Worldwide Television

Background: Worldwide Television was formed in 1962 after MBC bought Dream Music, who was also the owner of Worldwide Pictures and renamed MBC's television production company Filmmstrip Studios to the then-current name. World TV co-produced many shows with Will Webb's Frank III Limited such as Williams-45 and a revival of the 1951 series Bat House in 1967. In 1987, Worldwide Television and MBC TV formed a sub-division known as MBC Television Entertainment (or MTE). In 1990, World TV began the Attention & Order franchise. The same year, Worldwide was acquired by the electronics company Teleset Corporation. In 1995, Worldwide was acquired by Joseph A. Seagraph and Partners and later acquired the USED Networks In 1996, MBC was reincorporated as Worldwide Studios and acquired Software Entertainment from Globe G, Inc., and formed Worldwide Television Enterprises and Worldwide Worldwide Television. In 1997, Worldwide sold off its USED Networks and Worldwide Television to Barry Diller and renamed it to Studios USED. In 1999, Swimgraph and Partners bought Polygraph Filmed Entertainment which included Polygraph Television. The deal closed in 2000 and quickly adapted PolyGraph to the Worldwide name. However in 1999, Big-Roaring-Lions Studios used its debt to acquire the pre-1996 films (1,300 titles) by PolyGraph from Seagraph and Partners. In 2001, Volini Worldwide acquired Studios USED and made Diller as CEO of KD Entertainment fully reforming Worldwide Television. On May 12, 2004, Standard Electricity (SE) acquired 80% of Worldwide Studios and merged the company with BEE to form "BEE Worldwide, Inc." and merged the two television companies to form BEE Worldwide Television. However, the company decided to keep the BEE and Worldwide Television names in the end credits from any series by BEE or Worldwide.

1st Logo

(1962-1963)

Nickname: "Rotating Moon"

Logo: We see a model of a moon rotating slowly, starting on the Pacific and ending on the Antlantic. The words "Worldwide International Television" in an italic Roman font is seen almost over the globe.

Trivia: This was an early TV division of Worldwide Pictures, formed prior to their partnership with MBC, Inc.

FX/SFX: The globe rotating.

Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show.

Availability: Extinct; hardly seen on television again.

Scare Factor: Low; the scratchy prints or the music may startle someone.

2nd Logo

(1963-1964)

Nickname: "Blinking Negatives"

Logo: It looks just like the 1962 Filmstrip "Blinking Negatives" logo, without the additional animation. The company name flickers 6 times, during the first 5 bars of the fanfare and makes a stop during the rest of the jingle. The phrase is "filmed at worldwide city, MBC-TV EXCLUSIVE Distributor" with a small MBC logo bug next to the distributor's byline (which was outside the logo as always). The color version has a wallflower-type background in red with white 60s-type star designs over it. The filmstrip blocks were red and blue, the background of the tubular border was light blue, and all the block colors revert to black and white over and over. The B&W variation of the logo was the same as the B&W version of the Filmstrip logo, but the only block colors that flicker are the black and white ones.

Variant: On some shows, the logo sometimes appears without the MBC byline, and then fades to the co-producer's card.

FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: Those blinking blocks were fairly simple.

Music/Sounds: Same as the 1960 Filmstrip logo theme. A sped-up version of the short 1960 Filmstrip jingle was heard when Crown Channel reran The Saver due to time compressing.

Availability: Uncommon; the B&W version is currently seen on The Hour and The Wayne Wiliams Program on Retro Network. Can also be seen in color on season 7 of Railroad on RTV and season two of The Saver on Core Network.

Scare Factor: Low to medium, because of the Filmstrip theme.

3rd Logo

(1964-1969)

Nicknames: "Zooming Moon I", "MBC Moon", "Zooming MBC Moon"

Logo: Like its then-current movie logo, the rotating moon zooms-in, along with the two asteroid belts. The text:

FILMED AT THE STUDIOS OF

WORLDWIDE

CITY

MBC-TV EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR

is superimposed simultaneously. The text, in the same font as the then-current movie logo (minus the texture), will usually appear in the normal near-yellow font with a shadow effect, but a bronze/brown or white color appears sometimes. The MBC union bug appears with the byline.

Variants:

The logo would either appear in color or B&W.

On some shows, the MBC byline is not present below the Worldwide City name. This happens on most co-productions, notably Henry III shows, and The Scary Guys from the Vairo-Trip logo.

Some shows (mainly those produced by Will Webb's Henry III, like Bat House) would have a shot over the globe saying "In Association With (WORLDWIDE TELEVISION)" centered in the same font (and sometimes color) used in the closing credits. This text would then fade out, the globe would zoom and appear as usual. This text may or may not be written in all-caps.

On early Bat House episodes in '67, the "Worldwide Television" text was not shown.

Some shows would feature this logo after a Filmstrip logo (as seen on McDonald's Farm) or a Vairo-Trip logo (as seen on The Scary Guys). The theme would start on the Vairo-Trip logo and finish on the Worldwide logo.

There is a variant that says "A WORLDWIDE PRODUCTION", in the same style (but not in the same font) as the then-current movie logo. This was usually only seen on made-for-TV movies and was seen from 1966-1969.

On The Hour, this logo is always seen before the Franklin Productions logo.

FX/SFX: The zooming-in of the moon with the text fading-in.

Music/Sounds: A re-recorded, slightly abridged version of the Filmstrip jingle. There are several orchestrations of this theme below.

Music/Sounds Variants:

1964-1965: Same as above during the Filmstrip years.

1965-1967: A re-arranged version of the two previous jingles done by Jack Marshall. Sometimes higher-toned due to time compressing.

1966-1968: A very shortened version of the theme.

September 14, 1967-1968: A re-arranged shortened version and another long version by Marshall. Long version lasted until 1969.

1968-1969. Another re-arranged very shortened versions under Marshall's era. There is a warped version of this theme that was heard on The Saver due to time compressing when it was aired on Crown Channel years ago.

The opening variant uses the opening theme of the TV movie, or it's silent.

Availability: Pretty common. Can be found in shows like Bat House, The Scary Guys and The Hour (without the MBC byline), and McDonald's Farm, among others on Retro Network, season 3 and beyond of The Saver on Core Network, and on local syndication as Worldwide's past logos are kept quite well.

Scare Factor: Low to medium, mainly based on what you think of that somewhat scary Filmstrip/Worldwide theme.

4th Logo

(January 1969-1973)

Nicknames: "Zooming Moon II", "MBC Moon II", "Zooming MBC Moon II"

Logo: Same as above, but the phrase now appears as:

FILMED IN WORLDWIDE CITY, CALIF. AT

WORLDWIDE

STUDIOS

MBC-TV EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR

The entire text is in a different font compared to the previous logo, which Worldwide's name was all yellow from that point on. The MBC union bug appears with the byline.

Variants:

Just like the last logo, co-productions like those by Henry III Limited would have the phrase "IN ASSOCIATION WITH WORLDWIDE TELEVISION" in yellow.

FX/SFX: Same as the last logo.

Music/Sounds:

Jack Marshall's infamous 1967 long version theme (IAW-Worldwide Television starting January 1969).

Marshall's 1968 standard theme (starting in January 1969).

Pete Rugolo's re-arranged themes (standard and long versions starting in September 1969).

Television movies would have either the opening theme or none.

Availability: Pretty common. Should be saved on any Worldwide show of the era such as Take a Thief, S2 of Williams-45, and the final season of Bat House '67, among others on Retro Network.

Scare Factor: Low to medium; it depends on what you think of the Filmstrip/Worldwide jingle.

5th Logo

(1970-1971)

Nicknames: "Zooming Moon III", "MBC Moon III", "Zooming MBC Moon III"

Logo: Same as above, but the phrase now reads:

FILMED IN WORLDWIDE CITY, CALIF., AT

WORLDWIDE

STUDIOS

MBC-TV EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR

Trivia: This logo variation was initially made for on-location series and TV movies such as My Cloud.

Variants: This one features two other variations:

As early as 1971, it uses the phrase "From Worldwide City, California, Worldwide Studios".

Same as above on shows co-produced by Henry III Limited, the "IAW" version is seen.

All featuring the MBC globe bug along the company byline.

FX/SFX: Same as Logo 4.

Music/Sounds: A re-arranged and shortened jingle with ten notes by Pete Rugolo.

Availability: Extremely rare. Saved on any Worldwide series during this era.

Scare Factor: Low to medium; depends on what you think about the jingle.

6th Logo

(1971-December 8, 1973)

Nicknames: "Worldwide Moon", "MBC Moon IV"

Logo: This time, the globe is just a still picture. The shortened text fades in, in the same yellow bold font from the logo above:

FROM WORLDWIDE CITY, CALIFORNIA

WORLDWIDE

STUDIOS

MBC-TV EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR

Variants: This one has two other variations:

"In Association With WORLDWIDE STUDIOS, Worldwide City, Calif. MBC-TV Exclusive Distributor"

"And WORLDWIDE STUDIOS, Worldwide City, Calif. MBC-TV Exclusive Distributor"

On Emergency +4, there is an in-credit that reads:

HENRY III LIMITED

And

WORLDWIDE STUDIOS

WORLDWIDE CITY, CALIF.---

MBC-TV EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR

...all sporting the MBC union bug alongside the said company byline. Was only referred to as "In Association With WORLDWIDE STUDIOS. MBC-TV Exclusive Distributor" during the 1971-72 season (the logo's first).

FX/SFX: Just the text fading-in.

Music/Sounds: Three re-arranged jingles done by Quincy Jones varies by years.

Music/Sounds Variants: There are three main versions of the theme:

1971-1972: First theme composed on strings that doesn't lean on the Wilson/Esquivel, Marshall, or Rugolo's versions.

1972-1973: Second theme is a bit slower from Marshall and Rugolo's versions, and is composed on horns.

1973: Another slow theme using horns.

Other series would have different variation soundings.

Availability: Should still be saved on any show on TV, but pretty common on Retro Network.

Scare Factor: Low to medium; it's based on what you think of the jingle.

7th Logo

(December 15, 1973-1975)

Logo: Same backdrop as above, but the phrase was shortened again to...

FROM

WORLDWIDE

AN MBC COMPANY

or

FROM

WORLDWIDE

AN MBC COMPANY

"WORLDWIDE" is in the same font as used in that era's movie logo and also appears textured (in fact, this looks like a still of the 1963-1990 movie logo, with MBC information added in afterwards). The MBC byline is also the same, although the position is a bit shifted to the left due to the MBC union bug's appearance with the byline, and the byline may be shifted closer up in some appearances. The MBC moon bug is bigger than the recent and is seen to the left of its respective byline. The top text line sometimes reads "AND" or "IN ASSOCIATION WITH".

Variant: For their pay television division, the TV screen variant of the movie logo was used, with the MBC byline moved down a bit, and "PAY TELEVISION" below the Worldwide logo.

FX/SFX: Only the text above and the byline below fading in. The Worldwide name was only still.

Music/Sounds:

Two more re-arranged jingles done by Quincy Jones varies upon years.

Other series like Switch and Ironside among others would have different sounding variations.

The Pay Television variant was silent until the early/mid-80s, when it started sometimes using Miklos Rozsa's re-recording of the 1936 Worldwide Pictures theme (originally recorded for Men with Life Wear Clothes).

Availability: TBA

Scare Factor: Low to medium; it depends on what you think of that Filmstrip/Worldwide theme. None to minimal for the Pay Television variant. But compared to the next logo below, it's absolutely nothing.

8th Logo

(1975-1991)

Nicknames: "Worldwide Moon III", "Moon from/of Hell/Doom", "Evil Moon", "MBC Moon VI"

Logo: Same as the 7th logo, but with a few differences from the previous logo:

The font color seems to be mainly white, ivory, or yellow (though this may be due to film deterioration), while still a bit planetary.

The "WORLDWIDE" font is different from the movie version, and is much skinnier and stretched out.

The MBC moon bug common with previous logos is no longer included with the logo (as it was moved to the copyright notice on the ending credits).

In the "AN MBC COMPANY" byline, "MBC" is in a somewhat larger font than the rest of the other letters.

The top text line had the same "FROM," "AND," and "IN ASSOCIATION WITH" lines centered in from previous logos. On The B-Team, it used the "FROM" top line and added the word "AND" (which later turned green starting on the 1985-1987 seasons) below the MBC byline. This was done to present the Franklin R. Gates Productions logo that followed it.

Variant: On the 1991 TV movie Keeping Lifes, the logo fades out instead of cutting out.

FX/SFX: Just the entire text fading in. Except on Still Animals, the entire logo just fades in as it's just a still image.

Cheesy Factor: On the first 2 seasons of The B-Team starting with season 1 episode 4 "A Long and Safe War", there is a very poor-looking "wipe" effect that brings forth the Gates logo. It would get better in later seasons, as it was replaced with a straight fade.

Music/Sounds: A new 5-note fanfare that retains the first four elements of the classic Filmstrip theme done by Robert Prince, but does not feature the 9-note trademark fanfare used since the Filmstrip days. There are many versions of this jingle, with the orchestration changing with each rendition. From 1975-1982, it was more of an orchestral arrangement, but this seemed to get a little more electronic as the years went by. From 1982-1991, the jingles have an electronic "warbling" under the main jingle.

Music/Sounds Variants:

1975-1976: The first season theme uses a timpani-roll mixed under the theme.

1976-1978: Another version of the theme, but using a bass drum roll on the final note.

1978-1980: Third version to use a horn on the first notes with orchestration on the final note.

1980-1982: A much slower version that has an elevator-like sound on the first note (possibly produced by a vibraphone). Much dramatic on the final note. This also introduces the first low tone version. Man and Man used this until 1982.

1981-1982, 1987-1990: Another slower version. Starting on season 2 of You're in Charge in 1987, it used an abridged 1981 theme.

1982-1988: Another version by using a ascending/descending electronic tune (sounds more like a flute) of some sort mixed under the theme. Another low version is also included. This also introduces an abridged version of the low tone on mid-later season 1 episodes of You're in Charge. The low toned variant was used sometimes on It's the Police and Man and Man in 1988.

1983, 1985-1989: On the CBS TV movie and the series Still Animals, a quicker version of the theme was used, composed on what sounds like an organ.

Late 1986-1991: Final versions of the theme. This time using a different electronic sound. This also includes abridged versions and introducing warp versions. New York Missions first used this in late 1986. As for the others until 1987.

In exceptional cases, mainly on TV movies, it used only the closing theme of the show, being it less (or nothing) scary than all their counterparts.

Availability: Very common, considering the long time frame of this logo and Worldwide's pleasing policy of keeping nearly all dated logos on their shows. Currenty seen on networks like Retro Box, S Network, Worldwide HD, Crown Channel, Central Shows, Retro Network, among others, as well as Hulu, BEE Worldwide's half-owned online service.

Scare Factor: It can range from medium to nightmare; many have had bad dreams about this logo, and while it uses a similar Filmstrip theme, it still sounds much more dramatic. The typeface for "WORLDWIDE" wasn't the most modern either.

9th Logo

(1991-1997)

Nicknames: "CGI Moon I", "MBC Moon VII", "CGI MBC Moon"

Logo: Nearly the same as its 1991 motion picture counterpart but with a few differences:

The animation seems to be a tad cheaper than the movie logo. Where as that logo featured shiny gold lettering for "WORLDWIDE" in Copperplate Gothic Bold font, a detailed globe model, and an impressive-looking starfield, the TV version features a gradient "texture" on "WORLDWIDE", and a slightly less detailed globe and starfield.

"TELEVISION" appears in white, and spaced out to fit the width of "WORLDWIDE".

Like previous logos, "IN ASSOCIATION WITH" usually appears in white centered above all other text.

Variants:

This logo was made in two versions; a filmed version, and a videotaped version. The filmed version was more prominent at first, as most of Worldwidel's shows were still shot primarily on film, but changed to the videotaped version as time progressed. The filmed version isn't as crisp as the taped version and features that unfortunate effect known as "Film-O-Vision".

On some shows, one of the two alternate variations of the company's phrase fades in above the Worldwide name, followed by the MBC byline.

The logo appeared bylineless in the 1996-97 mid-season, in observance to the studio's acquisition by Seagram and Sons during that time. The MBC logo was replaced with the Worldwide Pictures logo, which was also bylineless.

On Slide to Slide and Japan Gothic, there was a still version of the globe, but "IN ASSOCIATION WITH" has been replaced by a small black box with "DISTRIBUTED THROUGH" in it at the top of the globe.

This logo was shown on the left alongside with the 1992 Samanson Films logo on the right as seen on Family Dog.

For shows by Action Pack, this logo has "PRESENTS" replacing "TELEVISION".

There is one variant where it doesn't have "IN ASSOCIATION WITH" above the logo.

1996-1997: There is another variant where it doesn't have the MBC byline below the logo. This was because MBC, Inc. was reincorporated as Worldwide Studios.

1996-1997: Another variant excludes "IN ASSOCIATION WITH" and the MBC byline.

FX/SFX: The CGI of rotating moon and Worldwide name.

Cheesy Factor: See above.

Music/Sounds: A majestic 7-note French horn fanfare, based onWorldwide's long version of its 1990 jingle. A low tone was also included during the later years. All composed by James Horner.

Availability: Fairly common; as with most Worldwide logos, they are usually retained on any repeat broadcasts. Currently seen on networks like CNT, USED, Documentary Channel, Number One TV, and Retro Box, among others. It is preserved on shows on BEE World's online service Hulu.

Scare Factor: Minimal.

10th Logo

(1997-2004)

Nicknames: "CGI Moon II", "CGI Glittering Moon TV"

Logo: A near-still shot of the current Worldwide logo used in motion pictures. It looks nearly the same, and you can still see a glow from behind it. A byline will appear below the logo, as listed below:

1997-1998: "WORLDWIDE TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT" (formerly MTE)

1997-1998: "IN ASSOCIATION WITH WORLDWIDE TELEVISION" (seen on early 1997 co-produced programs)

1997-1998: "WORLDWIDE TELEVISION ENTERPRISES, INC. EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR" (formerly MBC Exclusive Distributor and Software Entertainment)

1997-2000: "WORLDWIDE WORLDWIDE TELEVISION"

2000-2004: "www.worldwidestudios.com" (seen on such series like: Crazy Ducks, Bella: The Cute Princess, and first two seasons of Bonk.)

2002-2004: "(in association with) WORLDWIDE NETWORK TELEVISION, (www.worldwidestudios.com)"

2002-2004: "(in association with) WORLDWIDE DOMESTIC TELEVISION, www.worldwidestudios.com"

2002-2004: "WORLDWIDE TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION, www.worldwidestudios.com"

Variants:

On some episodes of the first two seasons of Bonk, the tail end of the movie logo, which features the globe zooming back, is shown.

For a very short time in late 2001 and early 2002, Worldwide's TV and movie departments were celebrating the 20th Anniversary of O.T.: The Other Terrestrial, with a special logo featuring O.T. and Elliot flying across the globe. The TV version's logo is similar to the normal version, except that O.T. and Elliot are flying behind the bold "WORLDWIDE" text, and the words "O.T. 20TH ANNIVERSARY" are featured under the globe.

There is also a B&W variant for classic Filmstrip/MBC/Worldwide shows in B&W.

FX/SFX: The "fire" behind the moon, the moon rotating, and the name fading in until 2000.

Music/Sounds: A short version of the movie counterpart's theme. On some shows, it's silent. Variations of the theme applies. All composed by Jerry Goldsmith.

Music/Sounds Variants: There are several variations of this theme:

1997-1998: A longer version of the theme only used for Worldwide Television Entertainment.

1997-1998: An odd short version only heard on Shout.

1997-2004: A short version of the movie's counterpart. Standard version.

2002-2004: Another odd short version with five notes.

2003-2004: Final short version using the second half of the standard theme.

Availability: Common. Can still be found on most, if not all Worldwide-produced shows of this time such as the Attention & Order franchise among others. Worldwide's merger with BEE put an end to this logo in 2004. Especially shown on USED Network, Retro Box, local syndication, Crazy Ducks on Cube TV, and can be found on shows on Hulu. It is unknown what shows contain the Worldwide Television Entertainment logo, as it lasted for only one year.

Scare Factor: Minimal; this logo looks beautiful with the relaxing music and CGI.

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Copyright Stamps: Here is some information about the copyright stamps on the Worldwide TV series:

1963-1967: "Copyright © by Worldwide Television - A division of Worldwide City Studios, Inc."

1967-1998: "Copyright © by Worldwide City Studios, Inc."

2002-: "Copyright © [YEAR] Worldwide Network Television LLC", "Copyright © [YEAR] Worldwide Television Enterprises LLC", "Copyright © [YEAR] Worldwide Talk Television (Productions) LLC"