NBC is the oldest broadcasting network in the United States. It was founded in 1926 as the National Broadcasting Company, the first permanent U.S. radio network. Today, NBC is one of the four major national television networks. The other three are ABC, CBS, and Fox. NBC is owned by NBCUniversal Media, LLC (formerly NBC Universal, Inc.).
The NBC television network was established by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), a manufacturer of radio equipment. In 1936, RCA installed television receivers in many homes in the New York City area. NBC’s New York station began experimental telecasts to these homes. On April 30, 1939, NBC became the first network to introduce regular TV broadcasts when it demonstrated television at the opening day ceremonies at the New York World’s Fair.
During the 1940’s and 1950’s, NBC executives experimented with many kinds of television programming. Its variety shows featured many entertainers who started their careers in vaudeville and network radio. Among the most popular NBC shows were “The Texaco Star Theater,” which made the comedian Milton Berle the first big star of television, and “Your Show of Shows,” starring the comedian Sid Caesar. NBC’s dramatic program “Kraft Television Theatre” featured Broadway actors in live telecasts.
NBC developed new styles of programming with the morning news show “Today,” which began in 1952, and the late evening variety show “Tonight!” (later called “The Tonight Show”), which began in 1954. Both shows, which also feature interviews with celebrities, remain popular today.
In 1956, NBC became the first network to televise national political conventions. The telecasts proved so successful that the hosts, Chet Huntley and David Brinkley, became anchors of the network’s nightly news show, the “Huntley-Brinkley Report,” later that year. The show ran until 1970, when Huntley retired. It was succeeded by “NBC Nightly News,” which remains the NBC flagship evening news program today.
During the 1980’s and the 1990’s, NBC dominated prime time with such highly acclaimed shows as the dramas “Hill Street Blues,” “Law and Order,” and “ER”; and the comedies “The Cosby Show,” “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” and “Will & Grace.” “The Cosby Show” was the first U.S. situation comedy that featured a prosperous African American family headed by two professionals. “Will & Grace” featured one of television’s first openly gay characters.
In 1989, NBC News expanded into cable television, establishing a business channel, CNBC. In 1996, NBC News teamed with Microsoft Corporation to establish MSNBC, a general cable news channel, and msnbc.com, an online news site. In 2012, NBC News acquired full control of msnbc.com and its digital network from Microsoft, and msnbc.com became NBCNews.com. NBC is now the biggest television news organization in the United States.
