When was the slogan "living color" dropped from the networks?

[andy]

---

[Steve D.]

That's the "use it or lose it" company logo or trademark policy that is being discussed on this thread. I think the word "Victrola" which dates to RCA's earliest days is no longer used. The term "Golden Throat" sound is also long gone in favor of more hi tech words. The old RCA logo with the lightning bolt is still the logo for RCA Records and the RCA Victor label which uses the RCA Victor logo used on tv's & radios in the 50's is a division of BMG Music owned by Sony. And of course "Nipper"the dog was dropped and then resurrected in the late 80's. "His Master's Voice" is probably also owned by who ever has these tradmarks. GE, BMG/Sony,TCL China- Thomson or god knows who. Of course TCL- China/Thomson has the rights to the GE/RCA brand logos for their consumer electronics, Not to be confused with some GE produced appliances which are licensed by Black & Decker, Then there are the large appliances division owned by GE which also owns and manufacturers RCA & Hotpoint appliances. The Peacock is copyright by GE Corp. which owns NBC/Universal. Whew!

-Steve D.

[Jeffhs]

I think NBC gave up on its "living color" announcements just about the time they retired the original animated color peacock. There was no need for NBC to use this announcement anyhow by the mid-'70s, as all its programs were in color by then (NBC was the first TV network to telecast in full color, and it was doing that by the mid-sixties, IIRC). Also, this is probably about the time, give or take a few years, TV manufacturers quit putting color indicators on the front panels of their sets. By the seventies, who needed a light on the front of their TV to tell them a program was being telecast in color? The same argument could probably be made for stereo indicator LEDs or pilot lamps on FM radios; most stations broadcast in stereo these days, and it is easy enough to tell if the station you're listening to is in stereo or mono just by listening to the sound.

I was not aware that either CBS or ABC announced their color programs using the phrase "living color", but then again in the '60s through the '80s, and even today, many of my favorite shows were/are on NBC, so I watch that network most of the time. Law and Order, Brian Williams and Stone Phillips (the latter on Dateline) and Meet the Press for news, etc.