ZDF

ZDF (abbreviated for Zweites Duetsches Fernsehen) is a German public-service television broadcaster based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, and the second channel of Deutshces Fernsehen. It is run as an independent nonprofit institution, which was founded by all federal states of Germany (Bundesländer). ZDF is financed by television licence fees and advertising revenues.

Television Idents

Contents 1st Logo (April 1, 1963-1971) 2nd Logo (1971-mid/late 1970s) 3rd Logo (1970s?-1987) 4th Logo (1987-1992) 5th Logo (1992-1996) 6th Logo (1996-2001)

Endcaps

Contents   Logo (1999)

Television Idents

1st Logo (April 1, 1963-1971)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a symbol consisting of 2 white vertical lines with 2 gray "eyes" intersecting with each other, with the top being brighter than the bottom. Underneath is the station name "ZWEITES DEUTSCHES FERNSEHEN" in a stacked format.

Technique: A still, printed image.

Audio: An announcer saying "Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen".

2nd Logo (1971-mid/late 1970s)

Visuals: On a blue background is the text "ZDF" repeated multiple times on a background in light blue and dark blue. The same symbol is displayed in the middle and the "eyes" are now gold.

Technique: Traditional ink-and-paint.

Audio: Unknown.

3rd Logo (1970s?-1987)

Visuals: Essentially the same symbol from before but on a light blue background.

Technique: A still, printed image.

Audio: None.

Availability: It was seen on a few television programs and news programs during the time.

4th Logo (1987-1992)

Visuals: On a white-dark blue gradient background, there are 2 orange layers of text moving outwards the camera, and then more colored layers of text appear hovering with the letters "ZDF" on it, When its fully formed, a white text with a backdrop fades into the bottom right saying "Ihr Programm".

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A cheerful synthesizer theme.

Availability: It was seen before news and television programs at the time.

5th Logo (1992-1996)

Visuals: On a cloudy background, there are parts of an armillary sphere moving and rotating to form a rainbow sphere, then 2 blue rings start to zoom out and rotate clockwisely, then the objects form to make the ZDF symbol at the time. When formed, the letters "ZDF", animating as a whole word, in blue, wipe and shine in.

Technique: CGI and live action.

Audio: A bombastic theme with trumpets and a synth, which ends with a 3-note jingle.

Availability: It was seen before programs at the time.

6th Logo (1996-2001)

Visuals: On a shiny blue background is the ZDF symbol at the time in blue, Then one of its "rings" rotate clockwisely and the other counterclock-wisely, then the camera zooms into the sphere of the symbol, when the symbol is fully zoomed in, the logo cuts to black.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A new-age, electronic theme. first a synth plays 6 notes, and then a long note plays and fades out, then it ends in a 3-note jingle, which is a rearranged version of the 1992 jingle, this jingle would become a signature of ZDF's logos from that year.

Endcaps

Logo (1999)

Visuals: On a dark blue background is the ZDF symbol at the time in blue.

Technique: CGI still imagery.

Audio: None.

Availability: It was seen on original prints of Ted Sieger’s Wildlife.