History of NBC in Timeline

The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is a major American commercial broadcast television and radio network. As the flagship property of NBC Entertainment, which is a division of NBCUniversal (a subsidiary of Comcast), NBC holds the distinction of being the first and oldest major broadcast network in the United States. It stands as one of NBCUniversal's two flagship subsidiaries alongside Universal Studios.

1952: Creation of Today

In 1952, Sylvester "Pat" Weaver created the Today show for NBC.

1954: Creation of Tonight Starring Steve Allen and Home

In 1954, Sylvester "Pat" Weaver created Tonight Starring Steve Allen, the first program in the Tonight Show franchise, and Home.

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1955: Creation of Wide Wide World and NBC Monitor

In 1955, Sylvester "Pat" Weaver created Wide Wide World and NBC Monitor.

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1956: KUAM-TV became NBC affiliate

KUAM-TV in Guam became an NBC affiliate in 1956, broadcasting the network's programming via the East Coast satellite feed. Entertainment and news programming is shown on a one-day tape delay due to the time difference.

1975: Cast assembled for NBC's Saturday Night

By 1975, Michaels assembled a talented cast for the show originally called NBC's Saturday Night.

1975: NBC Monitor Ends

In 1975, NBC Monitor ended after running for 20 years after Weaver's departure.

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1976: NBC Purchased Rights to the Name "Saturday Night Live"

In 1976, NBC purchased the rights to the name "Saturday Night Live".

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March 26, 1977: NBC Officially Adopted the "Saturday Night Live" title

On March 26, 1977, NBC officially adopted the title "Saturday Night Live".

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1979: Debut of Real People

In 1979, Silverman pioneered the reality television genre with the debut of Real People.

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1979: Reintroduction of the peacock as NBC's corporate logo

In 1979, Silverman reintroduced the peacock as NBC's corporate logo.

1981: Animated series based on The Smurfs

In 1981, Silverman oversaw the development of an animated series based on The Smurfs.

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1982: Tartikoff and Tinker Turn Network Fortunes Around

By 1982, Tartikoff and network president Grant Tinker gradually turned the network's fortunes around.

1985: Brandon Tartikoff became President of Entertainment

Brandon Tartikoff became President of Entertainment by 1985, helping NBC get back on top.

1985: Seven News uses "The Mission" as theme music

Since 1985, Seven News in Australia has used John Williams' "The Mission," the theme music for NBC News' flagship programs, for its local and national news programs.

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1989: The Smurfs Ended

The Smurfs ended in 1989, well after Silverman's departure, making it one of his longest-lasting contributions to the network.

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February 1991: Johnny Carson Retirement News

In February 1991, Johnny Carson told Tartikoff of his plan to retire.

1993: Canal de Noticias NBC Launched

In 1993, NBC launched Canal de Noticias NBC, a 24-hour Spanish-language news channel serving Latin America. It was the second news channel for that region and based its news schedule on CNN's "wheel" format.

1993: General Electric acquires Super Channel

In 1993, NBC's parent company, General Electric, acquired Super Channel and relaunched the Pan-European cable network as NBC Super Channel.

1994: NBC Asia Launched

In 1994, NBC Asia was launched and distributed to India, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Pakistan, and the Philippines. It featured NBC's news programs, The Tonight Show, Late Night, and Saturday Night Live.

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1996: Super Channel renamed NBC Europe

In 1996, NBC Super Channel was renamed NBC Europe, though it was typically referred to as "NBC" on air.

July 1998: NBC Asia replaced by National Geographic Channel

In July 1998, NBC Asia was replaced by a regional version of the National Geographic Channel.

1999: Canal de Noticias NBC Shut Down

In 1999, Canal de Noticias NBC was shut down due to its inability to generate sustainable advertising revenue.

1999: NBC Europe ceases broadcasting in most of Europe

In 1999, NBC Europe stopped broadcasting in most of Europe outside of Germany. The network was relaunched as a German-language technology channel, featuring the new series NBC GIGA.

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2000: Seven Nightly News Titled Changed

Until around 2000, local newscasts in Australia were titled Seven Nightly News.

2004: NBC programming available in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Since 2004, NBC programming has been available in the U.S. Virgin Islands on WVGN-LD in Charlotte Amalie.

2005: KKHJ-LP affiliated with NBC

In 2005, KKHJ-LP in Pago Pago, American Samoa, became an NBC affiliate.

2005: NBC GIGA Relaunched as Das Vierte

In 2005, the channel NBC GIGA was relaunched as the free-to-air movie channel Das Vierte.

February 2007: Reilly signs new contract

In February 2007, Reilly signed a new three-year contract with NBC.

May 2007: Reilly terminated as president

In late May 2007, Reilly was terminated as president.

2009: The Jay Leno Show broadcast on Solar TV

From 2009 to 2010, Solar TV in the Philippines broadcast The Jay Leno Show.

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2009: GIGA Television Shut Down

GIGA Television, spun off from NBC GIGA as a digital channel, shut down as a TV station at the end of 2009.

2009: NBC and Seven Used "Like It Like That" in Promos

In 2009, NBC and the Seven Network in Australia both used the Guy Sebastian single "Like it Like That" in image promos for their respective summer schedules.

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2010: The Jay Leno Show Broadcast Ended on Solar TV

Solar TV broadcasted The Jay Leno Show until 2010.

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2012: KKHJ-LP ended affiliation with NBC

In 2012, KKHJ-LP in Pago Pago, American Samoa, ended its affiliation with NBC. Cable television providers on the islands now carry the network's programming via Seattle affiliate KING-TV.

2013: Das Vierte Shut Down

At the end of 2013, Das Vierte shut down after being acquired by Disney, which replaced it with a German version of the Disney Channel.

2014: VSB-TV Ended Operations

In 2014, VSB-TV, which carried NBC's entire program lineup, ended operations. Bermuda now receives NBC service from WTVJ Miami via cable.

2017: NBC Affiliates Pulled Off Air in Colombia

In early 2017, NBC affiliates were no longer distributed in Colombia due to broadcaster concerns about broadcasting rights outside their local coverage area, mirroring similar actions by ABC and CBS.

April 2019: NBC Paid Firm to Improve Reputation

In April 2019, the Huffington Post and Wired reported that NBC had paid a firm to improve its reputation by lobbying for changes to Wikipedia articles on NBC, Nextdoor, and others.