Mediaset (Italy)

Background
Mediaset S.p.A. is an Italian media company and the largest broadcaster in the region. It derived from TeleMilano Group founded in 1978 by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and 38.6% of the group is still controlled by his family. The current name was introduced in 1992 and the company was set as a separate entity in 1995. Mediaset holds majority shares in the Netherlands-based Endemol and Italian film producer Medusa.

1st (known) Logo (1987-1995)
Logo: On a black background, a yellow light slides away to the left of the screen, revealing "Times New Roman", with "Times New Roman" being smaller and separated from the rest of the text by a line. Another yellow light draws a circle on the top and flashes, revealing the logo, which is a seat connected to a flower-like cog on a circle. The logo flashes and "Times New Roman" fades in and flashes below.

Trivia: The logo is actually part of the branding of Telemilano (and to some extent, Canale 5), then acquired and modified for Silvio Berlusconi's services at the time.

Variants:
 * There's a filmed version, which is described above, and a videotaped version, where 2 bars of light form the text in a straighter and more golden font. The light draws a circle in a similar way to the filmed version, but wipes away to reveal the logo and flashes again. The text flashes in instead of fading in.
 * There is an English variant of the videotaped version, where "Times New Roman" is replaced by "Times New Roman".

FX/SFX: The circle wiping in and being drawn in.

Music/Sounds: A synth jingle with a six-note entry near to the end.

Availability: Uncommon. It appeared on several TV movies. The English videotaped version appears on Shattered Image.

Editor's Note: None.

1st Logo (1990-1997)
Logo: On a black background, 2 golden bars of light slide in and wipe in the golden text "Times New Roman", which is spaced out to match the underline's length. After it wipes in, the emblem from the previous logo fades in and the cog shines.

FX/SFX: The wiping of the name.

Music/Sounds: Same as the previous logo, but at a slightly lower pitch.

Availability: Rare.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1996-1999)
Logo:
 * Version 1: We see a spark drawing in a line which morphs into a blue oval with the text "UNA PRODUZIONE" in italics. Meanwhile the Mediaset logomark flies out in 3D, along with a gray "MEDIASET" below, before 3 sparks appear from the bottom and create the logos of the three Mediaset-operated channels (Canale 5, Italia 1, and Retequattro). A gray arc joins the channel logos together.
 * Version 2: The gray and blue emblem moves to the upper center while the name zooms out and pans under it. As the logo formed, the three sparks come up and form the channel logos, while everything slightly zooms out to make room for a blue oval banner with "PRESENTA" that flips in below.

Variant: Some prints have the "UNA PRODUZIONE" version of the logo with its 2nd half sped up a little.

FX/SFX: The logo zooming in and drawing itself.

Music/Sounds:
 * The synth theme previously used in the 1993 RTI logo.
 * The version with "PRESENTA" has the jingle slightly modified and sped up, before a synthesized splash and a swoosh plays.

Availability: Rare.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (1999-2005)
Logo: Over a blue spotlight background, the blue "UNA PRODUZIONE" oval banner and the RTI and Mediaset logos fly out and settle on the center. The channel logos from the previous logo (with the Retequattro logo being replaced by its successor) then slide in from below, rotate to face the screen, and glow upon settling, while the arc is drawn in between them. Basically a rework of the previous logo with improved CGI.

Variants:
 * An extended variant without the "UNA PRODUZIONE" banner exists since 2003. The background at the beginning has been changed into a transparent object with blue lights orbiting throughout a space background, and the whole logo glows in blue before the background changes into the generic spotlight one.
 * A "PRESENTA" variant like that of the previous logo also exists, with the accompanying music.

FX/SFX: The components flying out, the glow, the drawing.

Music/Sounds:
 * The RTI jingle in most cases.
 * For the extended variant, you can hear an ascending orchestral fanfare composed by Silvio Amato.

Availability: Rare.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Logo (2005-2011)
Logo: We see a line of light moving down to reveal a complicated background full of glowing lights and lines. The Mediaset logo forms in the middle, being white with the cog wheel in blue. Meantime, three transparent watermarks of the Canale 5, Italia 1 and Retequattro logos float at the background.

Variant: The background was later reworked to a more abstract one, with filmstrips floating below.

FX/SFX: The whole logo.

Music/Sounds: Same as the previous logo, but a bit muffled and slowed out. In recent cases, a rearranged version of the jingle with more cinematic-sounding instruments and note adjustments was used.

Availability: Common, it was used as a channel banner and seen on several TV movies and shows. Currently it can be seen once in a while.

Editor's Note: None.

5th Logo (2011-)
Logo: Same as the previous logo, but the background and graphics are updated, the logos of the main channels (Canale 5, Italia 1, Retequattro) and the following other network's logos flash in under the Mediaset ident:

1st Version: La5, Boing, Iris, and Mediaset Extra,

2nd Version: TGCom24, La5, Boing, Iris, Extra, Italia 2 and Cartoonito

3rd Version: TGCom24, La5, Boing, Iris, Extra, Italia 2, TopCrime and Cartoonito along with the slogan "La tua tv. Sempre più grande"

FX/SFX: The whole logo.

Music/Sounds: Same as the previous logo.

Availability: Current.

Editor's Note: None.