Overview

NBC, the National Broadcasting Company, is an American commercial broadcast television network and one of the oldest and most influential television networks in the United States. Created in 1926 by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), it began as a radio network and later became a pioneer in commercial television. NBC is the oldest of the traditional American “Big Three” broadcast networks, alongside ABC and CBS, and remains a flagship property of NBCUniversal, which is owned by Comcast. The network is headquartered at the Comcast Building in Rockefeller Center, New York City, a location closely associated with NBC since the development of Rockefeller Center. It also maintains important operations at NBC Tower in Chicago and 10 Universal City Plaza in Los Angeles. NBC’s broadcast distribution model combines network programming supplied to affiliated stations with a group of owned-and-operated stations. The network has operated 12 owned-and-operated stations and maintains affiliates in almost every United States television market. Some programming is also available outside the United States through pay-television distributors and border-market broadcasting. NBC’s programming portfolio spans news, scripted entertainment, unscripted programs, late-night television, daytime programming, children’s and educational content, and live sports. Its long-running news and current-affairs programs include Today, NBC Nightly News, Meet the Press and Dateline NBC. Today began in 1952, Meet the Press began in 1947, and The Tonight Show entered national television in 1954. Saturday Night Live, launched in 1975, became one of the network’s most durable entertainment institutions. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which premiered in 1999, became the longest-running live-action series in American prime-time television history during its 26th season. NBC also has a major sports identity. It has held American broadcast rights for the Summer Olympic Games since 1988 and the Winter Olympic Games since 2002. Sports programming has included major event coverage and other nationally distributed competitions, with event scheduling sometimes pre-empting regular network programs. NBC’s broader corporate history is linked to the expansion of NBCUniversal into cable, film, streaming and international media. NBC-related operations helped establish CNBC in 1989 and MSNBC in 1996, while the network’s sports and Olympic coverage has connected broadcast television with wider NBCUniversal media operations. The company’s ownership structure changed substantially over time. RCA was subject to a U.S. antitrust-related divestiture in 1932, after which its corporate ownership and associated businesses evolved. General Electric regained control of RCA in 1986. In 2004, General Electric combined its NBC assets with Vivendi Universal Entertainment to form NBCUniversal. Comcast acquired a controlling interest in NBCUniversal in 2011 and purchased General Electric’s remaining interest in 2013. NBC currently operates as the broadcast television centerpiece of NBCUniversal’s entertainment activities, while its programming is also distributed through digital services and related platforms.

History

NBC was established in 1926 by RCA as a national radio network, making it the first major American broadcast network. Its early corporate structure involved RCA and other major industrial and communications interests. In 1932, following U.S. antitrust action, General Electric was required to divest RCA and NBC-related interests. NBC subsequently continued to develop its national radio and television operations. The network was an early participant in the development of commercial television. It demonstrated television technology at the 1939 New York World’s Fair and expanded television broadcasting after the Second World War. NBC introduced regular color television programming in the 1950s. The peacock symbol, introduced in 1956, was designed to promote NBC’s investment in color broadcasting and later became one of the most recognizable identities in American media. NBC’s programming history includes a succession of durable news, entertainment and sports properties. Meet the Press dates from 1947, Today from 1952, The Tonight Show from 1954, and Saturday Night Live from 1975. The network also developed substantial daytime, children’s and educational schedules. Children’s programming included Howdy Doody, animated series, live-action programs and later branded educational blocks. In 1989, Saved by the Bell helped establish NBC as a leading destination for teen-oriented programming, while the TNBC block later emphasized live-action youth series. Subsequent children’s blocks included Discovery Kids on NBC, Qubo on NBC, NBC Kids and The More You Know. NBC’s news operation became a central part of its public identity. The network expanded its news-related activities beyond broadcast television through the launch of CNBC in 1989 and MSNBC in 1996. NBC also participated in broader cable and sports-media ventures associated with NBCUniversal. Olympic coverage became a defining sports property, with NBC holding U.S. Summer Olympic rights from 1988 and Winter Olympic rights from 2002. General Electric regained control of RCA in 1986. In 2004, GE combined its NBC assets with Vivendi Universal Entertainment to create NBCUniversal. Comcast acquired a controlling interest in NBCUniversal in 2011 and acquired the remaining GE stake in 2013. NBC now operates as NBCUniversal’s principal broadcast network, distributing scheduled programming through owned stations, affiliates, digital products and related streaming services.

2016
The More You Know block premiered
[1]NBCen.wikipedia.org
Litton Entertainment began programming NBC’s Saturday educational and informational block under The More You Know brand.
2011
Comcast took control of NBCUniversal
[1]NBCen.wikipedia.org
Comcast acquired a controlling interest in NBCUniversal.
2004
NBCUniversal created
[1]NBCen.wikipedia.org
NBC’s corporate parent combined with Vivendi Universal Entertainment to form NBCUniversal.
1996
MSNBC launched
[1]NBCen.wikipedia.org
NBC and Microsoft created MSNBC as a cable news joint venture.
1989
CNBC launched
[1]NBCen.wikipedia.org
NBC expanded its news and business-media activities into cable television with CNBC.
1956
Peacock logo introduced
[1]NBCen.wikipedia.org
NBC introduced the peacock emblem to promote its color-broadcasting innovations.
1953
Color television introduced
[1]NBCen.wikipedia.org
NBC introduced color television programming, later reinforced by its peacock branding.
1939
Commercial television pioneering
[1]NBCen.wikipedia.org
NBC participated in the early development and public demonstration of commercial television.
1926
NBC founded as a radio network
[1]NBCen.wikipedia.org
RCA created the National Broadcasting Company as a national radio network.

Products and positioning

A mainstream American broadcast network combining national news, mass-market entertainment, live sports and long-running cultural franchises.

News broadcasting
NBC News
NBC’s national news operation supplies morning, evening, Sunday political, newsmagazine and other current-affairs programming. Its best-known programs include Today, NBC Nightly News, Meet the Press, Early Today and Dateline NBC.
Entertainment programming
NBC Entertainment
The entertainment division develops and schedules NBC’s scripted series, reality programs, comedy, late-night shows and other prime-time content. Its enduring franchises include Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Sports broadcasting
NBC Sports
NBC Sports supplies nationally televised sports and major-event coverage. The network’s Olympic coverage is particularly important, with U.S. Summer Games rights held since 1988 and Winter Games rights held since 2002.
Educational programming · 2016
The More You Know
The More You Know is NBC’s branded Saturday educational and informational programming block, programmed under a time-lease arrangement and named after NBC’s long-running public-service campaign.
Children’s programming · 2012
NBC Kids
NBC Kids was a Saturday-morning preschool block programmed by Sprout. It replaced Qubo on NBC in 2012 and was later replaced by The More You Know block.

Controversies

2026
DOJ opens Sherman Act antitrust investigation into five TV networks over suspended White House pool coverage
The U.S. Justice Department's Antitrust Division is investigating whether ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News violated the Sherman Act when they coordinated to briefly suspend pooled White House coverage of President Donald Trump after the Trump administration barred CNN from White House grounds. Justice Department officials contacted the five networks on Friday, asking them to provide communications and other materials related to the White House television pool, and the department publicly acknowledged the Sherman Act inquiry on Saturday. The DOJ says it is examining whether the networks' actions amount to an unlawful group boycott; no determination has been made.
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2021
Criticism of Orthodox Jewish portrayal in Nurses
A social media post criticized the portrayal of Orthodox Jews by the series Nurses, saying it could encourage antisemitism.
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2021
NBC faces criticism over Nurses episode
Commenters criticized NBC over a Nurses clip that they alleged portrayed Orthodox Jews in an antisemitic manner.
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2021
Jewish groups criticize Saturday Night Live joke
Jewish organizations criticized a joke on Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” about Israel’s vaccination rollout, saying it relied on an anti-Semitic trope. The American Jewish Committee also launched a petition calling on NBC to apologize and retract the claim.
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2020
NBC pledges possible workplace-practice changes after AGT allegations
NBC Entertainment president Paul Telegdy said that allegations concerning America's Got Talent were under investigation and that NBC would put new practices in place if necessary. Gabrielle Union alleged a hostile work environment involving comments about her hair and racial bias against contestants. The statement addressed the investigation status and the possibility of new practices without specifying outcomes or additional details.
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2020
NBC addresses the Shane Gillis casting controversy
NBC Entertainment chairman Paul Telegdy addressed criticism of the vetting process after Saturday Night Live fired cast hire Shane Gillis following the emergence of a podcast episode in which he used racist and homophobic slurs. Telegdy acknowledged that the vetting process needed to improve.
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2020
NBC Washington affiliate apologizes for tweet about Ralph Northam
NBC's Washington affiliate apologized for a tweet concerning Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's face mask, describing the post as a misjudgment after it attracted significant attention on social media. The apology followed the tweet's wide circulation online. The affiliate characterized the tweet as an error in judgment without providing further details in the available summary.
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2020
NBC apologizes for an inaccurately edited Barr interview clip
NBC apologized after its Meet the Press program aired an inaccurately shortened clip of an interview with Attorney General William Barr. The clip omitted remarks relevant to the program's commentary. NBC stated that the clip was cut inadvertently and inaccurately, and that it regretted the error.
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2020
Jeremy Roenick sues NBC over his termination
Former NBC Sports hockey analyst Jeremy Roenick sued NBC, alleging he was wrongfully fired for being straight and supporting Trump. NBC said it terminated his employment after he made indecent comments on air.
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2020
NBC faces backlash over Trump town hall scheduling
NBC faced public backlash after announcing a live town hall with President Donald Trump scheduled for the same time as Joe Biden's town hall on another network.
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Marketing campaigns

1989The More You Know
United States
NBC introduced a long-running public-service announcement campaign addressing social, educational and public-interest topics. The name was later extended to the network’s educational programming block.
Outcome. Became a durable NBC public-service brand.
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Brand decisions

2022
Olympic Channel closureStrategy
Background
NBC reviewed the distribution of Olympic-related content across its portfolio.
Action taken
NBC announced that the Olympic Channel would shut down on September 30, 2022.
Aftermath
The company indicated that Olympic content plans would be announced for the following period.
Source
2011
Comcast acquisition of NBCUniversalM&A
Background
NBC was part of NBCUniversal, whose ownership was being reorganized between General Electric and Comcast.
Action taken
Comcast acquired a controlling interest in NBCUniversal.
Aftermath
NBC became part of the Comcast group, while General Electric retained a minority interest until 2013.
Source

Recent events

2022
NBC announced closure of the Olympic Channel[1]NBCen.wikipedia.org
Other
NBC announced that the Olympic Channel would close on September 30, 2022, while stating that future Olympic content plans would be communicated later.
2013
Comcast acquired General Electric’s remaining NBCUniversal stake[1]NBCen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Comcast completed its acquisition of General Electric’s remaining interest in NBCUniversal.
2011
Comcast acquired controlling interest in NBCUniversal[1]NBCen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Comcast became the controlling owner of NBCUniversal, bringing NBC into the Comcast corporate group.
2004
NBCUniversal formed through combination of General Electric and Vivendi Universal Entertainment assets[1]NBCen.wikipedia.org
M&A
The transaction created NBCUniversal and placed NBC within a broader media group spanning television, film and entertainment assets.