The Movie Channel

Star Channel

1973–1975

The Movie Channel initially launched as Star Channel in 1973, originally owned by Gridtronics.

1975–1977

Later in the 1970s, Star Channel was acquired by Warner Communications, and eventually brought into its Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment division, a joint venture between Warner Communications and American Express. The network was initially offered on Warner Cable systems, and later on Warner-Amex's experimental QUBE interactive service.

1977–1979

The Movie Channel

1979–1981

File:The Movie Channel 1980.png

On December 3, 1979, Star Channel was rebranded as The Movie Channel.

1981–1988

White version of the logo.

Feature presentation intro/network ID (1981–1985)

Graphic used at the beginning of "Up Next" bumpers (1981–1985)

1988–1997

This logo was introduced in the spring of 1988, and features a pair of eyes in a rectangle. On screen, the rectangle could include many different pairs of eyes.

One of many variants used between 1988 and 1997.

A colorized "eye and profile" design, featuring an eye roll design.

• See intros

1997–2001

File:The Movie Channel 1997 (Black).svg

Green version

3D version of the 1997 logo, used in some promos.

Alternate 3D version, with compact lettering on the "TMC" green ball. This version was the primary logo used on-air during this period.

TMC adopted a very slick on-air look that predominantly used CGI graphics, with the debut of a new logo in 1997, a 3D computer-animated green sphere with a tilted and lowercase "TMC" emblazened on it, usually shown either to the right of the channel's full name or above the name (also rendered in lowercase type). Jeff Bottoms (who has since become The Movie Channel's longest-serving promo announcer, and also does promotions for sister channel Showtime) promoted upcoming programs between films with humorous, and tongue-in-cheek voiceovers. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, The Movie Channel started running a wide variety of network promotions from those akin to a movie trailer to typical promos that feature behind-the-scenes trivia relating to the film. The latter technique is still used by the channel today, often in a more hybrid way.

2001–2005

File:The Movie Channel 2001 (Black).svg

Teal version

TheMovieChannelHD 2003.jpg

The Movie Channel HD logo (2003-2006)

An extensively modified logo was introduced in 2001, featuring a one-dimensional circle with a lowercase "tmc" in Knockout type on it, surrounded with two lines on the corners framing the circle; the "movie" in the channel's name was rendered in bold.

2005–present

On May 3, 2005, a new logo was introduced, along with the slogan "Movies for Movie Lovers".

Themoviechannel 2006 alternate.jpg

Alternate logo used in the channel's ID bug during movies, and in some print ads.

TheMovieChannelHD 2006.jpg

The Movie Channel HD logo (2006-present)

External links

• http://www.sho.com/tmc/home