NBC Sports

Credits

Descriptions by
UWM Graphics

Compiled by
UWM Graphics

Captures by
Broken Saw, Steven Walsh, Julian Penwell II

Video captures courtesy of
Arra San Agustin, Broken Saw, Found on VHS, Steven Walsh, Julian Penwell II, Analog Indulgence, CRT Afterglow

Main Presentation

1st Logo (1981-1982)

Visuals: The 1979 NBC ID is shown over a starfield. When the NBC logo forms, it moves upward along with the white "NBC Sports" outlined. The copyright stamp appears underneath the logo.

Technique: Scanimate.

Audio: The short version of NBC's "Our Pride is Showing" campaign song with Les Marshak saying "This has been a presentation of NBC Sports, the leader in innovative sports television."

Availability: Unknown. ^[Examples?]

2nd Logo (1982-198?)

Visuals: Over a different starfield, the NBC peacock with yellow “chaser” lights over the peacock, and the outline zooms out, then the peacock moves to the left along with the abstract N coming from the top-left and the bottom-right corners and the “NBC Sports” in ITC Serif Gothic slides from the right. Sparkles appear, and the NBC Sports logo zooms out and then it zooms back in rapidly. The copyright stamp appears underneath the logo.

Technique: Scanimate.

Audio: A trumpet fanfare rendition of the NBC chimes with a drumroll which leads to the six-note synth, then finishing with a whoosh, with a different announcer saying the same spiel.

Availability: Unknown. ^[Examples?]

3rd Logo (1984-1985)

Visuals: On a black background, the NBC logo flies in from the right while the logo rotates clockwise. When the NBC logo got into the center, the logo moved vertically to see the logo in front. Then the white “NBC Sports” fades in at the bottom of the NBC logo.

Technique: CGI animation by Cranston/Csuri Productions.

Audio: A triumph fanfare, then to an abridged version of NBC’s “Let’s All Be There” campaign song with Les Marshak saying “Programs regularly scheduled at this time will not be seen tonight, so that we may bring you the following NBC Sports special.”

Availability: Unknown. ^[Examples?]

4th Logo (1985-1986)

Visuals: A drone shot of three “NBC Sports” Windross trucks are seen driving over in snowy mountains. Then it cross-fades to the far view of two “NBC Sports” Windross trucks in the same snowy mountains. The copyright stamp appears underneath the logo.

Technique: Live-action.

Audio: Same as the 3rd logo, albeit the different announcer saying the same spiel as the 1st and 2nd logos.

Availability: Unknown. ^[Examples?]

5th Logo (1986-1993)

Visuals: Same as the NBC Productions logo, but the “SPORTS” is in place of “PRODUCTIONS”.

Variants:

• The closing variant has the copyright stamp appearing underneath the logo, then it fades out when the head of the NBC peacock is shown.
• In 1990, the font on the copyright stamp was different.
• In 1993, the font on the copyright stamp was changed into a more blocky font and slanted.

Technique: CGI animated by Pacific Data Images.

Audio:

• 1986-1989: A different triumphant fanfare with violins and cymbals ends with the NBC chimes composed by APM Music's in-house custom division using a Yamaha DX7, with either Les Marshak or Hal Douglas saying “The following is a presentation of NBC Sports.”
• 1989-1993: A violin build-up, accompanied by a much different fanfare than the last then ends with the last six notes of NBC's "Come Home to the Best, Only On NBC" campaign song used from 1988-89 played on a trumpet.

Audio Variants:

• The closing variant has either Les Marshak or Hal Douglas saying "This has been a presentation of NBC Sports, the leader in innovative sports television."
• Starting in 1989, Hal Douglas is heard saying "The preceding has been a presentation of NBC Sports."
• The Orange Bowl leads Les Marshak saying "Proud to be the network for Orange Bowl!"
• The 60th anniversary of Major League Baseball leads Les Marshak saying "Proud to have brought to you 60 years of Major League Baseball!"

Availability: Unknown. ^[Examples?]

6th Logo (1993-1995)

Visuals: On a dark gray background, the "NBC" in a different Futura typeface (unlike NBC's proprietary font, NBC Futura) flies in from the left. Then the rainbow feathers swing in and spread into the peacock. The cursive yellow "Sports" is written on. Five red streaks also fly to the right behind the "NBC" and the logo shines with light rays. The camera pans from the right to the left.

Variants:

• A short version exists when the logo starts with feathers starting to spread.
• The 1994 NBA Finals have the black-and-white footage of the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy spinning.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The six-note trumpet tune used for the 1988 NBC Olympics bumper with Hal Douglas saying "This is the NBC television network."

Audio Variants:

• On the 1993 NBA Finals, the 1987 NBC special presentation music is heard while the announcer saying "Programs regularly scheduled will not be seen at this time, so that we may bring you exclusive coverage of the Bulls and Suns in the NBA Finals."
• The 1994 NBA Finals has the same NBC special presentation theme, except the former has the announcer saying "Programs regularly scheduled will not be seen at this time. Now, NBC Sports presents the Rockets and Knicks, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals!", while the latter has the announcer saying "Now and Law and Order will not be seen at this time. Now, NBC Sports presents the Knicks and Rockets at Game 7 of the NBA Finals!" instead.

Availability: Unknown. ^[Examples?]

7th Logo (1993-1995)

Visuals: Unknown.

Technique: 2D and CGI animation with live-action.

Audio: A majestic trumpet fanfare with a similarity to the 1993 ABC ID. with NBC chimes in the middle, accompanied by the announcer saying "In a new world, a new standard of excellence, NBC Sports".

Availability: Unknown. ^[Examples?]

8th Logo (1995-1996)

Visuals:

• Opening: On a blue starry background, the NBC Sports (albeit the "Sports" in NBC Sports is red) logo flies in. As the logo got into the center, a white lens flare flashes in at the top-right of the "N" in NBC and the bottom-left of the NBC peacock, then dies down. A faint thin white circle can be seen enlarging behind.
• Closing:
  • 1995-late 1995: A close-up of a CGI-rendered NBC peacock is seen with white translucent rectangles. A white flash appears, and then footage of various sports (In order: American football, basketball, baseball, golfing, and the Olympics) appear along with white translucent rectangles. Then, another flash appears, which transitions to the short version of the opening logo. A copyright stamp can be seen underneath.
  • late-1995-1960: Over a blue different starfield background, footage of various sports with trophies for each sport (which changed throughout) (all overlayed in circles) appears. The yellow text and the small NBC peacock logo from the bottom right also appear. Then it fades out, and the same opening logo fades in sans the white lens flare.

Variants:

• Sometimes, the closing variant lacks the copyright stamp.
• The NBA on NBC broadcasts include the closing logo, but it's shorter, and past NBA broadcasts replace the various sports footage.

Technique: CGI animation and live-action for the closing.

Audio:

• Opening: Same as the last logo, but a different male announcer says "The following is a presentation of NBC Sports."
• Closing:
  • 1995-late 1995: Same as the 1993 closing logo, accompanied with audio from various sports footage and a whoosh when the flash to the NBC Sports heard with an announcer saying "Where America turns for the best in sports television, NBC Sports".
  • late 1995-1996: The NFL on NBC theme by Randy Edelman accompanied by Hal Douglas saying each sports event and then "All on America's sports leader, NBC".

Audio Variant: The NBA on NBC broadcasts have the NBA theme "Roundball Rock" (which was reused by Fox Sports in 2018 as a theme for Fox College Hoops) accompanied by an announcer saying "You're watching NBA on NBC".

Availability: Unknown. ^[Examples?]

9th Logo (1996-2000)

Visuals:

• Opening: Over a background of the American flag with a glassy look of NBC peacock, the dark blue text that reads

America's

Sports

Leader

all centered with lines stacked to each word zooms in slowly. Then the white translucent text is shown zooming in faster than usual. And the CGI-rendered NBC Sports logo flies in while fading in.

• Closing:
  • Early-Mid 1996: Some sports footage corresponding to the NBC Sports broadcasting contract since 1996 with a white parallelogram on the left side appears. The NFL, NBA, MLB, PGA Tour, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the USGA, Wimbleton, PGA Ryder Cup, French Open, and the 1996 NBC Olympics logo tilts in while zooming in at the top-left corner. The NBC peacock logo is also seen at the bottom right. Then it flashes to the opening logo.
  • Mid-Late 1996: On a blue-white glowing background, some sports footage (post-NFL season) cropped in ellipses with barely visible scanlines that move to the left as footage changes by each sport appears. The text and logos (In order: the 1996 NBA Playoffs, the USGA, French Open, the USGA (again), Wimbleton, the NBA Finals, Major League Baseball, and the 1996 NBC Olympics) correspond to every sport NBC Sports has contracted, also appears as well. The text at the bottom zooms in, while the logos at the top left also spins. The NBC peacock logo can be seen at the bottom right. Then, a white flash brightens in, transitioning to the same opening logo.
  • Late 1996-1997: Unknown.
  • 1997-2000: Unknown.

Variants:

• Like the last closing logo, the closing variant lacks the copyright stamp.
• The Olympic Games variant of the closing logo has the following footage in order: A sailboat view of the Sydney Opera House, the snowy mountains in Utah, a view of Athens at sunset, a skier jumping up, and women athletes running on the track. The Olympic logos corresponded: Sydney 2000, Salt Lake 2002, Athens 2004 (the bidding logo from 1997), and NBC Olympics for 2006 and 2008. In the end, the text reads "America's Olympic Network" set in the Futura typeface.
• Sometimes, sports can be rearranged in different orders.

Technique: A mix of 2D and CGI animation.

Audio:

• Opening: An abridged version of the Major League Baseball on NBC theme, accompanied by an announcer saying "You're watching America's sports leader, NBC".
• Closing:
  • Early-Mid 1996: Same format as the late-1995 closing with the same NFL on NBC theme, except the Major League Baseball and the French Open sections have sound effects of a baseball bat hitting and a tennis racket hitting.
  • Mid-1996-1997: Same as early 1996 closing, except the sound effects are muted and the announcer said "The great events on all on America's sports leader, NBC!"
  • Late 1996-1997: The Major League Baseball on NBC theme with the same format, the sound effects are reused from the early 1996 closing logo, with an announcer saying "All on America's sports leader, NBC!"
  • 1997-2000: Same as the late 1996 closing, except the sound effects are muted.

Audio Variant: The Olympic Games variant has a rendition of "Summon the Heroes" by John Williams, accompanied by an announcer saying "The 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake, the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, and the 2008 Olympics. All on America's Olympic Network, NBC".

Availability: Unknown. ^[Examples?]

10th Logo (1998)

• 
  Golf opening.
• 
  Major League Baseball on NBC opening.

Visuals: Different variants for each sport are used:

• Golfing: On a blue background, a giant golf ball that spins zooms out. As the golf ball zooms out, the NBC peacock rotates to the front of a golf ball (a la Universal Pictures) and the CGI-rendered "NBC" and "Sports" (which is written on) fly into the center. Then, the translucent blue starfield appears behind the logo.
• Major League Baseball: On a dark sunset sky background, the NBC Sports logo, on which it shines, moves from the bottom-right corner to the center. The red and blue diamond (which is a baseball field) and two baseball bats crossed to each other fly in behind the logo. After the NBC Sports logo formed, three baseballs came out from behind to fly around.

Technique: CGI.

Audio:

• Golfing: Two whooshes with the NBC chimes played on a xylophone.
• Major League Baseball: A dark synth rendition of the NBC chimes, then a whoosh when three baseballs appear.

Availability: Unknown. ^[Examples?]

11th Logo (2002-2007)

• 
• 

Visuals:

• 2002-2003: Various sports footage appear with embossed glass peacock feathers moving around throughout the logo and text (depending on an NBC Sports program) sliding to the right while shining. Then a flare appears, which transitions to the 1995 NBC Sports opening logo (albeit the "Sports" is now yellow, with enhanced CGI effects), except it is now on a waving blue-red background.
• 2003-2007: Various sports footage appear on a white background cropped in widescreen occupied with translucent rainbow peacock feathers orbiting around. Then a white flash brightens in, and the reused 1995 NBC Sports logo is seen on a cloudy background.

Technique: A mix of CGI animation with live-action.

Audio: Depends on every sport:

• Ryder Cup: A cinematic orchestral theme, accompanied by an announcer saying "Golf's ultimate challenge, the Ryder Cup. Only on NBC!"
• Wimbledon: A new age-inspired fanfare, accompanied by an announcer saying "...tennis Championship, Wimbledon. Only on NBC!" (Apparently, the first part of the announcer's spiel was cut out)
• NASCAR/Daytona 500: A heavy metal/hard rock theme with race car sound effects. The former has the announcer saying "You are watching NBC, home of NASCAR!", while the latter has "The great American race, the ultimate victory lane, the Daytona 500! Returning February 15th, to NBC!"
• Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football: The 20th Century Studios-esque marching drum intro with a whistle leading to an 18-note orchestral theme played by a marching band. The announcer says "You are watching NBC Sports! Home of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame!"

Availability: Unknown. ^[Examples?]

12th Logo (2012-2015)

Visuals: The camera zooms out to show glass panels displaying footage of Super Bowl XLVI coverage (with the Vince Lombardi trophy presentation to the New York Giants after the Super Bowl victory and a close-up of Justin Tuck) with yellow neon tube lights (which lights up) over the football field in a daytime environment. The camera moves to the right, leading to more glass panels displaying footage of the PGA Tour on a green golfing field with green neon tubes this time. The camera also moves to the left, this time, it's the yellow neon tubes with glass panels showing the Breeder's Cup footage over a horse racing track in a sunset environment. The dirt particles from the horse racing track come in, which transition to red neon tubes with glass panels with the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals footage (where the Los Angeles Kings won the championships) over an ice rink inside the indoor arena. Then the camera moves to blue neon tubes with Michael Phelps swimming and screaming (possibly because he set a new world record according to commentators) footage (representing the Olympics) in glass panels over a swimming pool. Finally, it transitions to the NBC Sports logo (which features the "NBC" written in Sweet Sans Pro and the "Sports" is redesigned) which forms in different ways. The feathers from the NBC peacock are seen filling in, while the letters of NBC rotate to the front, and the "Sports" shines in. Behind the NBC Sports logo are all the glass panels and neon tubes arranged corresponding to the color order of the NBC peacock over a nighttime environment. The logo finishes up with the camera at an angle similar to 20th Century Fox but reversed.

Technique: A mix of live action and 3D animation, designed by Troika Design Group.

Audio: The announcer says "You're watching NBC Sports", with a cinematic orchestral tune, accompanied by commentators from various sports footage.

Availability: Unknown. ^[Examples?]

13th Logo (2015-2023)

• 
• 

Visuals: On a dark blue background, the multicolored feathers from the NBC peacock open up like a paper fan while the "NBC Sports" slides in (a la the Microsoft PowerPoint "Peek In" effect). Then the NBC Sports logo zooms out and cross-fades to footage of past NBC Olympics broadcasts in a video reel sliding to the left. Then a yellow rectangle covers the video reel, which moves to see more footage. Then the reel zooms out to show more footage in the background and another yellow rectangle slides in transitioning to another sports footage. The footage zooms out and slides out from footage to footage and then zooms back in. Then it cuts to footage of past Sunday Night Football games and a yellow rectangle wipes to a football stadium at nighttime while the NBC Sunday Night Football logo zooms out. Then another yellow rectangle appears, which transitions to the "S" of "Sports" and zooms out while it deforms, and the NBC peacock (without the "NBC Sports" wordmark) forms just like the beginning.

Technique: A mix of 2D animation, CGI animation and live action.

Audio: Unknown.

Availability: Can be seen on NBC Sports broadcasts before 2023.

14th Logo (2023-)

Visuals: On a dark background, the peacock feathers, which rotate throughout, while displaying various sports footage zoom in, creating a feather-shaped tunnel. One of the peacock feathers starts with footage from London 2012 and Tokyo 2020 (representing the Olympic Games). The red feather zooms in behind, transitioning to feather-shaped footage of a soccer player cheering after scoring a goal (representing the Premier League) while the yellow feather comes in too. Another feather-shaped footage of multiple racing cars and a racer winning a championship (representing NASCAR), while another red feather zooms in. This then transitions to another three feather-shaped footage of horse racing and the audience cheering for them (representing the Breeder's Cup) with orange feathers zooming in. Another feather transition, this time a golfer winning a trophy at the championship (representing the PGA Tour) with a green feather as well. Then, the feather-shaped tunnel ends with the footage of the past Sunday Night Football games. The cyan and red feathers fill in, transitioning to footage of Patrick Malones from the Kansas City Chiefs. Then the blue-green-orange feathers zoom in, and it transitions to the current NBC Sports (without the NBC wordmark) logo forming (the NBC peacock logo popping in while the "Sports" writing in just like the 1993 and 2012 logos) on a dark background with CGI-rendered feathers while zooming out.

Trivia: This logo was inspired by the current NBC graphics from 2023 until the present day, all done by Sibling Rivalry.

Technique: CGI and 2D animation with live action.

Audio: A majestic and dramatic orchestral tune accompanied by commentators from past broadcasts and the audience cheering, ending with familiar NBC chimes from the 1950s.

Availability: This can be seen on current NBC Sports broadcasts since 2023.

Olympic Presentation

Unknown.