In our second and final instalment on logos for TV channels in the 2010s, we move on to speciality channels, mostly the ones associated with cable and satellite. One of the most substantial changes in branding during the '10s has been the decreasing importance of television. We started the decade just as the idea of launching new TV channels started dying off and by the middle of the decade we actually started seeing relatively significant broadcasters shutting down less important TV channels.
The Branding Source had quite extensive coverage of TV branding in the beginning, publishing special TV logo round-ups and special summaries of motion branding. You'll notice that most of the creative rebrands here are from the earlier part of the decade. Over time, TV rebrands started becoming less creative, with changing brand positions as the entire industry shifted from growth to managed decline. So, here's a summary of what's probably the last decade in TV branding.
American cable
In American cable TV, the early 2010s continued the shift towards more generic programming, with different networks losing their previous focus on different genres. The later part of the decade saw a bit of a reversal in that trend, with more clearly defined genres appearing once again.Discovery Channel has always had messy and inconsistent branding. Back in 2008, they tried to fix that by revealing a fresh new logo. Then they spent the next decade tinkering with that, before revealing an all-new logo on April 2, 2019.
![]() | Discovery Channel Revealed: April 2, 2019 The Hollywood Reporter Brief |
![]() | Comedy Central Created by: The Lab Revealed: December 9, 2010 Launched: Early January 2011 Brand New |
One of the first notable brand redesigns of the decade was MTV truncating its logo slightly. This was mostly notable for the fact that they actually dared to mess with such an iconic design.
![]() | MTV Launched: February 2010 |
![]() | TNT Launched: January 2016 The Branding Source |
![]() | Bravo Created by: Sibling/Rivalry Launched: February 7, 2017 The Branding Source Sibling/Rivalry |
![]() | TBS The Branding Source |
![]() | Cartoon Network Brand New |
![]() | Boomerang Created by: Art&Graft The Branding Source Brand New Design Week |
In the 2000s, the general trend was that American thematic channels decided to broaden their remit. Two examples of this were the Sci-Fi Channel and Animal Planet, who both introduced logos in tune with more generic programming. In the last couple of years, they reverted these changes, introduced more clearly genre-based programming and launched more thematic logos.
![]() | Syfy Created by: Loyalkaspar Revealed: May 11, 2017 The Branding Source |
![]() | Animal Planet Created by: Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv Revealed: October 16, 2018 Launched: October 28, 2018 Brand New Press release |
VH1 gave up their weird box-or-whatever logo in 2013 for a fresh and simple one from Gretel.
![]() | VH1 Created by: Gretel Launched: January 6, 2013 The Branding Source Brand New |
![]() | Travel Channel Created by: Loyalkaspar Revealed: No Launched: Late January (?) Branding Source Brand New Brand New 2 |
![]() | C-SPAN Created by: Grafik Launched: March 2019 Brand New |
![]() | QVC Revealed: February 6, 2019 Press release Brand New |
![]() | Current Created by: Wolff Olins Revealed: 2011 Launched: 2011 Brand New NewscastStudio |
![]() | Spike (2015) Created by: Blue Marlin Revealed: March 3, 3015 The Branding Source |
![]() | TV One Created by: Eyeball/ModOp Revealed: February 3, 2016 Launched: February 5, 2016 The Branding Source The Branding Source follow-up |
Food Network (2013) Created by: Troika Design Group Launched: January 6, 2013 The Branding Source |
![]() | HGTV (2010) Launched: March 1, 2010 Multichannel News |
![]() | Cooking Channel Created by: Trollbäck + Company Revealed: 2010 Launched: May 31, 2010 Design:related |
![]() | We TV Created by: Troika Design Group Troika - rebrand Troika - logo |
The Independent Film Channel shifted from independent film to quirky comedies in 2010, introducing its new "slightly off" branding. In 2014, Gretel put the logo on an angle, making it slightly more off.
![]() | IFC (2010) |
![]() | IFC (2014) Created by: Gretel The Branding Source |
There were several networks whose logo were subject to constant tinkering. These included Lifetime, Oxygen, TV Land, Freeform (formerly ABC Family) and Science.
Lifetime (2012) Created by: Leroy + Clarkson Revealed: May 2, 2012 The Branding Source Brand New |
![]() | Lifetime (2013) Created by: loyalkaspar loyalkaspar Braden Wheeler |
![]() | Lifetime (2017) Launched: January 2017 The Branding Source |
![]() | Oxygen Created by: Eyeball Revealed: July 15, 2014 Launched: October 7, 2014 The Branding Source |
![]() | Oxygen Created by: Trollbäck + Company Revealed: May 11, 2017 |
![]() | Science Revealed: April 5, 2011 Launched: June 8, 2011 Ryan McCullah (archive) Branding Source |
![]() | Science Channel Created by: Sibling/Rivalry The Branding Source Sibling/Rivalry |
![]() | TV Land Created by: Trollbäck + Company Revealed: May 9, 2012 The Branding Source Brand New |
![]() | TV Land Created by: Roger Launched: June 23, 2015 Press release AdWeek Vimeo Roger |
![]() | Freeform Launched: January 12, 2016 Brand New |
![]() | Freeform Launched: 2018 Created by: Ferroconcrete Deadline Ferroconcrete |
![]() | Cloo Launched: August 15, 2011 The Branding Source The Branding Source update |
![]() | Style Network Created by: Gretel Revealed: June 20, 2012 Launched: June 25, 2012 The Branding Source Gretel (archive) Vimeo Brand New |
![]() | Centric Created by: Gretel The Branding Source Gretel (archive) Brand New |
The Oprah Winfrey Network had been postponed multiple times before launching in 2011.
![]() | Oprah Winfrey Network (2011) Revealed: Mid-October 2010 Launched: January 1, 2011 The OWN blog (archive) Brand New |
![]() | Oprah Winfrey Network (refresh later in 2011) Branding Source |
There were some other stabs taken at launching completely new cable TV brands, with Viceland proving to be a costly hybrid between cable and new media.
Viceland (2016) Created by: Gretel Brand New |
![]() | FYI (2013) Revealed: December 11, 2013 Launched: July 2014 |
![]() | The Hub (2010) Created by: Troika Design Group Revealed: January 14, 2010 Launched: October 10, 2010 Troika Discovery press release (archive) PRNewswire |
International
Eurosport did a neat refresh of their classic ten-star logo back in 2011. Then in 2015 Pentagram and DixonBaxi overhauled the channel completely.
![]() | Eurosport (2011) Revealed: January 17, 2011 Launched: April 5, 2011 Branding Source |
![]() | Eurosport (2015) Created by: Angus Hyland, Pentagram Launched: November 13, 2015 The Branding Source Creative Review |
The BBC overhauled its international channel portofolio, launching three completely new brands, designed by Trollbäck + Company.
![]() | BBC First Created by: Trollbäck + Company Revealed: June 2014 The Branding Source |
![]() | BBC Brit Created by: Trollbäck + Company Revealed: Autumn 2014 Launched: February 1, 2015 The Branding Source |
![]() | BBC Earth Created by: Trollbäck + Company Revealed: Autumn 2014 Launched: Februari 1, 2015 The Branding Source |
![]() | Sony Channel (2019) Revealed: July 24, 2019 (in the UK, possibly earlier in other markets) Launched: August 12, 2019 (Latin America), September 10, 2019 (United Kingdom) The Branding Source Prensario Sky Media Rapid TV News |
![]() | AXN (2015) The Branding Source |
![]() | Crime+Investigation Network (2017) Created by: DixonBaxi? Launched: January 2017 Brief Multichannel News |
![]() | Universal Channel (2010) Created by: Heavenly Launched: March 24, 2010 (South Africa) |
![]() | Universal Channel (2013) Created by: Red Bee Media Revealed: April 2013 The Branding Source |
![]() | Universal TV (2018) Created by: Red Bee |
![]() | Euronews Created by: Lambie-Nairn Lambie-Nairn (archive) Design Tagebuch |
United Kingdom
UKTV, the suite of British TV channels half-owned by the BBC completely relaunched its portfolio around 2007-2009 and then spent much of the '10s slightly tooling with that relaunch. Agencies like DixonBaxi and Art&Graft helped out.
![]() | UKTV Created by: Landor Associates Revealed: March 19, 2013 Launched: March 26, 2013 The Branding Source |
![]() | Watch (2010) Launched: September 23, 2010 |
![]() | Watch (2012) Created by: DixonBaxi Revealed: January 23, 2012 Launched: March 9, 2012 Branding Source |
![]() | W, formely Watch (2016) Created by: Art&Graft Revealed: January 5, 2016 Launched: February 2016 UKTV (archive) |
![]() | Yesterday Created by: DixonBaxi Revealed: July 10, 2012 Launched: July 24, 2012 The Branding Source |
![]() | Drama Created by: DixonBaxi Revealed: April 2, 2013 The Branding Source |
![]() | Really Created by: Red Bee Media Revealed: May 10, 2013 Launched: May 15, 2013 The Branding Source |
![]() | Gold Created by: DixonBaxi Revealed: July 15, 2015 Launched: July 16, 2014 The Branding Source |
![]() | Alibi Created by: Art&Graft Launched: July 1, 2015 The Branding Source |
![]() | Quest Launched: April 16, 2014 The Ident Gallery Vimeo |
![]() | Blaze Created by: DixonBaxi The Branding Source DixonBaxi |
![]() | Freeview (2015) Created by: DixonBaxi Revealed: February 12, 2015 The Branding Source Logo Design Love |
![]() | Challenge (2016) Created by: MMMultiply Launched: June 23, 2016 |
Canada
Canada's peculiar media ownership laws means they have several local cable TV brands.![]() | Sportsnet (2011) Created by: Troika Design Group Revealed: September 29, 2011 Launched: October 3, 2011 Branding Source Brand New Troika - rebrand Troika - logo |
![]() | MuchMusic (2011) Launched: 2011 (April 1?) Branding Source |
![]() | Showcase (2015) Created by: In-house The Branding Source |
![]() | Family Jr (2015) Created by: Roger Roger The Branding Source |
![]() | The Comedy Network (2011) Created by: Bell Media Agency Revealed: October 28, 2011 Launched: November 1, 2011 Branding Source |
![]() | Space (2013) Created by: Bell Media Agency Launched: March 4, 2013 The Branding Source |
France
France has unusually many striking local TV channel brands, some of whom deserve a mention.![]() | Ciné+ (2011) Launched: May 17, 2011 Lenodal Branding Source |
![]() | Canal J (2015) Created by: Motionfanclub Revealed: January 2015 Launched: January 13, 2015 The Branding Source Blog.Lenodal.com |
![]() | Tiji (2012) Created by: Gédéon Launched: February 10, 2012 Actulogo Megazap 1 Megazap 2 Média+ Youtube |
![]() | Voyage (2011) Launched: March 2011 Branding Source |
![]() | Voyage (2016) Created by: Gédéon Revealed: September 2016 Launched: October 4, 2016 The Branding Source |
![]() | Histoire TV (2019) Created by: W TF1 & Vous CB News Megazap |
![]() | TV Breizh (2014) Created by: Dream On Revealed: June 2014 Launched: June 28, 2014 Blog.Lenodal.com Newstele Graphiline |
![]() | Jimmy (2014) Revealed: January 2014 Launched: February 18, 2014 The Branding Source |
![]() | Equidia (2018) Created by: Dragon Rouge Launched: January 8, 2018 Blog.Lenodal.com Press dossier |
Others
![]() | Star Sports Created by: venturethree Launched: November 2013 Brand New |
MTV-owned German music and entertainment-owned launched a cool and well-received rebrand at start of 2011. The channel closed down forever on New Year's Eve 2018.
![]() | Viva Revealed: November 2010 Launched: January 1, 2011 Brand New |
![]() | SF (Australia) Created by: Ink Project Revealed: July 18, 2012 Launched: July 23, 2012 The Branding Source Ink Project |
![]() | Lifestyle (2016) TV Tonight |
![]() | Telecine (2019) The Branding Source Cinemundo Guidelines |
![]() | Odisea / Odisseia (2011) Revealed: February 17, 2011 Branding Source |
Premium TV
![]() | Foxtel (2017) Created by: Maud Revealed: June 6, 2017 The Branding Source |
![]() | #0 MundoPlus |
![]() | Canalsat (2011) Created by: Nude Launched: September 2011 Branding Source |
![]() | C More (2012) Created by: Ohlsonsmith Revealed: June 7, 2012 Launched: September 4 (scheduled) The Branding Source |
![]() | C More (2016) Created by: Bold Launched: March 2016 The Branding Source Bold |
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