The Top 5 Best and Worst TV Channel Logos

And welcome to The Chronicles of Trevor, the blog that is always entertaining, even into its 3rd rebrand. Today, I'm talking about American TV channels, and the ones with the best and worst logos.

Starting with the worst...

#5 Viceland (2016-2019)

This is the most boring logo I've ever seen for a TV station. Just the name in Helvetica Bold. but since they "elevate the plain, and avoid trends" it technically works in the sense they're conveying. I also have a grudge against this waste of a channel space and its parent Vice Media, for replacing a channel that me and my brother Justin used to watch together, H2 (History 2, a spin-off of the History Channel).

#4 BET (2021-)

While I do like this channel and its legacy, I hate this logo. Why is the T and the Star underneath BE? It makes me think that the channel is called "Be T". 

#3 BBC America (2022, based on 2015 rebrand)

With the BBC's 2022 centennial change from Gill Sans to its custom font, Reith Sans, the iconic broadcaster, alongside AMC Networks, decided to change its logo to this thing.

The R in "America" is supposed to phase from one spot to another, but it looks like 2 R's. So it looks like it says "AMERRICA" or "AMER RICA"

Bonus: If I were to rebrand BBC America, here's a take on how I'd do it. I'd make it look like an actual BBC channel

#2 Investigation Discovery (2012 - 2020)

Let me ask something, If you think of true crime shows, what do you think of? OF COURSE! A SLIGHTLY TILTED BLACK SQUARE!

#1. IFC (all logos from 2010-present)

Back when IFC aired Independent Films, (their name stands for the Independent Film Channel), they had this clever logo.

The notch in the I is a nod to the perforations on movie film, called sprocket holes. Their production company (IFC Films) and theater in New York City (the IFC Center, still use this logo).

But in 2010, they changed their logo to this eldritch abomination.

This logo is set in a modified Eagle Bold typeface, the same font used in Cartoon Network's classic logos.

C what I'm talking about?

This is made even more annoying since IFC NEVER edits movies for content and/or time, meaning that almost ALL movies aired have TV-MA Ratings. Using the CN font on an adult-oriented channel's logo is a garbage idea. It's like this!

Why do that! It would make more sense to use Eagle Bold if they were the International Family Channel.

In 2014 and 2019 respectively, IFC, along side Gretel, the same design agency that helped create CBS's 2020 brand identity, introduced 3D-ified versions of the 2010 type, made to reflect classic movie titles. But to me, it looks even more like "International Family Channel".

The 2019 rebrand also introduced an extremely gross color palette. Blood-Slathered Carrot and Bad Egg is not what I'd use for a color palette.

And now for the Best TV channel logos.

#5 Science Channel (2007-2011)

This logo was made to look like a Periodic Table element icon, (Sc is actually on the table, as Scandium). I alao really like the shade of orange, and the rounded font.

#4 Sci-Fi Channel (2002 - 2009)

Designed by the graphic design wizards at London's Lambie-Nairn, This logo, from the "If" era, takes the Saturn symbol of the network's previous logos, and makes a futuristic design with 2 swooshes making the distinct planet. It also gives off major Frutiger Aero vibes, which in my opinion, is nostalgic, but also futuristic.

#3 Bay News 9 (1997-2023)

So I remember, during a vacation to Florida, that I would watch Bay News 9 every morning. I remember their weather being powered by a satellite called Klystron 9 (sounds like something out of a sci-fi film). This logo is a great logo for a news channel. If you don't know, Bay News 9, now known as Spectrum News BN9 (complete with oversimplified logo), is a regional news network that airs on Spectrum Cable in the Tampa Bay market. It used to be owned by Bright House Networks, who was acquired by Spectrum 4 years ago.

This double-parallelogram logo was used by another Floridian cable news channel, called News 13.

I think that it's unique, and fits a news channel.

#2 QVC (2007-2019)

When it comes to shopping channel logos, I have to say that QVC's "Ribbon Q" is a favorite of mine. I think that the Q being a folded ribbon is a nod to QVC items also being great gifts. I also like how they tried to call shopping on QVC "Q'ing", like in the promos of the rebrand saying "iQdoU" (I Q, do You?)

It also reminds me of Yahoo!'s Do You Yahoo? campaign.

#1: NBC (1986-present)

This multi-colored peacock was first revealed at the end of the network's 60th anniversary celebration. Each feather represents NBC's 6 divisions.

Yellow - News

Orange - Sports

Red - Entertainment

Purple - TV Stations

Blue - Network

Green - Productions

The NBC wordmark below is set in a custom version of the Futura typeface. This font, appropriately named NBC Futura, is still used in the NBC News logo, and on some affiliate logos.

I also really enjoy the logo of my local NBC-owned station. They actually started this station from scratch. It is the most underrated station in terms of newscasts.