRISM logo and a cyan bold copy move and meet each other, forming the result and suddenly changes to its rainbow colours.

Variant: Starting in 1988, the background was changed to a black-blue gradient with lines.

Technique: Early computer animation.

Audio: A funky theme. Starting in 1988, a news-styled theme is heard.

5th ID (1990-1992)

Visuals: The logo starts with bendy transparent objects that look like I's wavering around and finally move into place, moving into a rectangle reading "PRISM" without lines. The I's go inside the rectangle, filling it with such. The rectangle moves downward, revealing a silver outlined "PRISM". A rainbow ray hits it, filling it with said color.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A synth tune with drumbeats.

6th ID (1991)

Visuals: The logo starts with close-ups of the letters "15th Prism Anniversary" (the Prism word is the logo), while videos from the previous logos play. After that, the camera then reveals the letters.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A new wave-esque tune.

Availability: Used only for PRISM's 15th anniversary.

7th ID (1993-October 1, 1997)

Visuals: On a background with changing colours, there is a close-up of a prism. It zooms away, and then a silver/gold rectangle appears, where the black word "PRISM", in the Univers font, appears letter-by-letter.

Variant: On sports, the rectangle is metallic and bigger.

Technique: A mix of live-action and CGI by Telezign.

Audio: A string/drum piece progressing in pitch, ending in a 5-note chime theme.

Audio Variant: The sports variant uses a short sports-like theme.