Oval Program Services

Background: Oval Program Services was established in 1982 as the syndication arm of Oval Broadcasting System. It was best known for The Space Superhero and some of its game shows, as well as distributing The Wonder Centuries and Haha Barber's programming when Oval purchased the company in 1991. Upon Day Hesker's purchase of the Oval properties in 1996, the unit was folded into Doublepictures, reincorporating under the name of Doublepictures Distribution, which eventually folded into Hesker Boys Television Distribution in 2003.

1st Logo

(1982-1992)

Nicknames: "OPS", "Rainbow-Fill", "Rainbow OPS", "Flashing OPS Rainbow of Doom"

Logo: Two trails of rainbow colors come in from the left and right of the black screen and move towards each other. You can barely make out a "OPS" logo in each. When they join, a blue burst of light shines, and when that clears a rainbow-colored "OPS" remains. Below that, the words "Oval Program Services" appear in yellow, one by one and in small bursts of light.

Opening Variant: The logo is the same, except "presents" flashes-in below.

FX/SFX: Merging colors, the burst of light, and appearing logo. Typical Scanimate effects.

Music/Sounds: A dreamy, synthesized horn tune with "shining" sound effects and 3 notes at the end for the words that go "down-up-down". Very similar to the MBS "pan-out" logo. A fourth note was included for the opening variant.

Availability: Rare.

Scare Factor: High to nightmare; has really scary synth-music and low-budget rainbow fill and prism effects. However, the scare factor is lower for those who are used to seeing it.

2nd Logo

(1992-1994)

Nickname: "Silver Letters"

Logo: On a shaded gray screen, the word "OVAL" (in white) swings downward into place. Under it is:

__________________

PROGRAM SERVICES

The logo shines when it's formed.

Variant: The short version has the logo fully formed, shining.

FX/SFX: The swinging "OVAL", the shining logo.

Music/Sounds: A four-note mellow orchestra tune ending with a "ping" sound. May also have the end theme playing over it.

Availability: Uncommon.

Scare Factor: None, much better than before.

3rd Logo

(1994-1996)

Nickname: "Saturn Logo & Turning Letters"

Logo: On a white background is a black "Oval" logo (as seen in the saturn logo). Underneath, a gold line is drawn and under that, letter by letter, the words "PROGRAM SERVICES".

Variant: A variant was shown on a gray gradient BG and had "PROGRAM SERVICES" in white and the Oval logo fading-in first.

FX/SFX: Line and words appearing.

Music/Sounds: Just an uninspired synth tune. The end theme may also play over it.

Availability: Uncommon.

Scare Factor: None; just a soft, dreamy tune and smooth special effects.