Background[]
Launched on September 1, 1988, YTV was the successor to two prior special programming services operated by various Ontario cable companies beginning in the late 1970s. They did not use a logo until Deke Wilson's Mini-Mysteries premiered in 1989. The two largest shareholders in YTV were two cable companies: Rogers Cable and a company known as CUC Broadcasting, which would later be acquired by Shaw Communications. By 1995, through various acquisitions and trades, Shaw had secured full control of YTV; it was spun off as part of Corus Entertainment in 1999.
Logos[]
1st logo (1989-1991)[]
On a black background, we see a slanted window painted in with blue borders. Inside the window is a very fuzzy gray/black TV screen with the red words "YTV" in it, although the YTV letters have got a black shadow.
2nd logo (1991-1993)[]
On a black background, we see a bunch of neon rainbow rectangles flying in different directions in trails. The YTV logo is seen in black, but when the trails pass by, the YTV letters disappear, they blend in with the background. There are 5 rainbow trails: the first one is yellow with orange, the second is orange with light blue, the third is purple with yellow, the fourth is green with light purple, and the last trail is in blue with yellow, forming the YTV letters in red. For the most part, only the logo's final part was used as a closing logo.
3rd logo (1993-1995)[]
On a black background, we see a purple television set with green buttons on the right side of it, which is made out of clay. Inside the TV screen is an orange background with the white letters "YTV", with "T" and "V" on the left, and arranged on top of each other. The YTV text then rumbles out of the screen to cover up most of the TV set.
4th logo (1995-2007)[]
On a black background, we see the same television set as before, except the design of the set looks slightly different (it is also now CGI). The text "YTV", arranged the same way as before but looking a little different font-wise, rapidly zooms out from the right and smashes into the TV set, making the TV set "lean back". The TV then comes into place, now with the YTV text in the screen of the set. The text "Produced in association with" sometimes appears above the set.
5th logo (2007-2013)[]
On a blue and cyan gradient background with revolving white and yellow lines, we see a lots of white and blue lines coming together to form a cyan and white circle with "YTV" on it, arranged similarly to the previous logos. A byline appears below.
Variants[]
- Sometimes, "PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH" is shown above the logo.
- An early version exists where the byline from the previous logo (background and all) is superimposed below the logo. This can be found on 2007-2008 episodes of Viva Piñata and presumably Edgar and Ellen.
- In 2008, the YTV logo has a glowing effect and the byline is changed into "A Corus Entertainment Company", (with "Corus" completely white). Also, the YTV's logo animation was slightly altered to be longer and is centered.
- On some shows, "www.ytv.com" is below the byline.
- There was an extended version without a byline used as a station ID.
- There's also a variant of the extended version with the Corus byline appears on some shows such as Rollbots.
6th logo (2010-2014)[]
In a blue environment, there are random yellow shapes around the screen moving around. In the space that is being surrounded by the shapes, there are many flying shapes in blue and white. The shapes then collide and form the YTV logo, this time fully blue and white as the text spreads out on it and the screen shakes as it forms with the spikes rotating. The logo rotates as a Corus byline appears below and "Produced In Association with" sometimes appears above.
Variants[]
- 2012-2013: The shapes come in as the YTV logo comes in and makes a U-turn like an boomerang and a rectangle comes in and places itself below. It's design is the same as the later version, but the logo has no white bumpers, lacks the Corus byline, the shapes and lighting are different, now at a different angle, and has "ORIGINAL" in a generic font and the rectangle it was on was darker.
- 2013-2014: On a differently lighted blue environment, we see a blue hemisphere with white lines. It zooms out and spins as the yellow shapes, this time different, move into place. The hemisphere then spots spinning and reveals the logo with "ORIGINAL" on a light blue rectangle going under it. There are white borders surrounding it moving positions. Under it is "A CORUS ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY" with the Corus logo.
- There was a longer version which had a white piece with 8 different colors in it that has the yellow shapes and blue/white pieces surrounding it. Here, the environment has a blue floor and white wall. The camera zooms out as the white piece breaks apart and the yellow shapes place themselves around the team. The rest continues as normal. A version without a byline was used as a station ID.
- On some shows, "YTV.COM" fades in next to the byline.
- There was a still version with the logo on a black background.
7th logo (2014-2017)[]
We start with an extreme closeup of the same logo as before, but now it is aquamarine. It zooms back while spinning around until it positions itself in the middle of the screen, and we see an aqua green banner with the word "ORIGINAL" in white appear below it and zooming at us a bit, all on an entirely white background. The Corus byline from before is below, which is gray. The logo hovers in mid air as if it was floating.
Music/Sounds[]
1st logo[]
None.
2nd logo[]
- From 1991-92, it used a synthesized three-note piano tune with bells played over it, although it was also used for YTV's Coming Up Next bumpers from 1991-93.
- From 1992-93, a female choir singing with dreamy music when used as an on-air ID on YTV. During at the end of TV shows, it is usually silent, or contains the end theme of the show, such as on Are You Afraid Of The Dark?.
3rd logo[]
- From 1993-94, it was a boing sound.
- From 1994-95, it was a click and a very loud James Brown-esque scream followed by a teenage girl saying "No problem." In addition, the logo is also either silent or it plays over the closing theme of a show.
4th logo[]
Either the end theme of the show, or no music at all. On ReBoot and The Big Comfy Couch, it uses the previous logo's music for plastering over the previous logo.
Music/Sound Variants[]
- On seasons 1 and 2 of ReBoot, the audio from the previous logo plays. Season 3 used a short hip-hop tune, which was also used on some episodes of Mission Genesis (known as Deepwater Black in the UK and Canada). As such, it plastered over the previous logo.
- On Prank Patrol, a cartoonish whack sound is made when the text hits the screen, then a thump when the TV hits the ground.
- On RadioActive, you can hear a quiet whistle (plays over the theme song).
- On the episode a Voice of Sam Rigel as a talking tv set
5th logo[]
None, or the ending theme of the show. On Edgar and Ellen' and 'Zeke's Pad, we hear the fast drum tune, covered by laser sounds, another laser sound with note (when logo formed). The "woo-woo-woo" like sound is heard at the end.
6th logo[]
Same as before. On Pet Peeves, some whooshing sounds are heard.
7th logo[]
Either the ending theme of the show or whooshing sounds.
Scare Factor[]
1st logo[]
None to minimal.
2nd logo[]
None to minimal for the variant with the singing choir. This is a beautiful logo and a favorite of many viewers. Low to medium for the Are You Afraid of the Dark? variant due to the ending theme.
3rd logo[]
Depending on the variant:
- None to minimal for the variant with the end theme.
- Low for the 1994 variant. The scream might scare some, but it is a funny logo.
- Low to medium for the ones who are kind of used to seeing it.
4th logo[]
Depends on the variant:
- None to minimal for the regular variant.
- Minimal for the "BOING!" variant.
- Same as the 3rd logo for the ReBoot variant due to the loud scream.
5th logo[]
None to low; the fast action and sudden appearance as well as the logo suddenly slamming into the screen may startle you the first time you see it.
6th logos[]
Same as before.
7th logo[]
None. This is a little more tame than the previous 2 logos, not to mention its new, more friendly color. Also, the spinning and zooming of the logo is smoother, plus it's all in one piece. It zooms away from you this time, so it's not so scary anymore.
Video[]
HAAAAA! No problem!
Ytv screaming id (1996-1999)
Microsoft YTV Bardel Entertainment 4Kids TV (2007)
YTV Original (2013) Canada New Logo
YTV Nelvana (2007) 2
Tom Lynch Company Studios N'Credible DHX Media YTV Original Nickelodeon Productions (2015)-0
YTV Original (2016)