Hit Entertainment/BBC Warning Screens

These are the Warning Screens from Hit Entertainment and The British Broadcasting Corporation.

(1980-1999)
Warning: On a sky blue background, we see a large transparent white FBI logo in the center. The black text superimposed over it reads: FBI WARNING

Federal law provides severe civil and

criminal penalties for the unauthorized

reproduction, distribution, or exhibition of

copyrighted motion pictures and video

tapes. (Title 17, United States Code,

Sections 501 and 506)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation

investigates allegations of criminal

copyright infringement (Title 17, United

States Code, Section 506) Moments later, it will fade out and go to the INTERPOL warning, which reads: _________________________

INTERPOL WARNING

International agreements and national

laws protect copyrighted motion pictures,

video tapes and sound recordings.

Unauthorized reproduction, exhibition or

distribution of copyrighted motion pictures

can result in severe criminal and civil

penalties under the laws of your country. After a few seconds, the text will fade to: _________________________

INTERPOL WARNING

The International Criminal Police

Organization-INTERPOL-has expressed

its concern about motion picture and

sound recording policy to all of its member

national police forces. (Resolution adopted

at INTERPOL General Assembly,

Stockholm, Sweden, September 8, 1977)

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: It has appeared in The British Broadcasting Corporation and BBC Worldwide (Formerly BBC Enterprises) Titles and Hit Entertainment Titles.

Scare Factor: None.

1980–1981
 Warning : On a black background, we see the warning text in a Futura font, which is like this:

THIS VIDEO CASSETTE MAY NOT BE PERFORMED IN PUBLIC, BROADCAST, HIRED, LOANED, COPIED OR REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY

 FX/SFX : Just the simple fade-in and fade-out.

 Music/Sounds : None.

 Availability : Extremely rare. Can be seen on the very first BBC Video titles, such as Great Railways: Flying Scotsman.

1981–1984
 Warning : On a black background is different warning text, which is like this:

'''THE RECORDING, COPYING, LOAN, UNAUTHORISED HIRE, PUBLIC SHOWING OR BROADCASTING OF THIS BBC VIDEOGRAM, IS PROHIBITED.'''

 Variant : On the children's video BeebTots, the background is green and the text has a thin black outline.

 FX/SFX : Just the simple fade-in and fade-out.

 Music/Sounds : None.

 Availability : Very rare. Seen on early BBC Video tapes.

1984
 Warning : On a black background, the warning text from the previous warning appears along with a new notice this time, which is like this:

'''The recording, copying, loan, unauthorised hire, public showing or broadcasting of this BBC Videogram, is prohibited.'''

'''This videogram was produced on behalf of BBC Enterprises Ltd.'''

 FX/SFX : Just the simple fade-in and fade-out.

 Music/Sounds : None.

 Availability : Even rarer than the last warning. This only appeared on early 1984 BBC Video tapes, including the original pre-cert release of Doctor Who: The Brain of Morbius and Abigail's Party.

1984–1988
 Warning : On a black background, the same text from the previous warning types in. The first paragraph is coloured yellow, and the second paragraph is coloured blue.

 Variants: 
 * At the end of tapes, the warning is still.
 * On extremely rare occasions, at the end of tapes, the warning will type out backwards.

 FX/SFX : The words typing in (or out for the 2nd variant). None for the first variant.

 Music/Sounds : None. At the end of some tapes however, if you listen really closely, you can hear the end of the 1984 version of the BBC Video logo music playing over it.

 Availability : Rare, yet much more common than all 3 previous warnings put together, given its longer timespan. Seen on BBC Video tapes until 1988, including the first four Postman Pat tapes released by BBC Video from 1986. One of the warning screen's last appearances - as well as the "Scanimate BBC" logo - was on the 1988 VHS of Fireman Sam: The Hero Next Door.

1988–1991
 Warning : On a black background, we see the first paragraph from the warning text, plus the addition of "Enterprises" after "BBC" from the previous warning, flying in. It's like this:

'''The recording, copying, loan, unauthorised hire, public showing or broadcasting of this BBC Enterprises videogram is prohibited. '''

After several seconds, it flies out, segueing into the BBC Video "COW Globe" logo.

 Variants :
 * At the end of tapes, this warning is still.
 * On a Rupert the Bear VHS by WHSmith Video, the warning takes place on a white-black gradient, with the words in black. At the end of the tape, it takes place on a red gradient, with the words in white.
 * On a Postman Pat VHS by WHSmith Video, the BBC Enterprises reference was removed.

 FX/SFX : The flying effects.

 Music/Sounds : None until the end, when we hear a low humming sound that segues into the BBC Video "COW Globe" music, sometimes in stereo.

 Availability : Seen on BBC Video tapes using the "COW Globe" logo.

1991–2009
 Tracking Control Screen : On a black background, white text in Futura typeface scrolls up and stops at the centre. It reads:

'''IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF ANY PICTURE INTERFERENCE, PLEASE ADJUST YOUR VIDEO RECORDER'S TRACKING CONTROL. THIS WILL, IN MOST CASES, RECTIFY BOTH SOUND AND PICTURE QUALITY. '''

 Warning : On a black background, white text again in Futura typeface scrolls up and stops at the centre, that reveals to be the warning text from the previous warning. It reads:

'''THE RECORDING, COPYING, LOAN, UNAUTHORISED HIRE, PUBLIC SHOWING OR BROADCASTING OF THIS BBC ENTERPRISES VIDEOGRAM IS PROHIBITED. '''

 Variants :
 * At the end of BBC videotapes from 1991-97, the warning fades in and out.
 * Starting in 1995, when BBC Enterprises became BBC Worldwide, "ENTERPRISES" is replaced with "WORLDWIDE".
 * From November 1997 up to mid 2005, the text was shown in a Gill Sans font.
 * On DVD releases, "VIDEOGRAM" is replaced with "DVD-VIDEO".
 * On some 2000s BBC videotapes, the aspect ratio of both screens is set to 14:9 letterbox to possibly match with the program's aspect ratio. The text on both also scrolls up slightly faster.
 * On the BBC Active DVDs, "WORLDWIDE" is replaced with "ACTIVE".

 FX/SFX : The scrolling.

 Music/Sounds : None. But sometimes, on 1990s re-prints of the 1980s BBC videotapes (especially on re-prints of tapes that originally contained the 1984-1988 version of the 1980-1988 BBC Video ident), you can briefly hear the faint music from the previous BBC Video logo. At the end of some 1992-1997 tapes however, if you listen really closely, you can hear the end of the 1991 BBC Video "Streaks of Doom" logo's music playing over it.

 Availability : Seen on BBC Video DVD and VHS releases that have been recorded in SP, LP, or EP/SLP Mode from the era, including the first three Wallace & Gromit shorts and various CBeebies compilation DVDs. Also seen on American BBC releases by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (until 2000), including Blackadder's Christmas Carol, and Warner Home Video (2000-present), including Father Ted: Series 1. The tracking notice was also sighted on United Arab Emirates VHS releases from Columbia TriStar Home Video, such as Sense and Sensibility and The Karate Kid Part II. Sometimes it appears on Lionsgate DVDs of ITV programmes.

 Editor's Note : When BBC Video merged with Video Collection International in 2004/2005, it went to use the warnings from 2 Entertain.

2005–2012
Warning : Same as the 2 Entertain Warning Screen from 2005.

 FX/SFX:  None.

 Music/Sounds:  None.

 Availability:  Seen on all BBC DVD and Blu-ray releases with the 2 Entertain logo until 2012.

2012–present
 Warning:  Nearly the same as the optical disc variant of the 2 Entertain Warning Screen from 2005, except the text is in a bold, purple Gill Sans font, and "BBC Worldwide" replaces "2 Entertain".

 Variant:  From 2017 onwards, "BBC Worldwide" is replaced with "BBC Studios".

 FX/SFX:  None.

 Music/Sounds:  None.

 Availability:  Currently appears on the majority of BBC DVD and Blu-ray releases, which use either the later 1997, 2009 or 2017 logo, that don't feature the 2 Entertain logo, including later CBeebies titles and Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time, among other titles.

1984-2000
Warning : Same as the 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment warning screens at the time.

 FX/SFX:  Fading.

 Music/Sounds:  None.

 Availability:  Seen on all BBC tapes released by Fox from 1984-2000.

2000-2004
 Warning:  Same as the 1982 Warner Bros. Home Entertainment warning screen.

 FX/SFX : The fading on DVDs. None on videotapes.

 Music/Sounds : None.

 Availability : Seen on BBC DVD and VHS releases distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment from 2000-04.

2004-present
 Warning : Same as the 2004 Warner Bros. Home Entertainment warning screen.

 Variants :
 * Depending on the aspect ratio of the disc, the screen may be seen in either widescreen and fullscreen.
 * A variant exists where the text is in a different font and the background is angled differently. This was found on the 2021 UK UHD of A Perfect Planet, following the 2012 warning.

FX/SFX : The fading.

 Music/Sounds : None.

 Availability : Seen on BBC DVDs distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment from 2004 onward. It also appears on some UK releases as well.

1st Warning (1988–1993)
 Warning : On a black background is the white Helvetica warning text, which reads...

 The material on this video product  ''' is protected by copyright. It is for '''  use by purchaser only and any other   use including copying or reproduction  ''' in whole or in part, is prohibited by law. '''

 Variants :
 * Starting in late 1992 with the original VHS release of Barney's Birthday, the warning text was in a Dawncastle Bold font, and was modified. The warning text in this variant reads " NOTICE: This recording and all constituent elements are protected by the copyright laws and other laws of the United States of America and of other Nations. The unauthorized use, rerecording, or duplication of this Program, in whole or in part, is a violation of the rights of the Owner and others, and may constitute a criminal offense punishable by substantial fines and/or imprisonment. "
 * On the original VHS of Barney's Magical Musical Adventure and some copies of the original pressing of Barney's Birthday, the "NOTICE:" header in the later variant is removed, and the warning text is shifted up to the center.

 FX/SFX : None.

 Music/Sounds : None.

 Availability : Rare. Seen on early Lyons Group releases such as all Barney and the Backyard Gang videos, including the 1992 reprints. The later version is uncommon, but can be found on the original pressing of Barney's Birthday (the S1 episode "Happy Birthday, Barney!"), Barney's Magical Musical Adventure, Barney's Best Manners (the S1 episode "A Splash Party, Please"), and Barney's Rhymes with Mother Goose (the S1 episode "Let's Help Mother Goose!").

2nd Warning (1993–1996)
 Warning : Same as the 3rd Media Home Entertainment/Heron/Hi-Tops FBI and Interpol Warning screens.

 FX/SFX : None, other than the fading.

 Music/Sounds : None.

 Availability : Much more common than the previous warning. This can be found on the 1993 reprints of Barney's Birthday, Barney's Best Manners, Barney Rhymes with Mother Goose, and Barney: Waiting for Santa. Also found on later Lyons Group releases, such as Barney's Home Sweet Homes, Let's Pretend with Barney, Barney's Alphabet Zoo, Barney: Families are Special, Barney Safety, Barney Songs, Barney: Making New Friends, Riding in Barney's Car, and Barney: All Aboard for Sharing.

3rd Warning (1996–2003)
 Warning : Same as the previous warning, but it takes place on a purple stone background and the warning text is in yellow. Also, the lining of the text is different, and the line above "INTERPOL WARNING" is absent.

 Variants :


 * There exist two extremely rare variants in which the seal is absent:
 * On Barney's Stu-u-upendous Puzzle Fun!, the background is opaque and has a lighter tint to it.
 * On HiT Entertainment releases of certain VeggieTales videos, the background is completely blue and the text is white.


 * The Everland/Word Entertainment VHS release of VeggieTales: Very Silly Songs! only uses the first screen (much like the earlier Lyrick Studios release).
 * A French version exists on the French VHS print of Barney's Imagination Island.

 FX/SFX : None, other than the fading.

 Music/Sounds : None.

 Availability : Even more common than the previous warning. It first appeared on the 1996 tapes of Barney's Talent Show, Barney in Concert and Rock with Barney. It can also be found on Lyrick Studios VHS releases of VeggieTales, Barney, and Wishbone, as well as early HiT Entertainment releases. It even appears on some Everland/Word Entertainment VHS releases of VeggieTales from 1998 through 2001.

4th Warning (2003–2006)
 Warning : On a blue background with the white bar of it appears the typical "FBI WARNING" header, with the warning text in blue. It fades out, and then this screen fades in. Also, the header now instead says "INTERPOL WARNING", and the interpol warning text appears.

 FX/SFX : The fading.

 Music/Sounds : None.

 Availability : Still quite common. Seen on all HiT Entertainment VHS & DVD releases from the era, such as Bob the Builder: Bob's Favorite Adventures.

 Final Note : Starting in 2006, HiT Entertainment releases were distributed by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Distribution then switched to Lionsgate Home Entertainment in 2008, and finally, Universal Studios Home Entertainment in 2014.

(1997–present)


 Warning : On a black background, we see the white warning text.

 Variant : On later releases, the warning stays on screen shorter.

 FX/SFX : None.

 Music/Sounds : None.

 Availability : Seen on UK VHS and DVD releases from HiT Entertainment.