Founded in 1926 by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), NBC is the oldest major broadcast network in the United States. At that time, the parent company of RCA was General Electric (GE). In 1932, GE was forced to sell RCA and NBC as a result of antitrust charges. In 1952, NBC Films (also known as "NBC Enterprises, Inc.", who would later reform in late 1970s) was founded. It was the production/distribution arm of the NBC Television Network for NBC off-network programs originally formed in 1952. In 1973, NBC later spun-off NBC Films and later sold it including the library to [[National Telefilm Associates]] because it was against the FCC regulations for a television network to distribute its programs under its own name. As of now, most of the library is currently handled by [[Paramount Global|Paramount]], through [[CBS Media Ventures]] and [[Spelling Television]], except several episodes of ''You Bet Your Life'' by Buddy Hackett and non-public domain episodes by Groucho Marx are retained by NBCUniversal. Many others have fallen in the public domain.
In 1986, control of NBC passed back to General Electric (GE) through its $6.4 billion purchase of RCA. GE immediately began to liquidate RCA's various divisions, but retained NBC. After the acquisition by GE, Bob Wright became chief executive officer of NBC; he would remain in that position until his retirement in 2007, when he was succeeded by Jeff Zucker. In 2004, French media company Vivendi Universal (now known as Vivendi) merged its entertainment assets with GE, forming NBC Universal. Comcast purchased a controlling interest in the company in 2011, and acquired General Electric's remaining stake in 2013. Following the Comcast merger, Zucker left NBCUniversal and was replaced as CEO by Comcast executive Steve Burke.
NBC has thirteen owned-and-operated stations and nearly 200 affiliates throughout the United States and its territories, some of which are also available in Canada and/or Mexico via pay-television providers or in border areas over-the-air.
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The international rights to NBC's pre-2004 in-house television library (except programs that were produced by [[Revue Studios]]/[[Universal Television (1963-1998)|Universal Television]] or [[Studios USA Television|its]] [[Universal Network Television|successors]] that the network ordered prior to the NBCU merger) are currently held by [[MGM Television]] on behalf of NBCUniversal while NBCU (through [[NBCUniversal Television Distribution]]) holds the domestic distribution rights to both the (post-1973 library) NBC in-house catalogue and shows produced by Universal Television that the network ordered prior to the NBCU merger.
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial terrestrial radio and television network owned by NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. The network is headquartered at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York, with additional major offices near Los Angeles (at 10 Universal City Plaza) and Chicago (at the NBC Tower). NBC is one of the Big Three television networks, and is sometimes referred to as the "Peacock Network", in reference to its stylized peacock logo, introduced in 1956 to promote the company's innovations in early colour broadcasting; it became the network's official emblem in 1979.
Founded in 1926 by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), NBC is the oldest major broadcast network in the United States. At that time, the parent company of RCA was General Electric (GE). In 1932, GE was forced to sell RCA and NBC as a result of antitrust charges. In 1952, NBC Films (also known as "NBC Enterprises, Inc.", who would later reform in late 1970s) was founded. It was the production/distribution arm of the NBC Television Network for NBC off-network programs originally formed in 1952. In 1973, NBC later spun-off NBC Films and later sold it including the library to National Telefilm Associates because it was against the FCC regulations for a television network to distribute its programs under its own name. As of now, most of the library is currently handled by Paramount, through CBS Media Ventures and Spelling Television, except several episodes of You Bet Your Life by Buddy Hackett and non-public domain episodes by Groucho Marx are retained by NBCUniversal. Many others have fallen in the public domain.
In 1986, control of NBC passed back to General Electric (GE) through its $6.4 billion purchase of RCA. GE immediately began to liquidate RCA's various divisions, but retained NBC. After the acquisition by GE, Bob Wright became chief executive officer of NBC; he would remain in that position until his retirement in 2007, when he was succeeded by Jeff Zucker. In 2004, French media company Vivendi Universal (now known as Vivendi) merged its entertainment assets with GE, forming NBC Universal. Comcast purchased a controlling interest in the company in 2011, and acquired General Electric's remaining stake in 2013. Following the Comcast merger, Zucker left NBCUniversal and was replaced as CEO by Comcast executive Steve Burke.
NBC has thirteen owned-and-operated stations and nearly 200 affiliates throughout the United States and its territories, some of which are also available in Canada and/or Mexico via pay-television providers or in border areas over-the-air.
The international rights to NBC's pre-2004 in-house television library (except programs that were produced by Revue Studios/Universal Television or itssuccessors that the network ordered prior to the NBCU merger) are currently held by MGM Television on behalf of NBCUniversal while NBCU (through NBCUniversal Television Distribution) holds the domestic distribution rights to both the (post-1973 library) NBC in-house catalogue and shows produced by Universal Television that the network ordered prior to the NBCU merger.
Visuals: Just the letters "N", "B" and "C" in a vatical position on a microphone, surrounded by bolts of lightning on a black background. The logo sometimes fades into a radio tower pulsing electricity similar to the RKO Pictures logo and back to the logo again.
Trivia: The lightning bolts on the left side were meant for the radio network, and the waves on the right side were meant for the television network.
Technique: Cel animation.
Audio: An announcer says "This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company", followed by the chime notes "G", "E", and "C" with an orchestral score that sounds like electrical buzzing in the background.
Availability: This was seen on the 1945 short documentary Tomorrow Television, but it may appear on kinescopes of the period.
2nd ID (1946-1947)
Visuals: Over a dark background is "NBC" in an outlined circle.
Technique: A printed graphic filmed by a cameraman.
Audio: Just an announcer saying "This is the National Broadcasting Company."
3rd ID (1949-1952)
Visuals: There are the words "NBC" surrounded by a square zoom up on a gray background. The letters light up one by one in sync with the NBC chimes.
Variant: A digitally colorized version is seen on Red Skelton's Christmas Classics. The background remains gray, the inside of the box is red and the "NBC" text and the outline of the box is silver.
Technique: Camera-controlled animation.
Audio: An announcer saying "NBC Television.", followed by the famous "NBC chimes" as the letters light up.
4th ID (1952-1966?)
Visuals: Over a gray background is "NBC" in large, black, 3D block letters. As the chimes play, the letters change to white, one-by-one.
Variants:
Most copies of this logo have a disclaimer in white under the letters: "THIS PROGRAM WAS REPRODUCED BY THE KINEPHOTO PROCESS." The "NBC" letters are shifted upwards to make room for the disclaimer.
One version does not have the letters light up. This was used on early episodes of Today.
Occasionally, a promotional slide for a program replaces the animation; the chimes remain.
When The Beatles' black-and-white movie A Hard Day's Night premiered on NBC in 1967, the network's "In Living Color" peacock intro was replaced with a "lively black and white" animated penguin. The penguin pulls out a set of animated Beatles from its chest, who briefly play their music before they run away from a mob of fans.
Technique: 2D animation.
Audio: Same as the last logo, minus the announcer.
Availability: Seen on period kinescopes. It is included on Mr. Wizard Studios' DVD and YouTube releases of Watch Mr. Wizard. This was seen on two NBC programs aired during Buzzr's 2021 "Lost & Found" marathon: one pilot of the unsold 1966 show It Had to Be You and a 1955 episode of Make the Connection. The latest known use of this was on the two known pilots of It Had to Be You, which were apparently taped on November 7, 1966.
5th ID (December 17, 1953-1956)
Visuals: There is a xylophone with three keys. A mallet then hits all 3 keys, which makes the letters "NBC" appear on them.
Technique: 2D animation.
Audio: Same as the last logo.
6th ID (1967)
Visuals: Over a greenish background is multiple 1-digit numbers in white cover up the screen. We then see the NBC "Snake" logo made up in these numbers. We keep zooming out until the NBC logo can be entirely seen & is at the center of the screen. After that, the NBC logo turns white. We then see the text "IT ALL ADDS UP ON NBC" entirely made of dots appear.
Technique: 2D animation.
Audio: At first, there is typing noises. Then we hear people making beeping noises for the rest of the logo.
7th ID (May 23-June 12, 1970)
Visuals: On a white background, a dark purple peacock with an orange beak and neck walks in from the right. The peacock's feathers fan out, starting from the right. The peacock looks around. The company name does not appear. The color scheme of the peacock's feathers are also different, with red hues being more prominent and varied pastel colors on the other feathers.
Technique: Stop-motion paper cutout animation done at Yellow Ball Workshop, a children's filmmaking workshop based in Lexington, Massachusetts. This logo was likely filmed by studio founder and instructor Yvonne Andersen, while the animation was done by Jean Falcone (age 6). Three more logos were produced at the same workshop, animated by Carol Sones (age 16), Kathy Ahern (age 16), and Deirdre Cowden (age 15) respectively. Out of the 4 versions of this logo, only Falcone's version is known to have actually aired on TV.
Audio: Same as the short version of the 1962 NBC color ID. The reel variant has the music being off-sync.
Availability: This was a special network ID created for The New Communicators, two specials where Peter Fonda profiled young filmmakers. It was resurfaced on a 16mm reel named Yellow Ball All Stars which can be viewed here.
8th ID (Late 1975-1976)
Visuals: Two vertical shining lights, one red (left) and the other blue (right) slide the opposite direction, forming the NBC logo. The lights dim out once the logo is formed.
Technique: Slit-scan effects.
Audio: An orchestrated 4-note fanfare, featuring the NBC chimes and with the last note drawn out.
9th ID (January 1, 1976-1977)
Visuals: There is a white background, which zooms out, revealing an abstract "N" on a black background. The text "Dolphin Productions/New York" in white fades in on the bottom of the screen. The left section of the "N" fills with red, and the right section fills with blue, becoming the NBC logo of the time. The text on the bottom of the screen fades to "NBC".
Variant: A still version exists.
Technique: Scanimate animation by Dolphin Productions in New York; the footage here was taken from a watermarked Dolphin demo reel, which explains the "Dolphin Productions/New York" at the bottom of the screen at one part.
Audio: A loud jazzy fanfare with congas. The still version has no music and it has a voiceover.
Availability: This was seen as a network ID starting on January 1, 1976.
Legacy: This ID holds the distinction as the first completely computer-animated national television network ID.
10th ID (1976, 1977-1978)
Visuals: On a black background, there is a closeup of a blue, rotating 3D glassy abstract "N", which then zooms out to show the full block. The "N" shines all throughout the logo, with overlays of the animation rippling out.
Variants:
For NBC's 1977-78 season promo, three different stacked overlays were used:
The beginning of the promo uses an "NBC 77" overlay, which then zooms (alongside the N) into the screen.
This is shortly followed by a yellow-tinted "NBC 78" overlay, in which the animation freezes and zooms in when the N is front-facing.
The end of the promo has the yellow-tinted N animation zoom out and freeze, with a "A BIG YEAR! 78" overlay flashing when the N freezes.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A majestic orchestrated fanfare.
Audio Variant: The 50th anniversary variant uses various beeping sounds.
Availability: First appeared (as the 50th Anniversary variant) on the "NBC: The First 50 Years" special.
11th ID (Proud as a Peacock) (September 1979-1980)
Visuals: There are some sparkles zooming out in an image of outer space with a blue planet below. Then, the new redesigned peacock comes and spreads its multicolored orange gradient wings. Under it is the wording "NBC PROUD AS A PEACOCK" with the NBC abstract N under it.
Variants:
An early version has the peacock having different, more vibrant feathers.
There's also a version with the abstract N from before zooming out with the sparkles.
Audio: The campaign song "Proud as a Peacock", composed by Joey Levine.
Availability: Several local versions appear on Image West demo tape #15B (1979), available on Dave Sieg's Scanimate DVD.
12th ID (September 1979-September 1980)
Visuals: On a black background, several colorful neon lines are drawn onto the screen. The neon lines zoom out and flash, revealing a CGI view of the NBC peacock, behind a blue stylized "N". The peacock then shines.
Technique: Scanimate animation.
Audio: An instrumental version of the network's "Proud as a Peacock" campaign for the 1979-80 season while Casey Kasem says "This is NBC".
Availability: This was only used as a network ID.
13th ID (Proud as a Peacock) (September 1980-September 1981)
Visuals: The 11-feathered peacock zooms out on a blue background with flares, unveiling "NBC PROUD AS A PEACOCK" underneath, along with a 2D drawing of the Proud N in outline form (or the station's logo for local campaigns). It also shines all over the peacock.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A re-recorded version of the previous campaign's music, with the chorus singing, "NBC, proud as a peacock!"
14th ID (September 1981-September 1983)
Visuals: There is the peacock spreading its wings while the outline N forms after the peacock's movement stops.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: An instrumental version of the music for NBC's 1980-81 season (Proud as a Peacock) and later their 1981-82 (Our Pride is Showing) and 1982-83 seasons (Just Watch Us Now) being played respectively. An announcer later says "This is NBC".
Availability: This was only used as a network ID during 1981 to 1983.
15th ID (Our Pride is Showing) (September 1981-September 1982)
Visuals: The sequence starts with a space background. Then, it rolls up to a magenta and navy blue striped background as the NBC "Proud N" lays on it. The body of the peacock, the abstract N and the two yellow feathers light up to the NBC chimes (G-E-C). Finally, the words "OUR PRIDE IS SHOWING" goes on the background as the logo comes to a stop.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A chorus singing, "NBC. The magic keeps on growing, NBC, (G-E-C) Our pride is showing!"
16th ID (Just Watch Us Now) (September 1982-September 1983)
Visuals: On a plane consisting of tiles of peacocks with 11 feathers, the text "NBC" rotates and flies out, followed by the text "JUST WATCH US NOW". Then the camera pans to the NBC peacock with the "N" from the previous logo, made by blue lines. Then, the peacock with the "N" zooms in.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: The shortened version of the last part of the jingle "We're NBC, Just Watch Us Now". Sometimes, an announcer (Danny Dark) says, "This is NBC, the network that swept in Emmys.", followed by a chorus singing "We're NBC, Just Watch Us NOW!"
17th ID (Be There) (September 1983-September 1984)
Visuals: On a moving NBC wallpaper is the NBC logo zooming in.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: Danny Dark says "This is the NBC television network!" over an excerpt of the network's "Be There" theme. After the voiceover, the theme concludes with the jingle "You can N-B-C there, be there!"
18th ID (Let's All Be There) (1984-1985)
Visuals: On a black silver-lined floor, there is a three-dimensional model of the 1979-1986 NBC logo sitting closely above ground. The camera pans below to some huge text, which is revealed to be "BE THERE", sitting on a black floor with red lines scrolling. The camera pans back to show another three-dimensional model of the aforementioned logo in front of the lettering. Then a dotted shine of light reveals the text "LET'S ALL." It then zooms through the letter "E."
Variants:
There's a version with different panning animation. First we see the NBC logo floating in mid-air. Then the camera zooms away from the logo and zooms into the "BE THERE" sign with the dotted shine revealing "LET'S ALL." Then it zooms through the letter "E."
There's another version which is on a black background with blue being emitted below. The NBC logo floats in mid-air on the right and "LET'S ALL BE THERE" sits on the left. This was used as a generic NBC ID.
An alternate version of this variant without the peacock was used as a template for NBC stations to place their logos when needed.
A version was made for Seven in Australia. In this version, the Seven logo replaces the NBC logo.
A version was also made for SBT and TVS in Brazil. In this version, the words "LET'S ALL BE THERE" are translated into Portuguese as "QUEM PROCURA ACHA AQUI". Also, the entire logo is 2D and cuts to the words coming in. After the camera zooms through the words, either the SBT or TVS logo zooms in.
Local Variants:
KPRC-TV 2 (Houston, Texas): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WMAR-TV 2 (Baltimore, Maryland; now an ABC affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
KYTV-TV 3 (Springfield, Missouri): Basically a still picture of the first part of the ID with different panning animation, but the station's logo is seen floating in mid-air, replacing the NBC logo. Also, there is a byline on a black floor with red lines saying "KYTV SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI" with an outlined version of the 1975-1979 NBC logo placed between the call letters and the city name.
WSTM-TV 3 (Syracuse, New York): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
KNBC-TV 4 (Los Angeles, California): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WDAF-TV 4 (Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas; now a FOX affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WNBC-TV 4 (New York, New York): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WRC-TV 4 (Washington, D.C.): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WSVN-TV 7 (Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Florida; now a FOX affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WLUK-TV 11 (Green Bay-Fox Cities, Wisconsin; now a FOX affiliate): The NBC logo is replaced by the station's logo, which is now set on a black background with the logo shown in front of the camera. There's a version with a byline that has the words "WLUK-TV" on the left and "Green Bay - Fox Cities" on the right.
WSFA-TV 12 (Montgomery-Dothan, Alabama): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WWBT-TV 12 (Richmond, Virginia): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WJCL-TV 22 (Savannah, Georgia; now an ABC affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WEEK-TV 25 (Peoria-Bloomington, Illinois): The station's logo, which is not in 3D for some reason, replaces the NBC logo.
WPTF-TV 28 (Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville, North Carolina; now known as WRDC-TV and now a MyNetworkTV affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo and there's a byline with the words "WPTF-TV" on top and "Durham-Raleigh-Fayetteville" on the bottom.
WVIT-TV 30 (New Britain, Connecticut): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WRBT-TV 33 (Baton Rouge, Louisiana; now known as WVLA-TV): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo; the "Let's All Be There" sign is gone in this version.
KCST-TV 39 (San Diego, California; now known as KNSD-TV): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo; the "Let's All Be There" sign is replaced by text reading "KCST-TV" on top and "SAN DIEGO" on the bottom.
WPSD-TV 6 (Paducah, Kentucky; Harrisburg, Illinois; Cape Girardeau, Missouri): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
Technique: CGI animated by Pacific Data Images on a DEC VAX-11/780. The modelling and animation was done on an IMI 500 display, and the lighting and rendering were done on a DeAnza framebuffer. The final logo was recorded to 1" C videotape on an Sony BVH-2000. This logo was designed by Harry Marks, who also designed the 1983-1989 Entertainment Tonight intro and the 1988-1989 ABC "Something's Happening" promotional film.
Audio: The campaign's song "Let's All Be There." Composed by David Buskin. Arranged and Conducted by Rob Mounsey.
Audio Variants:
The Seven version replaces the lyrics "N-B-C" with "Seven Yeah!", "Seven Wow!", and "Channel 7."
On the generic NBC ID of that time (with the peacock on the right and the slogan on the left), a shortened and instrumental version of the campaign's song is heard and we hear an announcer (played by voice actor Danny Dark) saying "This is the NBC television network."
Availability: It was only used as a station ID.
19th ID (Let's All Be There) (September 1985-May 12, 1986)
Visuals: On a black background, there is a silver box with the 1979-86 NBC logo, illuminated like a neon sign, above it. After a few seconds, the camera pans to show a purple neon wall. The camera then pans around to reveal the NBC logo in the top-left corner of the wall. Right below it in the middle-left is the words "Let's all", flashing in pink, in the middle-right is the word "BE", and at the bottom-right is the word "THERE". It then zooms in to the wall and flies away across the screen.
Variants:
A version exists mostly for local station idents. The wall, usually with the station's logo on it, is facing the camera this time. It then turns around to show the "Let's allBE THERE" sign.
A version was made for Seven in Australia. In this version, the Seven logo replaces the NBC logo. One alternate version of this variant used in one promo had the logo animating in reverse. Another alternate version of this variant used as a station had stylized buildings changing color and dancing, before the Circle 7 forms and zooms to the same silver box from the regular Let's All Be There ID. The logo and silver box are in an opposite direction. Also, the camera does not pan to the purple neon wall at all and the slogan "Let's All Be There" is gone in this version.
Local Variants:
WMAR-TV 2 (Baltimore, Maryland; now an ABC affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WTWO-TV 2 (Terre Haute, Indiana): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo and there's a byline with the words "Terre Haute" in a curvy font below.
KYTV-TV 3 (Springfield, Missouri): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo and there's a byline with the words "KYTV Springfield, Mo." at the bottom.
KYW-TV 3 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; now a CBS O&O affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WSAV-TV 3 (Savannah, Georgia): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WSTM-TV 3 (Syracuse, New York): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo and the word "SYRACUSE" in violet appears below the ident.
WDAF-TV 4 (Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas; now a FOX affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
KXAS-TV 5 (Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WPTZ-TV 5 (North Pole-Plattsburgh, New York; Burlington, Vermont): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WPSD-TV 6 (Paducah, Kentucky; Harrisburg, Illinois; Cape Girardeau, Missouri): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WSVN-TV 7 (Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Florida; now a FOX affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WWBT-TV 12 (Richmond, Virginia): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WJKS-TV 17 (Jacksonville, Florida; now known as WCWJ and now a CW affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
WRBT-TV 33 (Baton Rouge, Louisiana; now known as WVLA-TV): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
Technique: CGI by Pacific Data Images and Marks Communications, made on a Ridge32 supercomputer.
Audio: A re-orchestrated and a faster-paced version of the music from the previous ID, composed by Jake Holmes. Most of the time, an announcer (Danny Dark) can be heard saying "This is the NBC Television Network!" On the Seven ID with colourful buildings, an instrumental and pop music-styled version of the music is heard in a different pitch.
Audio Variants:
These are all variants of the network version.
There's a version from "Computer Animation Magic" where the background music is a generic stock, along with an interview by Harry Marks stating "I want something that looks like Vegas". Text reading "PACIFIC DATA IMAGES FOR MARKS COMMUNICATIONS" appears in the bottom right corner. This was likely taken from a compilation of computer graphics. Hence the title of the program.
The normal network music plays, but a completely different male announcer (Fred Facey) says, "Now, as NBC Sports presents game six of the National League Championship Series, programming normally seen at this time will return tomorrow!"
Another variant again has the normal music playing, but Danny Dark says, "It's Amazing Week, on the NBC Television Network!"
A sped up version with the Dark voiceover has a slightly shorter version of the music that begins with a bongo riff before the familiar jingle.
Another variant with no Dark voiceover has a version that begins with a slap bass vamp for the jingle before transitioning to the main theme. This can be seen here.
Availability: This ID appeared on several demo reels by PDI.
According to several comments on YouTube, this ID would often be used to start NBC's primetime programming in the '85-'86 season and would occasionally appear during the middle of the primetime schedule.
Visuals: Against a black background, a red CGI mound appears. As it rises, more rainbow colors are revealed. Then from the top of the screen, the head/neck of the NBC peacock swings in, and the mound spreads to become its feathers. This peacock is the current version, and it backs away with a color trail around it. Below, the words:
NBC
in its typeface NBC Futura (which is NBC's proprietary font), fly in, also with a CGI-like appearance. When they move back into their places, they take on a more "solid", 2D color.
Technique: CGI designed by Marks Communications and animated by Pacific Data Images.
Audio: A Broadway-sounding tune, with the NBC chimes near the end. Danny Dark announces, "This is the NBC television network!" One variant has a jazzy instrumental version of the "Come Home to NBC" promo music.
21st ID (Come Home to NBC) (1987-1988)
Videos
Visuals: The words "COME HOME" become illuminated. Then it, the word "to", and the NBC peacock land down on a rectangle-like shape as the logo ends.
22nd ID (Come Home to the Best, Only on NBC) (1988-1989)
Videos
Visuals: The logo starts with "COME HOME TO THE BEST" on a black background with multicolored glass house-like shapes and lights rising. "BEST" is contained in a rectangle. The words flip to reveal the NBC logo with "ONLY ON" above it. A yellow line shoots between "ONLY ON" and the logo.
Audio: A instrumental version of the campaign's song "Come Home to the Best, Only on NBC", with a male announcer saying "Come home to the best, only on NBC!"
23rd ID (Come Home to the Best, Only on NBC) (1989-1990)
Videos
Visuals: Several squares colored blue, red, orange or yellow are seen moving across the screen, upwards, downwards, to the left or to the right. Two of these squares have N or B engraved inside it, whilst the outline of C moves upwards along with the B. At the bottom, "Come Home to the Best" in white wipes in from the left and an orange line and rectangle slide in beneath from the right and left, respectively. Just before the squares slide away from the screen, a thick gray streak appears, moving downwards. The NBC peacock fades in and zooms out and the aforementioned text fades out to make way for "Only on NBC" to fade in, word by word.
Variant: There is an extended variant of this ID. There, the text "Come Home to the Best" and the orange shapes appear before the shapes in the background slide onscreen, this time on the center. Additionally, the text fades out before more squares appear and the B is shown to briefly fill with white.
Audio: An upbeat orchestral beat with one of the two voice-overs:
A man (the same one from the previous ID) saying "Come home to the best, only on NBC!"
The same man saying "Come home to the best television network, for news, sports and entertainment" followed by an orchestra singing "Come home to the best, only on NBC!"
24th ID (The Place to Be) (1990-1991)
Videos
Visuals: The camera zooms away from the NBC logo on a black background with multicolored glass panes and gold lights. As this happens, "THE PLACE TO BE!" zooms out. The camera stops at an angle.
Variant: There is a variant without the tagline.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: An instrumental version of the campaign's song "NBC: The Place to Be" with Don LaFontaine saying "NBC is the place to be."
Audio Variant: On the version without the tagline, LaFontaine says "This is the NBC television network."
25th ID (The Place to Be) (1991-1992)
Videos
Visuals: The words "THE PLACE TO BE" in an arch on the peacock slides to the right, covering its beak.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A soft piano rendition of the NBC mnemonic.
26th ID (It's a Whole New NBC) (1992-1993)
Videos
Visuals: The NBC logo appears on a glass pane that the camera zooms away from before stopping at an angle, whereupon light rays shine through the pane. This is set on a black-orange gradient background.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: The campaign's song "It's a Whole New NBC".
27th ID (The Stars Are Back on NBC) (1993-1994)
Videos
Visuals: The NBC logo zooms out at an angle on a black background with thin, multicolored streaks.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: The campaign's song "The Stars Are Back on NBC".
28th ID (1993-2002)
1993 IDs
Particles
Caricature
Psychedelic Meatloaf
Impressionist
Historical
Techno Bird
Cartoon Peacock
Kaleidoscope
Videos
}}
1995 IDs
Peacock in the Sky (with the URL)
Peacock in the Sky (without the URL)
The Flipping Peacock (without the URL)
Ice Sculpture
Raindrops
Etch-a-Sketch
Beams
Website
Affiliates
Inner Paint Splash
Outer Paint Splash
Socks
Lens
Parking Meter
Mechanical
Lights
Worldwide
Neon
Peacock TV
Floating Glass
Marbles
Laramie Redux
Videos
}}
Visuals:
Particles: There is a rush of white "fireflies" (what they are referred to from now on). The fireflies take on the six primary colors and transform into the NBC peacock. When the peacock is formed, white fireflies continue to fly around in the black background.
Historical: The sequence starts out with the 1931 logo (a square with a diagonal "NBC" text in it, and lightning bolts around the "B") against the black background, then it morphs into the 1943 logo, into the 1954 "Xylophone" logo, into the 1962 NBC peacock logo, into the 1979 NBC peacock logo and into the current NBC peacock logo.
Impressionist: The first element shown is a watercolor painting of a peacock bursting into view on a white background; the peacock then gradually becomes less detailed until it morphs into the NBC peacock logo.
Ice Sculpture: A man uses a chainsaw to make an ice sculpture of the NBC peacock.
Skywriting: On a sky background, an orange biplane flies over. The camera then cuts to the seat of the plane as it flies. Then, the camera cuts to the wheels. The camera then cuts to the seat again. The screen then cuts to the wheels and then the front of the plane. The plane then reveals a cloud version of the 6 feathered NBC Peacock with the head looking at the right and then turns into color. When the logo forms, there's no corporate text at all, but the URL "www.NBC.com" may appear surrounded by a black oval.
Flipping: There is the 6-feathered NBC peacock over a revolving set of many-colored feathers in the background. The logo appears to be flipping as if it were a book. It then makes a stop at the near end. There's no corporate text at all in this logo, but the URL from before may appear below.
Laramie Redux: It's the 1962 NBC peacock logo, but it morphs into the current 6-feathered peacock near the end.
Beams: On a white background, a man with a suit comes down, and yellow, purple, red, blue, and green streaks comes out of his mouth, eyes, nose, and ears. The man looks around, and the streaks form the NBC logo.
Cartoon Peacock: There is the NBC peacock on a purple background. He looks in shock that its feathers are not open, so he breathes in to open them. After that, he morphs into the NBC logo.
Raindrops: There is the NBC peacock in tiny raindrops. The screen then zooms out to see the peacock in its full size.
Website: On a black background, red, blue and yellow mugs bounce on color matching saucers, all while the letters "N", "B" and "C" do the same movement as the mugs. Then, a computer cursor flies and clicks on the screen, revealing a computer interface. It shows two small folder icons with the NBC word mark and the NBC peacock, with a large folder icon showcasing the show's logo (e.g.: ER, NewsRadio, Hope & Gloria, etc.) on the right, and the rectangles with "open" on them on the left. The cursor moves to the menu bar and clicks on the "Edit" tab and the "Next" button. The cursor then moves to the "open" buttons and clicks on them, revealing the characters on the shows mentioned above, all while "next" fades in. The cursor then clicks on the large folder and a ringing clock appears. Finally, an application window randomly appears zooming in to cover the rest of the screen, with the window on the top saying "NBC <100%>" and the NBC peacock spreading its wings.
Variant: On Access Hollywood, the URL is absent.
Trivia: The 1993 IDs were designed by a selection of seven well-known artists, such as John Kricfalusi of Ren and Stimpy fame and Peter Max, who were commissioned by NBC to create said IDs for that year's Fall season. The 1995 IDs were made by Pinnacle Productions.
Technique:
Particles: 2D animation by Mark Malmberg.
Historical: 2D animation by J.J. Sedelmaier.
Impressionist: 2D animation by Joan C. Gratz.
Ice Sculpture: Live-action footage.
Peacock in the Sky: CGI.
Flipping: CGI.
Laramie Redux: 2D animation.
Beams: 2D animation by Bill Plympton.
Cartoon Peacock: 2D animation by John Kricfalusi.
Website: 2D animation and CGI.
Audio:
Particles: A tranquil synth theme with a backing that sounds a bit like the NBC peacock theme from the '60s.
Historical: A whimsical tune based around the NBC Chimes.
Impressionist: A baroque tune ending with the NBC Chimes played on the flute.
Ice Sculpture: A rock tune, followed by the NBC Chimes played on electric guitar.
Skywriting: A dramatic theme with the sounds of the biplane's engine followed by a bell version of the 3 note NBC theme.
The Flipping Peacock: A series of chimes that leads into a bombastic fanfare.
Laramie Redux: Same as the NBC Laramie ID.
Beams: A 4-note bell theme, completed with a high pitched scream, a trumpet, and a trumpet trilling, ending with the NBC Chimes played on bells. A cartoonish sigh is heard at the end.
Cartoon Peacock: A cartoonish theme (a homage to the 1962 "Laramie Peacock" ID), with a duck quack, the peacock breathing, and morphing into the logo.
Audio Variant: On Access Hollywood episodes from 1997-99 distributed by 20th Television: a majestic rendition of the NBC chimes, ending in an orchestral flourish. For the 1999-2001 episodes of the said show distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution: it used the NBC Studios music used in 1999. Sometimes, the normal NBC chimes is heard for said show's 1997-99 episodes. This was only used on the Flipping variant.
Availability: The Caricature, Historical, Impressionist and Cartoon Peacock IDs would continue to air on NBC until 2002. The Particles variant was also seen on WCAU-TV on September 10, 1995 at 1AM ET prior to their newscast (which was branded News 10 at that time) when it switched from CBS to NBC after the former sold the station to them. The Skywriting and Flipping variants were also seen on pre-2001 episodes of Access Hollywood.
29th ID (It's NBC) (1994-1995)
Videos
Visuals: There are the words "It's NBC!" on a black background. This is followed by the NBC logo.
Technique: 2D computer animation.
Audio: The NBC chimes.
30th ID (The Year to Be on NBC) (1995-1996)
Videos
Visuals: The NBC logo zooms out on a black background with 8 "N B C"s on it (four on each side). Next to the logo, an red exclamation point appears.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: The NBC chimes.
31st ID (Must See TV) (1996-1997)
Videos
Visuals: On a red and yellow background, there are the words "it's must see". Later on, the peacock appears as it spreads its wings. Then, it shines and gains its colors. As that happens, the NBC wordmark comes in letter by letter and completes the logo as "must see tv" appears. The background moves during this time.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A jazz, rock and upbeat theme titled "Must See TV", the theme used for NBC's 1996-97 season.
32nd ID (1996-2005) (Europe)
Videos
Visuals: Essentially a live-action version of the 1950s "Xylophone" ID, but viewed at an angle and with the 1986 NBC logo.
Technique: Mostly live-action.
Audio: The NBC chimes.
33rd ID (2000-2004)
Videos
Visuals: There is the standard NBC Peacock logo emerging from the bottom of the screen. The logo border is in chrome, and the feathers are crystal-like and tinted for each of its colors. As the logo rises upward and out, a pair of searchlights bounce light onto the feathers, reflecting the vibrant colors outward. The words "NBC", also crystallized, appear below the logo.
Variant: A 75th anniversary variant exists.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A fully orchestral, more majestic and trumphiant-sounding rendition of the NBC chimes.
Audio Variant: The 75th anniversary variant uses a reorchestration of the theme from the Laramie Peacock logo.
Visuals: The NBC logo appears on a brown-yellow striped background and glows orange.
Technique: 2D computer animation.
Audio: The NBC chimes.
35th ID (Always with You) (2003-2004)
Visuals: The NBC logo appears on a blue background with transparent peacock feathers.
Technique: 2D computer animation.
Audio: A dramatic, powerful rendition of the NBC chimes.
36th ID (The Great Color Quest variant) (2004-2006)
Visuals: Depends on the variants, but they generally involve Red and Yellow, the M&M's mascots, promoting NBC shows or interacting with the peacock.
Frasier: Red and Yellow are seen on a white background. Red says "Watch "Frasier", now on Tuesdays!" Yellow then says "On N-B-C." in tune of the NBC chimes. He then pulls a lever on his back causing peacock feathers to bloom behind him. The text, Frasier on Tuesdays, fades in below. Red, confused, asks Yellow "Where's the Peacock?" Yellow responds with "It's a long story". An embarrassed Red walks off screen, with Yellow following suit, revealing the peacock behind him, taped to his back, with an annoyed look.
An alternate variant of this variant exists, where Yellow, after answering Red, folds up the peacock feather and puts them back in his shell. An embarrassed Red walks off screen as this happens. Yellow then poses to impress Red who looks next to where he was, noticing he left. Yellow then looks at the viewer embarrassed, and slowly shuffles off screen. The text does not fade in here.
A blooper variant exists on a Rhythm and Hues reel, where after the normal animation, an off-screen director says "And cut!" and Red sighs. Yellow then taps Red and then tugs the lever, as if revving up a lawnmower causing the peacock feather to spin like helicopter blades, making Yellow fly. Red is unamused by this, but then Yellow loses control, and go upside down. He then flies into the camera, knocking him backwards, and he promptly says "Ow." Yellow then lowers towards the ground, causing him to spin on his head. He is then lifted slightly, dizzy from the spin, but then spins more. An annoyed Red then comes closer to Yellow and holds him down, stopping the spinning. The feathers begin spinning uncontrollably, causing Red to become nervous and say "Uh-oh." Yellow continues spinning at a faster rate causing Red to be spun around and then immediately gets flung off, as Yellow continues spinning around the set until he crashes through the off-screen set and says "Ow.".
Technique: CGI by Rhythm & Hues, Topix and HouseSpecial.
Audio: Depending on the variant. Red's voice is provided by Billy West. Yellow's voice is provided by JK Simmons.
Availability: Only seen during the M&M's promotion "The Great Color Quest", which was a promotion when all of the M&M's mascots lost their colors and caused all of their packaging to turn black and white. After the Great Color Quest was over, M&M's shifted its focus into its "Chocolate is Better in Color" campaign.
37th ID (Always with You) (2006-2008)
Visuals: There is the NBC logo on a gray-dark green-black diagonal gradient background.
Technique: 2D CGI by Capacity.
Audio: A techno rendition of the NBC chimes, composed by Dave Hummel.
38th ID (Chime In) (January 4-September 21, 2008)
Visuals: A bunch of teardrop shapes in the logo's colors zoom out and dance before placing themselves to form the peacock. The caption "all new all week" zooms out, two by two.
Technique: 2D animation. Designed by Capacity.
Audio: A soft rock tune with the NBC jingle on the electric guitar at the end, with an announcer saying "You're watching NBC, where everything is all new, all week".
39th ID (Chime In) (September 22, 2008-September 13, 2009)
Visuals: The NBC logo appears with "chime in" next to it.
Technique: CGI by Capacity.
Audio: Different versions of the NBC chimes, which depend on the tune.
40th ID (More Colorful) (September 14, 2009-September 29, 2013)
Visuals: There is the NBC logo with bars of colors featuring close-ups of the logo (or several footages of the NBC stars) coloring it. The dot wipes in to form the text "more colorful." at the bottom of the logos.
Variants:
In 2010, the graphics were slightly updated with added some digital texture in the background.
In the summer of 2011, a 3D glass version of the NBC logo is used. Also, the "more colorful" tagline is absent.
Later in the fall of the same year, the color bars are computer-generated.
In 2012, the background is now set in a bright blue gradient background.
Technique: 2D computer animation with live-action by Capacity. CGI for the post-2011 variants by Zoic Studios and Capacity.
Audio: A female announcer says, "The following programs are brought to you in living color on NBC". After that, a rendition of the NBC chimes is heard on a xylophone, accompanied by the final part of the 1962 "Laramie Peacock" logo's music. Composed by Dave Hummel and Aphex Twin.
Audio Variants:
Sometimes, the announcer is omitted.
A short version exists.
Availability: Was seen right before each show (as well as other comedy shows from the network's Thursday night block, for example Community) when it was broadcast on NBC.
41st ID (The New NBC/Share the Moment/America's Most Watched Network/America's #1 Network) (September 30, 2013-September 16, 2018)
Visuals: On a silver and white gradient background, the rainbow liquid paint splatters each other with colours including electric lime, razzle dazzle rose, absolute zero, red, neon carrot and laser lemon. On the neon carrot ball painting, the screen pans to the right and then the paint forms the peacock shell before the "NBC" text (set in Sweet Sans Pro) fades in.
Variants:
An extended version exists.
On the miniseries events, the word "MINISERIES EVENT" fades in.
Technique: CGI by Capacity.
Audio: A loud whoosh when the paints collide, combined with a piano synth tune with the NBC chimes at the end, which would be composed in 4 different sets, each arranged by Brendan Cooney:
The first set is shorter and plays 5 notes (E2, F2, G2, A2, B2) and then a C major chord with the NBC chimes, used from 2013 to 2015.
The second set is a bit longer has more energy put in it, putting 2 more notes after note 1 and repeating notes 1-3 again (E2, G1, D2, E2, F2, G2, A2, B2) rendering 8 notes, and then the NBC chimes themselves with no chord behind them, used from 2015 to 2017.
The third set is a bit longer and includes a context bridge to the chimes, which are more spread out (E2, G1, D2, E2, F2, G2, A2, B2, C3, D3, E3, F3) rendering a total of 12 notes.
The fourth set is a bit different. We still have the deep chord, but the NBC chimes are more vibrant and reverbed for better hearing, and the "G" is in one piece. We can't hear and other notes, so our eardrums know that the G is the lowest, not the highest like the NBC Kids bumpers made us think. This was used from 2017 to 2018.
42nd ID (Share the Moment/America's #1 Network/Big TV Starts Here/America's Most Watched Network/America's Favorite Network) (September 17, 2018-2023)
Visuals: Over a black background is the NBC logo unfolding, similar to the classic Laramie logo. The peacock then morphs into the then-current logo, as the text "NBC" (written in a modified version of Sweet Sans Pro, which is called NBC Tinker, named after the former chairman and CEO of NBC from 1981 to 1986, Grant Tinker) slides in from below.
Variants:
On TV shows and specials, the word "PRESENTS" fades in and the logo is zoomed out. Also, the growing part of the peacock is cut off at the beginning.
A extended version exists, where it shows the shots of the morphing peacock on the dark blue gradient background.
The same animation occurs on the NBC app on-screen banner.
Technique: CGI designed and animated by Brian Williams (not to be confused with the former NBC Nightly News anchor) and Grant Okita. A gallery with various prototypes can be seen here.
Audio: A synth version of the NBC chimes, composed by Yessian.
Audio Variant: The extended version uses the 2015 theme from the previous logo.
Availability: Can be seen on NBC programming from the era, starting with the TV broadcast of the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards. Also appears on Paramount Network prints of the current seasons of Saturday Night Live.
43rd ID (America's #1 Network/America's Most Watched Network/America's Favorite Network) (December 20, 2022-)
Visuals: Against a multicoloured background that changes is the new NBC logo (which featured the colors are paler to match the logo of streaming service Peacock, the feathers have been moved slightly to make them more balanced, the white trim forming the peacock's body and bordering its feathers has been removed, the beak is slightly larger, making it appear more prominent, and the wordmark is now set in NBC Tinker Pro Bold, an updated and expanded version of NBC Tinker) in CGI as the peacock's colors change alongside. As it goes to its usual colors is several circles shoot out from it as the background becomes a dark purple gradient with a bit of dark red in it. The logo zooms in during all of this.
Trivia:
This logo is part of a new on-air design package done by Sibling Rivalry.
The logo, alongside the rebrand it is part of as a whole, won a Silver Clio at the 2023 Clio Entertainment Awards.
Technique: CGI, also by Brian Williams and Grant Okita.
Audio: A more reorchestrated synth version of the NBC chimes, composed by YouTooCanWoo.
Audio Trivia: The music is also used on the end tag of NBC videos on the network's YouTube channel.
Audio Variant: Some shows, like The Voice for example, use the previous ID's audio.
Availability: First debuted in the America's Got Talent X account's thread and later started appearing on NBC programming shortly after. This is also used as an opening logo since January 2023.
Visuals: On a white background, there is a black dot which morphs into a peacock. A rainbow shape appears behind the peacock, which rises and fills the whole screen, making a rainbow background.
Technique: 2D animation by Carol Sones at Yellow Ball Workshop.
Audio: Same as the short version of the Laramie Peacock logo.
Availability: Can be found in a 16mm reel of Yellow Ball All Stars alongside other logos made by Yellow Ball Workshop.
2nd ID (1970)
Visuals: On a black background with dirt, there is a peacock's head rising above the dirt. The peacock then puts its head down and rises back up, this time, it has yellow, red, and blue feathers.
Technique: Cut-out stop-motion animation by Kathy Ahern at Yellow Ball Workshop.
Audio: Same as the short version of the Laramie Peacock logo.
Availability: Same as the previous ID.
3rd ID (1970)
Visuals: On a white background, a watercolor splotch grows in size, which eventually forms into the shape of a peacock.
Technique: Watercolor animation by 15-year-old Deirdre Cowden at Yellow Ball Workshop.
Audio: Same as the short version of the Laramie Peacock logo.
Availability: Same as the previous ID.
4th ID (1972)
Visuals: On a blue background, there is a weird spinning object. The object turns out to be a compressed NBC "Snake" logo. The logo decompresses and turns blue, and the background turns black.
Audio: A spacey synth sound that gets louder, followed by an ascending tone when the NBC logo decompresses. When the NBC logo is formed, a six-note theme plays.
Availability: Was found on a demo reel for Computer Animation Industries.
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