Television station logos

[morkinva]

You know, the sometimes transparent, and often annoying symbol usually in the lower right hand corner. Why do they have these things? There are very few that don't, it seems; like Fox and maybe a local station.

 

[Kevin]

They've been doing it so long now, I don't even notice it that much...

 

[guyver01]

FCC regulations:

Stations must make identification announcements when they sign on and off for the day.. They must also make the announcements hourly, as close to the hour as possible, at a natural programming break. TV stations may make these announcements on-screen or by voice only. Official station identification includes the station's call letters followed by the community or communities specified in its license as the station's location. Between the call letters and its community, the station may insert the name of the licensee, the station's channel number, and/or its frequency.

 

[kranky]

It's for two reasons.

First, with the huge number of different channels people get on cable or satellite, the stations want people to constantly be reminded of what station they are watching. The idea is that if viewers notice the little "TNN" or whatever, they might make a point to tune in to that station again instead of aimlessly surfing the dial.

The second reason is that people can't tape things from TV and sell them, since the little logos make it obvious it was taped from broadcast TV.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: guyver01
FCC regulations:

Stations must make identification announcements when they sign on and off for the day.. They must also make the announcements hourly, as close to the hour as possible, at a natural programming break. TV stations may make these announcements on-screen or by voice only. Official station identification includes the station's call letters followed by the community or communities specified in its license as the station's location. Between the call letters and its community, the station may insert the name of the licensee, the station's channel number, and/or its frequency.

Which is why they say "WXYZ TV, serving the grater Cincinati area" during commercial breaks, and has absolutely nothing to do with the little corporate logo in the corner of the screen.

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: notfred
Which is why they say "WXYZ TV, serving the grater Cincinati area" during commercial breaks, and has absolutely nothing to do with the little corporate logo in the corner of the screen.

nope.. the FCC regulation states TV stations may make these announcements on-screen or by voice only .. the onscreen logo *is* the station identification, ON SCREEN.

 

[Soybomb]

fwiw, they're often called bugs


Anyway its just a way of branding the network you're watching and trying to make you remember to watch their network. Its safe to say they go beyond the required network identification because they are on for so long and often don't contain broadcast station's call signs, but just "FOX", etc