Viacom

Viacom (short for Video & Audio Communications) {{nyse|VIA}}, {{nyse|VIAB}} is an international media conglomerate. The companies owned by Viacom touch virtually every major segment of the media industry. 81-year-old Sumner Redstone is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. The offices of President and Chief Operating Officer are jointly held by 58-year-old Tom Freston and 53-year-old Leslie Moonves, who had headed the MTV Networks and CBS units respectively.

The V of Doom

Besides being a mega-media firm, Viacom is also known for its production logos, in that some people have reportedly been traumatized by its massive TV closing logo's icon of a fancy-cut "V" (which was described as mountainous), leading it to get the nickname "The V of Doom" (also known as the Purple V of Death). It usually rivals other closing logos such as Screen Gems's S from Hell as one of the scariest production logos ever made.

Related Topics:
Closing logo - Screen Gems - S from Hell

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The "V of Doom" ran from late 1976 to 1986 (it can still be seen at the end of old prints of classic CBS shows like "I Love Lucy", since some newer copies of these shows may replace it with the Paramount logo). It starts with the phrase "A Viacom Presentation" zooming in from the center of the screen at a very fast pace. Then, a fancy-cut, purple V comes from the center and moves gradually closer and closer to the screen, with the V taking up most of the screen. The music was a 5-note synthesized horn section with a kettledrum crescending throughout. Even after the logo fades away, the kettledrum's echo can still be heard. There are reports that a version of this logo exists that replaces this infamous music with the "pinball music" from the first Viacom logo (of which more information is found below). Also, there was a filmed version of this logo, with the animation being slow and choppy, compared to the original, videotaped version. This version is called the "Film-O-Vision V of Doom".

Related Topics:
1976 - 1986 - Replace it - Paramount - Kettledrum

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A network television version usually had the V and the name "Viacom" zooming in together. This was found (for one) on the made-for-TV movie production of Dear Detective. This variant usually incorporated a show's closing theme rather than the regular, dreaded synth/drum music.

Related Topics:
Made-for-TV movie - Dear Detective

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Because of the way the music and V jam on the screen, and because the audio quality wasn't good, the V of Doom produced nightmares for some people, while leaving others with bad memories.

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Other Viacom logos

Its predecessor: The V*IA*COM Pinball

The "V of Doom" replaced the original "pinball" logo that had been used from 1971 to late 1976. This logo starts with the syllables of "viacom" (in lower case) appearing one at a time rapid fire, one for each of the three notes of the jingle's first part. The screen also changes color, from red to green and then violet. After the word is completed, the screen scrolls back to reveal the words "a viacom presentation" on a blue screen. A final note holds until the jingle's conclusion.

Related Topics:
1971 - 1976

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This logo recieved its nickname because many have described the music as sounding like those produced by pinball machines. Consequently, viewers have also reportedly been traumatized by this logo, although to a much lesser extent than the "V of Doom".

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Its successors: The V of Steel and the Wigga-Wigga

In 1986, Viacom finally replaced the "V of Doom" with a CGI-produced closing logo. While the fancy-cut V itself remained the corporate logo, it was given a silverly look and rotated along a purple gradient background, while the music was changed to a THX-influenced synthesized jingle. This new logo was more tolerable with the viewers than the previous logos. It lasted until January 1990, when Viacom unveiled its current corporate logo.

Related Topics:
THX - January - 1990

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