It was Saturday, October 20, 1951 that Americans first saw a corporate logo on the CBS Television Network incorporating an eye. That Eye logo is now one of the most recognized and successful corporate logos ever created, so it has no likelihood of being retired as the network celebrates the iconic logo’s 60th anniversary.
“From the Network to the Corporation, the CBS Eye is an enduring asset of our company and a major source of pride for all of us. It is a corporate logo that is known and respected all around the world, and continues to be a fitting symbol of CBS’s proud history and ongoing leadership,” said CEB Corporation CEO Les Moonves.
To mark Thursday’s anniversary, CBS.com is replacing its homepage’s current — and prominently placed — CBS Eye with the original Eye logo. Users hovering over it will see a brief explanation of its significance, and clicking on it will direct them to a classic Charles Osgood story about the creation and history of the CBS Eye. It also appears below. CBSNews.com will also run the Osgood story, and users on both CBS.com and CBSNews.com can view photo essays of the Eye logos throughout the decades.
Kicking off the primetime schedule Thursday at 8:00 pm, ET/PT, CBS will broadcast an on-air spot showcasing the various CBS Eye logos throughout the years and highlighting the significance of today’s date. Additionally, a Network ID featuring the original CBS Eye and date the Eye was established will be shown at the top of each of the following two hours of primetime.
In the Eye’s original animated incarnation, its center was a camera iris that opened and shut, and the first still version set the Eye against a background of clouds. Over the years there have been different colors and sizes of the Eye, but to this day, the perfectly-balanced design remains unchanged.
Click here to see a brief video showing the evolution of the CBS Eye.
1951 was the year that CBS Television not only adopted the Eye logo, but also debuted the immensely popular “I Love Lucy” and launched CBS’s first news documentary series, the critically-acclaimed “See It Now” hosted by the legendary Edward R. Murrow.
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