Viacom Logo

Viacom Logo PNG

The Viacom logo is soft, smooth, and pleasant, just like all the shows that have seen the light of day thanks to the company. The emblem demonstrates a non-aggressive market expansion policy and characterizes the media conglomerate as a well-coordinated entity.

Meaning and History

The history of Viacom began significantly earlier than 1972. Its predecessor was organized as a distribution company and dealt with the sale of films produced by CBS Studio since 1955. Initially, the owners renamed the company to CBS Films, then to CBS Enterprises, and finally, the division separated and received its current name. However, after many years of existence, the conglomerate was twice absorbed by CBS Studios, merging with it in 2000 and finally in 2019.

Throughout its history, the conglomerate’s logo underwent three changes related to the growth and expansion of the holding.

What is Viacom?

A major American media holding that owned the Nickelodeon channel and MTV network. Closely related to CBS, from which it originated and merged several times later. Now exists as ViacomCBS corporation.

1971 – 1976

The company separated from CBS because the law prohibited producing and distributing films under one name. The new name Viacom, chosen for the company and logo, is derived from the abbreviation of Video & Audio Communications.

The emblem is made with the Peignot font. Rounded, smooth letters create a sense of softness and the ability to please clients. The glyphs’ varying thickness emphasizes the new company’s individuality and its distinction as an independent unit.

The lowercase letters of the inscription indicate youth and the first independent steps in the business world.

1976 – 1990

The company began the process of mergers and acquisitions. This led to an alliance with the major conglomerate Time Warner (Warner Bros., CNN, HBO Max), the launch of joint channels, and the formation of MTV Networks and MTV Europe.

The updated emblem received a graphic element in the form of a large inverted trapezoid divided by a thin white line into two parts. The detail visually represented the first letter of the company’s name.

Underneath the V, a compact Viacom inscription was placed.

The new emblem was supposed to show the greatness and growth of the company, but it caused a lot of negative feedback and reactions due to the bulkiness of the upper part, which resembled a mountain looming over a small signature. The official nickname of the symbol became “V of Doom.” However, the company continued to use the logo for 14 years, despite its unpopularity among viewers.

1990 – 2005

In 1990, a new Viacom logo was introduced by Chermayeff & Geismar. It more accurately demonstrated the essence and main direction of the holding’s work.

The emblem once again became letter-based and consisted of the name written in an unusual font. The designers took into account the company’s work on developing music channels. The new emblem, like a sharp and clear rhythm, tapped out during a dance, is a perfect example of musicians’ performance. The cropped C and O letters and the sharp angles of the other elements resembled records, disks, and turntable needles.

The emblem showed that Viacom knew exactly what to strive for and moved toward its goal without deviating. The halved C, like a part cut in half, also hinted at the future merger with Paramount Communications, Inc., which was completed in 1994.

2005 – 2019

In 2000, the holding merged with its “parent” CBS Corporation, and in 2005, their paths diverged again. Viacom continued to grow and acquire other channels and companies until it merged again with CBS in 2019, forming ViacomCBS.

The last visual sign of an independent Viacom was presented in 2006. It was the same inscription, but all the sharp angles of the previous logo were smoothed out. The streamlined symbols strengthened the resemblance to music disks and highlighted the corporation’s ability to do business and always find its profitable niche.

Font and Colors

All Viacom logos do not have bright colors and are presented in black. The choice demonstrates a focus on work, the color of the dark screen on which an image appears. The company presented itself as a foundation for the birth of beautiful films and programs while always remaining behind the scenes.

Black also indicates the corporation’s power, its size, and the distribution of its channels on other continents (MTV was broadcast in Europe, USSR, and even Africa). It shows cooperation with all American cinema giants, resulting in the creation of new channels. The color conveys that the holding stood confidently and firmly for almost 50 years, occupying top positions in the market.

The font of the inscription is similar to Neuropa Bold. The smooth curves at the top of the V and M, like wings, provide the company’s ascent to the top.

Viacom color codes