TV Station Logos: An Under-Appreciated Art

In this blog post, I'll be reviewing the logos of some TV stations in my local area. If you know me, I'm a media buff and a fan of logos, so I hope you enjoy my takes on the identities of these stations.

WGBH-TV (PBS)

What happened to the W?!

This is the current logo for the PBS member station WGBH Channel 2. In 2020, they changed to this W-less logo from their iconic 1974 logo, because of their focus on digital distribution. GBH employees thought that the W in the logo signified that they were "just a TV station". I think that they should revamp the 2020 logo by adding a W to it, for on-air purposes.

Rating: 6/10

There it is!

WBZ-TV (CBS)

We now go to the Bay State's CBS-owned-and-operated station, WBZ. 

Oh my GOD! This logo is absolutely generic! The call letters of WBZ are way smaller than the "CBS News Boston" part of the logo. 

Keep in mind that CBS tried to de-emphasize the WBZ call letters in 2004, calling themselves "CBS 2 New England", After a taxi driver in 2006 told the General Manager of the station at the time "Hey, what happened to WBZ? Those call letters are iconic!", the GM rebranded the station back to WBZ.

Rating: 1/10

WCVB-TV (ABC)

Now we review the ONLY logo of the Hearst-owned ABC affiliate in Boston.

This logo is very creative. The hidden arrow inside the 5 signifies the station's commitment to going where the news breaks, and it is such a great logo that the channel has been using it for over 50 years!

Rating: 10/10

WHDH-TV (Independent)

Now we cover the independent WHDH, owned by Sunbeam Television (No, not that Sunbeam)

 

"This... is 7 News at 4!"

 

WHDH is one of the hundreds of Channel 7's that use the "Circle 7" design.

This Circle 7 variant with the red backdrop is also used by sister station WSVN in Miami, Florida. Personally, like the use of red, since it, alongside the dramatic voiceovers by Scott Chapin, and the techno themes by Chris Crane, fit with the news approach that Sunbeam Television is known for (fast-paced, hard hitting news).

 

Rating 9/10

WBTS-CD (NBC)

Now we take a look at the NBC-owned-and-operated station, WBTS (no relation to the K-pop band, sorry, rabid fangirls)

"The following program is brought to you in living color on NBC 10 Boston."

They brand themselves as NBC 10, even though the channel is on channel 13. But I like the use of a serif font for the 10, it's pretty unique.

Rating 9.5/10

WFXT-TV (Fox)

Now we take a look at the logo of the Cox Media Group-owned Fox affiliate WFXT, owned by Fox Television Stations twice in its history.

I was an avid viewer of WFXT when they were owned by Fox for the 2nd time. I have the most nostalgia for the 2006 - 2015 "Boxkite" logo

This design was also used by other Fox-owned stations at the same time. But a year after the acquisition of FOX 25 by Cox, they replaced this masterpiece with the flaming hot garbage below.

What in the name of Rupert Murdoch is this?! The FOX logo has been replaced by a generic italicized font!

In 2018, though, Cox pulled a Disney before it was cool, by rebranding my childhood station to, wait for it... BOSTON 25! A name that would more likely fit an independent station than a Fox affiliate. Here is the Red-Hot Steaming Fiery Pile of Garbage Covered in a Trash Sauce Drizzled in Rubbish Juice that is the Boston 25 logo.

OH MY GOD! WHAT THE BAJEEBUS IS THIS HIDEOUS THING?! This is an even worse rebrand than 20th Century Studios! It is an INSULT to the FOX network, who OWNED THE STATION TWICE IN ITS HISTORY! If you want to own a Fox affiliate, don't do what Cox did to WFXT.

And this logo doesn't deserve a rating, either. It deserves to go back to the fiery chasm where it came from. 

If I were them, I'd bring back the 2006 logo!

 

That's all for my reviews! Thanks for reading! :-)