Written and Compiled by Nicholas Aczel and Eric S.
Logo captures by Eric S.
Editions by mr3urious
Video captures courtesy by Eric S., Bob Fish and ILoveClassicTV


Background: Metromedia opened a TV production and distribution company called Metromedia Producers Corporation (MPC) in 1968 to produce and syndicate various programs and TV movies. When it closed in 1986, all MPC releases were later transferred to 20th Century Fox Television, following Murdoch's acquisition of MPC. These programs are now distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Television. In the United States, Sony Pictures Television and its predecessor, Columbia Pictures Television, was always the distributor of syndicated repeats of these programs.


1st Logo
(1968-1982)

Nickname: "MPC (of Doom)"

Logo: On a dark cyan (or blue, green, or even purple) background, the yellow, white, or orange words "METROMEDIA PRODUCERS CORPORATION" zoom up to the right. The letters M, P, and C fly from underneath in a flipping manner to the left, binding together to form the logo with M on top, P to the right, and C on the bottom.

Variants:

• Sometimes the word "PRESENTS" would flip up under the logo.
• A "spoofed" variant of this logo uses the PTV 1980 theme, being seen on 80's prints of That Girl.

FX: The words zooming, the letters flying, flipping, and binding.

Cheesy Factor: The letters look like paper cutouts, and the flipping and binding effects is typical 70's/80's animation.

Music/Sounds: A very loud and dramatic five-note fanfare. In some cases, it used only the closing theme of the show.

Availability: Extinct; shows that used to have this logo are not seen much on video or in syndication, and those that are may be a victim of News Corporation’s recent habit of plastering the 20th Television logo over it’s back catalog. The logo may survive on a few Alpha Video DVD prints, and in some TV Movies on Encore Dramas, however.

Scare Factor: High; the connecting letters on dark background and the unnerving music make this logo a major fear factor.



2nd Logo
(1978)

Nickname: "MPC"

Logo: Against a blue background, we see the shapes that resembles the "MPC" logo. Then it fills with a bright star into orange. The letters "METROMEDIA"; "PRODUCERS" and "CORPORATION" fades one by one

FX: The filling of the logo, the letters appearing.

Cheesy Factor: Simple '80s animation.

Music/Sounds: A string melody ending with a pizzicato note.

Availability: Extinct; the logo has been plastered in favor of 20th Television logos.

Scare Factor: Minimal; seems tamer than its predecessor.


3rd logo
(1981)

TBA!


4th Logo
(1982-1986)

Nickname: "The Rainbow M Ribbon"

Logo: On a black background, a rainbow-colored ribbon flies onscreen and folds into a cursive "M." The words "Distributed by" appear above the logo and "METROMEDIA PRODUCERS" below.

FX: The ribbon flying and twisting into the "M".

Cheesy Factor: Simple animation, again.

Music/Sounds: A majestic string fanfare.

Availability: Extinct; since Metromedia merged with 20th Century Fox in 1986, the logo has been plastered in favor of 20th Television logos.

Scare Factor: Minimal to medium; the music and the ribbon animations might shock some.