NBC

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.

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.

1. 2016The More You Know block premiered

   Litton Entertainment began programming NBC’s Saturday educational and informational block under The More You Know brand.

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2. 2011Comcast took control of NBCUniversal

   Comcast acquired a controlling interest in NBCUniversal.

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3. 2004NBCUniversal created

   NBC’s corporate parent combined with Vivendi Universal Entertainment to form NBCUniversal.

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4. 1996MSNBC launched

   NBC and Microsoft created MSNBC as a cable news joint venture.

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5. 1989CNBC launched

   NBC expanded its news and business-media activities into cable television with CNBC.

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6. 1956Peacock logo introduced

   NBC introduced the peacock emblem to promote its color-broadcasting innovations.

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7. 1953Color television introduced

   NBC introduced color television programming, later reinforced by its peacock branding.

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8. 1939Commercial television pioneering

   NBC participated in the early development and public demonstration of commercial television.

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9. 1926NBC founded as a radio network

   RCA created the National Broadcasting Company as a national radio network.

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

• NBC NewsNews broadcasting

  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.

• NBC EntertainmentEntertainment programming

  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.

• NBC SportsSports broadcasting

  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.

• The More You KnowEducational programming2016

  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.

• NBC KidsChildren’s programming2012

  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.

• 1989The More You Know

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  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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• 2022Olympic Channel closureStrategy

  NBC reviewed the distribution of Olympic-related content across its portfolio.

  What changed. 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.

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• 2011Comcast acquisition of NBCUniversalM&A

  NBC was part of NBCUniversal, whose ownership was being reorganized between General Electric and Comcast.

  What changed. Comcast acquired a controlling interest in NBCUniversal.

  Aftermath. NBC became part of the Comcast group, while General Electric retained a minority interest until 2013.

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• 2022NBC announced closure of the Olympic Channel

  NBC announced that the Olympic Channel would close on September 30, 2022, while stating that future Olympic content plans would be communicated later.

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• 2013Comcast acquired General Electric’s remaining NBCUniversal stake

  Comcast completed its acquisition of General Electric’s remaining interest in NBCUniversal.

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• 2011Comcast acquired controlling interest in NBCUniversal

  Comcast became the controlling owner of NBCUniversal, bringing NBC into the Comcast corporate group.

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• 2004NBCUniversal formed through combination of General Electric and Vivendi Universal Entertainment assets

  The transaction created NBCUniversal and placed NBC within a broader media group spanning television, film and entertainment assets.

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1. NBC
2. NBC official website