MTV3 (Finland)

Logo descriptions by Thisisanwser, Logent

Logo captures by Logent, Pyscowicz

Editions by AnimeTVLogos, DatNumber9Tho, Thisisanwser, Pyscowicz

Video captures courtesy of ZeiTsei, Nauhoitevideot, Matapoliisit3, Nostalgia-TV, Joonas Pajuniva, FinnTapes, TV Aarteet, Vanhoja-mainoskatkoja, Retropiiretyt, King of TV Sat, El Camino Helsinki, Jaakko Slotte, Boutique, Grade One, Massive Music, MONAMI AGENCY, Valve, Harjis, Sonja Huttunen, NakkedTV

Background: MTV3 was launched in January 1, 1993 as the result of TV channel reform in Finland. All programs that originally run on previous programming block MTV, moved out from Yleisradio's TV1 and TV2 channels into new Finnish commercial television station. During the same year, MTV Oy was admitted as a full active member of the European Broadcasting Union. MTV3 become quickly popular and the full time broadcasts began in March 14. 1994. MTV Oy and daily newspaper Aamulehti merged into Alma Media in 1998 after the foundation of new Finnish commercial television channel Nelonen operated by media group Sanoma. One year later, MTV Oy launched a free Finnish cable channel TVTV!, that was then later formed into SubTV. In 2005, MTV Oy was sold and later owned fully by Swedish media group Bonnier AB. In 2008, MTV3 expanded with four pay-TV channels: MTV3 MAX, MTV3 Fakta, MTV3 Leffa and Subtv Juniori. The channel image for the television station has been fully updated twice since its launch (2001-2013 and 2013-present). Again, not associated by the American television network, MTV (Music Television).

Note: Many of these channel idents can be found in <a href="https://youtu.be/dEo6Fl5NQlI?t=2m28s" target="_self">this compilation</a> from 2:28 mark onwards.

1st Logo

(January 1, 1993-September 6, 2001)

Nicknames: "Ribbon Owl", "Majestic Owl", "Owl Ball's Evolution"

Logo: On a time-lapse video of a sunset over water, a metallic triangle fades in, rotates, and zooms out into place. As it settles into place, a light emerges from it as triangles, ribbons and a live action owl flies out and ripples form on the water's surface. As a result, the triangle disappears and the sunset fades to a rippling orange and blue background. A shot of a owl fades in, turning it's head as the background changes to blue. Another owl flies across the screen as a single ribbon comes around the screen. A close-up of the owl's eye then fades in before fading back to a close up of the flying owl, surrounded by auroras. The ribbon flies across the screen again as the owl fades before the final shot on a cloudy background. A spotlight appears and rotates around as the owl flies across the screen. The owl fades out as several blue ribbons and one red ribbon fly in, forming an owl with the blue ribbons and a "3" with the red ribbon. The spotlight forms a glass triangle and another light forms, finishing the triangle and making the owl disappear as "MTV" fades in below, with the "V" on the tip of the triangle. Ripples form on the bottom of the screen, with the cloudy background and ribbons waving around continuing until the end of the logo.

Trivia:

The logo was created by graphic designer John Kennedy of now dissolved British company McCallum Kennedy D'Autria Ltd.
According to Heikki Hellman in his book Koko illan ilo? Kolmoskanava ja television kaupallistuminen, the transparent triangle seen in both idents is reference to the fusion of MTV and the nationwide television channel Kolmoskanava (the channel featured trademark logo in form of a triangle), that previously owned the third channel slot.

Variant: The closedown variant has a darkened owl looking around with another owl, this time as a silhouette, flying across the sunset background. This then cuts to the logo forming, but without the owl.

FX/SFX: The live-action shot of the owl, the ribbons. Excellent use of live-action and CGI that holds up 24 years later and a proud step up from before.

Music/Sounds: A majestic orchestral piece, with string instruments before ending with a proud hit. The closedown variant has a quiet "WHOOSH" before ending with an abridged version of the piece.

Availability: Extinct on TV. Both variants can be discovered in numerous preserved VHS recordings from 1990's. The closedown variant could also be spotted after the closure of seven o'clock newscast (Seitsemän uutiset).

Editor's Note: The dramatic piece may surprise, but this is a majestic logo and a nostalgic memory for many in Finland.

2nd Logo

(September 6, 2001-October 3, 2005)

Ident variants:

Ad break variants:

Nicknames: "The Owl Eye", "Translucent Owl Eye"

Logo: On a varying background, we see transparent object rotating slowly on center of the screen. Small bars are seen wiping in and out of the object with between parts of bars having small texts of "mtv3" reading on them. The object then come into full view with snowy owl briefly seen on center of the object before disappearing on it, revealing as an abstract owl eye with glossy texture. Then, the transparent "MTV3" appears below, in a round font.

Trivia: An international design agency Novocom created a new abstract owl eye logo, that is used from 2001 up to 2013 with only simplified changes being made in 2005. There's a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrt3OExdUFk" target="_self">compilation video</a> showcasing different variants created by Novocom, some of which may had or had not been aired on television.

Variants:

A minute and half long startup ident features a slow sunrise behind the forest with shots of river flow and forests shown in-between. Bars are seen wiping across the screen three times; first as vertical lines, second as regular "mtv3" bars and the third time has bars wiping in and out of the slowly rotating logo regularly. The logo appears at the last third of the ident with the sun seen fully rising up on the background.
A closedown ident from 2002 has the background of pond shore during at sunset (the exact same shot is also seen briefly in the startup variant). The camera keeps slowly zooming-in, while the logo animation is presented on the screen.
Regular #1: We see red and white room with active steel table fan on the right side. The camera is slowly zooming-in.
Regular #2: Ident variant spotted in 2002 has a distance shot showing city coast of Helsinki.
Regular #3: Another variant spotted in 2002 has low angle shot of conifers during a winter time. The camera slowly pans on right, while pointing upwards.
Regular #4: Variant used in 2003 has camera panning to the right upwards. The camera stops towards the end of the ident to display the coastal area of Helsinki during a winter time.
Regular #5: Variant used in 2004 has landscape shot showing a lake during a cloudy sunset. The camera is seen panning slowly right and stops after the logo has come into full view.
Regular #6: Variant used in 2004 has another take on landscape shot depicting the lake during a sunset. Here however, the camera pans left.
Regular #7: Here we have simple rack focused shot of an red room with white couch on the right side. The camera is slowly zooming-in.
Regular #8: Another variant from 2004 has landscape shot showing coastal parts of the city during a dusk. The camera slowly pans left and stops at one place when the logo has come into full view.
Regular #9: We have simple shot of camera pointing to the corner of red room with wall coverings having round formations on them.
Regular #10: Same shot as the previous one, but now we see white round table with photo frame standing on it, while the camera zooms-in towards it. On photo frame, simple slideshow of four different portraits or pictures is seen.
Regular #11: Variant used in 2005 features another landscape shot showing a finnish lake and forestry bay. The camera is in constant movement to the left while water splash can be seen on the bottom left side, as the footage is taken during a motor boat ride.
Series #1: We have rack focused shot with camera pointing on a horizontal direction, showing top of the red padded chair and tall fish tank. Between parts of wiping bars, we can see words "SARJAT" written on them.
Series #2: We have extreme close-up shot, showing again the padded chair and corner of the fish tank on the right side. There is also a regular variant of this ident, as replacing words "SARJAT" with basic "mtv3" on bars.
Series #3: A rack focused shot of red room with white couch seen in far distance. We can see brown clean table with set of soda canisters on the right side. The camera is slowly zooming-in straight forward. Unlike in previous two variants, wiping bars are missing and instead only words are seen wiping in and out of the logo.
Drama #1: A rack focused shot depicting white couch with red pillow. Words with "DRAAMA" written on them are seen along with bars, wiping in and out of the logo.
Drama #2: From a rack focused perspective, we see a white couch and couple of tissues on a table in the red room. The camera is slowly zooming-in, as we see words of "DRAAMA" (with slight glimpses of tiny diamond formations) moving back and forth the screen and behind the owl eye logo.
Entertainment #1: A rack focused shot, this time depicting top of the red padded chair, piece of lamp post and yellow lava lamp. Between parts of wiping bars, we can see words "VIIHDE" written on them.
Entertainment #2: The logo animation is happening on a red room background with large loudspeaker seen on right. The camera is slowly zooming-in.
Comedy: In the dark room, we see a man on a couch, watching a tv, while picking up a popcorn and tossing it up to mid-air. As the result, big pile of popcorn falls down on him, as the person takes one and eats it. While this is happening, words of "KOMEDIA" are moving through the screen back and forth via a tunnel made of tiny diamond formations, as the tunnel pipe is seen stretching. We can also see large rhombus quadrilaterals popping in and out on the right side as well. The logo comes into full view on the screen after the big pile of popcorns falls down and the diamond tunnel fades out.
Kids: We see a typical children room with toys on the floor, cabinet and bed. A woody toy train is also seen driving around by itself with stuffed frog riding it. Words with "LAPSET" written on them are seen along with bars, wiping in and out of the screen. We then cut into another shot of someone making a red top to spin around at one place, while the woody toy train is moving past on the background. At this point, the logo rotates in the screen.
Teenagers: Used in 2001 and 2003, we start in a close-up shot of two television screens with one in left showing rotating egg chair and another one on right a woman with headphones. The camera then slowly zooms-out but we have quick cut to more wider and prominent shot of egg chair and six television screens, each one depicting different shots of a woman and egg chair. As this happens, words with "NUORET" written on them are seen along with bars, wiping in and out of the screen. We have more quick cuts the previous shot and then far away of the egg chair and monitors, while woman on monitors has wide happy expression on her face. During these quick cuts, the logo rotates in the screen, while the camera keeps zooming out of the egg chair room.
Movie #1: We see the front view of movie theater seats, as the camera slowly scrolls down. We see bars with words with "ELOKUVAT" written on them, as these bars seen wiping in and out of the logo with rhombus quadrilaterals popping in and out around them. The abstract owl eye creates a beam of light like a film projector while rotating. The light beam disappears after the logo has come into full view. The camera stops scrolling in front of movie seat that has numbers "003" labeled below the seat.
Movie #2: Used between 2003 and 2005, we start up from black background with vertical and horizontal dotted lines, while word "E L O K U V A T" is flashing on center of the screen. The flashing gets faster until the letters leap away from an sudden explosion, with another set of letters flying on the screen. As the logo then appears, the explosion animation is repeated in reverse, leaving a round yellow light on the screen, while bars with words "ELOKUVAT" written on them are wiping in and out of logo.
Sport #1: Used between 2001 and 2003, we see orange background with blurry motion with formula one stadium seen on the left side. As the camera pans from right to left and the logo rotates slowly into full view, bars with words "URHEILU" written on them, are wiping in and out of logo.
Sport #2: Used in between 2003 and 2004, we see white, computer generated formula one stadium with red background is rounded on the left side. Unlike the previous variant, only words "URHEILU" are seen wiping in and out of logo.
Sport #3: Used in 2005, we see dark red and black background with multiple lines with smooth lightning effect going on them. It should be noticed, that lines of words "URHEILU" written on them have small bubbles popping up, as words wipe and out of the logo. There also exists short 3 seconds long ad break variant with the same background, except that we see words "JATKUU" passing through the transparent owl eye logo back and forth.
News #1: Used between 2001 and 2003, we see a footage taken from Helsinki Metro station with the right half of the screen being mirror image. At first, the footage is in fast forward motion until it changes into slow motion as chain-formatted bars with words "UUTISET" written on them, wipe in and out of logo.
News #2: Used between 2004 and 2005, we see extreme close-up shot of an couch's lower side, while the camera slowly zooms-in. A pillow of sort is seen in front of couch, that reflects images of city buildings. Unlike the previous variant, only words "UUTISET" are seen wiping in and out of logo.
In 2005, some of regular idents feature snowy owl seen on center of the logo. Unlike previous idents though, this time snowy owl does not disappear after the transparent logo has came into full view and it keeps staring at its audience towards the end of the ident. In the first variant, the background features red room with glass table and white curtain, while another one features a view of table with white bowl full of strawberries.
Ad break (2001-2002): On black background, we see a large, clean and red object similar to owl eye logo. The large object is in same rotation speed as the logo itself, as bars with small words "mtv3" written on them, wipe in out of the logo. After the logo comes in full view, words "JATKUU" are then seen wiping in and out of it. Shorter version exists, usually showing the last three seconds of the logo as it is already in full view. The Christmas variant used in December 2001, has logo with snowing on it.
Ad break #1 (2002-2003): We see a complex background with larger logo seen in slow rotation. Bars with "mtv3" on them wipe in and out of the logo normally, but these words will turn into different ones with "JATKUU" written on them during the process. Two extra sections wipe in at the bottom part of the screen, as the left side shows basic vertical line background, while the right side features another, larger logo in horizontal rotation, except the round part of the object is rotating in 45 degree angle. Shorter version also exists much like the previous variant.
Ad break #2 (2002-2003): Exclusive variant used during breakfast television program Huomenta Suomi features quick and complex background like the previous variant, featuring few shots of sun rising behind the forest seen in the startup variant and scrolling document text on the left side. Notably, the background here is colored light blue rather than regular red seen in the previous variant with the exception of the red bottom right corner with owl eye logo rotating in 45 degree angle. On the right side where bars with "JATKUU" are scrolling past the screen, there are transparent cubic symbols seen flashing before they disappear from the screen.
Sport ad break (2001-2003): Featured during live sport broadcasts, we see the abstract owl eye spinning aroundat high speed while leaving a after images on a golden background with formula car spotted on the center. Small words of "JATKUU" are seen going through the spinning logo back and forth, while the center point of the background fades out. As the text appears below, the owl eye stops spinning instantly.
Movie ad break (2001-2003): Again, we have quick and complex background similar to previous variant. The large object is seen on rotation as there is also short film reel countdown going from 3 to 2, while lower sections of the screen with vertical line background and rotating object parts are already there. All of these parts wipe out as the scenery of movie theater seats takes large part of the screen. This scenery will then slowly fades back to the end part of the 2002-2003 ad break variant. Two shorter versions exist: the first one showing the first three seconds and the second one with the last three seconds of the ad break.
Movie ad break #1 (2002): Once again, we have quick and complex background of 2002-2003 ad break variant with same details. This time, the right half of the screen has overhead view of an man sitting on a couch, while tossing a popcorn into the air. We then cut into close-up shot of popcorn being dropped down to the floor. The scene then fades out and we see the background of 2002-2003 ad break variant.
Movie ad break #2 (2002): Again, the same complex background is featured, but this time we see blue, round object dashing through the screen from left to right, leaving a flame wall behind it. This transitions then to another background with large explosion bursting from the right side of the screen before the background changes to the regular one seen at the end of previous movie variants. As the logo rotates in full view, the owl is not seen in it.
Christmas ad break (2002): We have quick complex background with lower parts seen in two previously described variants. The above part however, has cartoony setting taking place on living room with huge chunk of presents. Here we have Santa Claus and dog moving rapidly across to room. The scene then cuts to outside in night time with Santa chasing his own sledge, that has gone without him. During last seconds, the scene then fades back to background seen in 2002-2003 ad break variant.
Teenagers ad break (2003): On a similar complex background, we have the extreme closeup shot of the slowly spinning egg chair's top, that then transitions to further shot of the chair with monitors seen behind, displaying the parts of the spinning chair and eerily smiling woman. Much like the previous ad break variants, it then transitions to red background with the owl eye logo and the text below it coming to full view.
Ad break (2003-2005): Here we have two rack focused shots sharing the screen space, while camera pans right on left shot and left on the right shot. Three versions exists with all of them having a right, rack focused shot of white couch and cabinet. The first one has what looks like a white bowl, the second one has edge of cup and the third one features closer look of white couch. Shorter versions of these variants also exist.
Christmas ad break (2003): Closely similar to previous, regular ad break variants except we see numerous silhouettes of snowflakes being visible on a white couch left, dropping down on the left side of the screen.
Christmas ad break (2004): Used in December 2004, there are three versions of these featuring Aulis the owl on red-painted studio background with wooden ladders and lights: the first one has him doing a moonwalk, the second one has him taking a peek on the left side of the screen while winking its right eye and the third one features him simply taking a peek on the right side of the screen.
Ad break (2005): We see red room with white curtain on the left side. Much like 2005 closing ident variants, the snowy owl can be seen staring at its audience in the owl eye logo towards the end of the ad break. There are four different versions: the first one has empty red room at the right side, the second one has objects spread around the floor, the third one has glass vase on glass table and the fourth one shows apples on wooden table.

FX/SFX: The CGI or live action background, wiping bars and the logo rotating in.

Music/Sounds: Three-note synth tune, similar to the NBC Chimes.

Music/Sounds Trivia: The three-note jingle originated from 1995-2001 ad break bumpers and many MTV3's in-house production logos in mid-1990's.

Music/Sounds Variants:

Five seconds shorter version of the startup ident tune with three-note jingle for most of regular and 2005 owl variants.
A soft wind with a three-note synth jingle with another soft wind ending the tune for most of regular variants.
Relaxing, pop music version of the tune for some of regular variants, 2003 series variant and several 2005 owl variants.
A synth tune with three-note jingle played with an electric guitar for 2001-2003 series variants and single regular variant.
Soft and relaxing rendition of the tune for the 2001-2003 drama variant.
A different rendition with electric guitar playing the three-note tune for the second drama variant.
Modern Finnish schlager (Iskelmä) rendition of the tune for 2001-2003 entertainment variant.
Cheery version of the tune with stock cartoon sound effects for 2001-2005 kids variant.
Hip-hop rendition of three-note tune with synth beats and creeping sound heard at the end for 2001-2003 teenagers variant.
John Williams-inspired rendition of the tune for 2001-2003 movie variant.
Corrupted computer and explosion sound effects, followed by tight spy-themed version of three note-jingle for 2003-2005 movie variant.
Intense rendition of the tune for 2001-2003 sport variant. The same melody is used for the sport-themed ad-break variant, that only fades out earlier.
Soft and thrilling rendition of the tune for 2003-2004 and 2005 sport variants.
Both news variants have calm tune, that contains somewhat different nine-note jingle.
A soft wind with a three-note synth tune in 2001-2002 ad break variant. Also included in Christmas 2001 variant.
Shorter version of the closing movie tune for 2001-2003 movie-themed ad break variant.
2002 movie-themed ad break variant uses a noisy, re-arranged version of the three-note tune that ends with a deep sound.
Another movie ad break variant from 2002 has the intense spy-themed rendition of the three-note tune.
A soft three-note tune with different synth instruments for ad break variant from 2002. Can also be heard in the Christmas variant from 2002, 2003-2004 and 2005 owl-themed variants.
December 2004 ad break variants use small piece of the background music heard in television station's animated promos featuring Aulis the owl with Christmas-inspired rendition of three-note jingle.

Availability: Extinct on TV. The startup ident was played in every morning after the tv-chat program has ended. Many idents could have been spotted after the closure of different type of programs. Regular variants featuring live-action footage of nature or city buildings were played after news broadcasts or weather forecast programs.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo

(October 3, 2005-2010)

Nicknames: "The Owl Eye II", "Colored Owl Eye"

Logo: On a white background, an orange dot flies in and spreads into a circle of multi-colored dots. This rotates around and goes back to the orange dot. It immediately disappears and the same logo from before fades in, but colored. The area around the eye is orange, while the eye is black. The text is all black, this time.

Trivia: While Novocom designed the owl eye logo, a new channel look with closing logos used since 2005, are done by Graham McCallum.

Variants:

Usually, some variants include the promo of upcoming program aired on prime time. One example features Idols logo on a blue and white background along with stacked dark blue text of airing times of related programs. A separate star is seen rotating slowly on the left bottom corner, as the stacked text fades out and the Idols logo flips around to show the channel logo on the screen.
On March 2006, one variant features multi-colored dots being replaced by logos of new premium channels, which are launched at that time.
A separate variant replaces multi-colored dots with stars, that fly in the circle at high speed. The camera zooms-in and away drastically, while the stars create wider rotation length. Stars then merged back to the lead red one, that comes back to the full view, flips around and transforms into the owl eye logo. We also see dark orange text "Tanssii Tähtien Kanssa" (promoting the program of that time) below the logo. When the show was promoted again in 2009 with the high-definition variant of the logo animation, the orange text was changed to gray with smaller "sunnuntai-iltaisin" added below it.

FX/SFX: The dots swirling around, the logo fading in.

Music/Sounds: A soft wind tune.

Availability: Extinct. Could be usually spotted after the program has ended. However, this did not occur with programs aired during evening or prime time.

Editor's Note: It's a calm logo, but it's unfortunately the last to be seen of the owl identity.

4th Logo

(October 3, 2005-November 3, 2013)

Valio / Suuret Suomalaiset variant (2010)

Nicknames: "The Owl Eye III", "Colored Owl Eye II", "Playing with Light", "Finnish Activity"

Logo: TBA

Variants: TBA

FX/SFX: TBA

Music/Sounds: TBA

Music/Sound Variants: TBA

Availability: Extinct on TV. Could be spotted prior the next program.

Editor's Note: TBA

5th Logo

(November 3, 2013-May 21, 2017)

Nicknames: "Alko-TV", "The Whirls", "No More Owls", "Brief Return of the Commercial Owl" "The Owl is Back, But It's Gone Again", "Owl Teasing"

Logo: On a random shot of live-action, usually roller derby, a group of whirl blades fly in as the new MTV3 logo is drawn in, which is "mtv3" in a circle, with the "3" jutting out. The whirls then disappear.

Variant: The logo may be on a black background instead, with the blades taking up the whole background.

FX/SFX: The blades and logo drawing in.

Music/Sounds: A calm beat.

Availability: Extinct on TV.

Editor's Note: None.

6th Logo

(May 22, 2017-)

Nicknames: "Alko-TV II", "Round Warp Tunnel"

Logo: TBA

Variants: TBA

FX/SFX: TBA

Music/Sounds: TBA

Availability: TBA

Editor's Note: TBA

MTV3 (Finland)

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