NBC logo
National Broadcasting Company logos used at various times:
Early NBC television logos
In 1943, four years after inaugurating television service, NBC television got its first official logo, a microphone surrounded by lightning bolts, a modification of an existing logo used by the NBC radio network. Lightning bolts were also part of corporate parent RCA's logo, as well as that of sister-company RKO Pictures. At the beginning of telecasts, another card was used, depicting an NBC cameraman with his camera.
In 1954, on New Year's Day, to coincide with the start of broadcasting in color, a stylized xylophone and mallet was introduced, accompanied by the three-tone "bing-bong-bing" NBC chimes, first heard on NBC radio in 1927. The tones are the notes "G," "E," and "C." There is some indication that the xylophone logo was used at 5:32 PM on December 17, 1953 to announce the FCC's approval of the new color standard, which would go into effect 30 days later. Special permission was apparently used on New Year's Day when the Tournament of Roses Parade was aired.
NBC Peacock logos
Contrary to popular belief, the Peacock was not originally used as NBC's own logo; the 1956 and 1962 versions were used solely to identify the network's color broadcasts, while other logos (initially the xylophone logo, but most commonly the "NBC Snake") identified NBC itself. Nonetheless, the Peacock became so famously identified with NBC that it was incorporated into the network logo in 1979, and became its sole logo in 1986.
1956 Peacock logo
In 1956 an abstraction of an eleven-feathered peacock to indicate richness in color was created by John J. Graham, and adopted, due to the increase in color programming. NBC's first color broadcasts showed only a still frame of the colorful peacock. On September 7, 1957 on Your Hit Parade the peacock was animated, and thereafter appeared at the beginning of every NBC color broadcast until a revamped animation appeared in the 1960s.
1962 Peacock logo ("Laramie Peacock")
On April 16, 1962, on the Laramie series, a second version of the Peacock opening was introduced in which the bird fanned its bright plumage against a kaleidoscopic color background. Like the 1956 Peacock, this logo only appeared at the start of NBC color broadcasts; as all NBC broadcasts eventually became color, it was generally used only to open those shows that had traditionally opened with the Peacock. The "Laramie Peacock" (named for the series which introduced it) was retired on December 31, 1975.
1979 Peacock logo
The Peacock, still with eleven feathers, returned in the fall of 1979, was married with the N, to create a design called "the Proud N". This was the first time the Peacock was actually part of NBC's own logo. It was simplified in keeping with the letter's pared-down design. Although all eleven feathers were intact, the teardrop tips were gone, the feet were gone and the Peacock's body became a simple triangular shape. On several occasions, the new Peacock was used independently of the N (starting with the 1979 "Proud as a Peacock" advertising campaign that reintroduced the Peacock). However, the N and the Peacock were usually used together between 1979 and 1986.
1986 Peacock logo
On May 8, 1986, NBC broadcast its 60th Anniversary Special. At the very end, every NBC star (past and present) stood on stage to introduce a new logo to America. The arranged marriage of "N" and Peacock ended, and "The Bird" finally assumed its official place as NBC's symbol. The peacock was now flipped to the right to suggest it was forward looking, not back. With its six feathers then representing the network's divisions (at the time: News, Sports, Entertainment, Stations, Network, and Productions) as well as the six primary colors, this Peacock, designed by Chermayeff & Geismar, remains one of the world's most recognized logos.
Other NBC logos
Beginning in 1959, an animated logo joined the Peacock, appearing at the end of broadcasts. Beginning with N, each letter would grow from the other, forming a stacked typographic logo ending with C, forming the base. This would be known as the "NBC Snake." A recent announcement that this logo would be used again suggests an "NBC Snake" redesign may be used when the network fully enters the HDTV era.
On New Year's Day, 1976, NBC's visual trademark was updated, as a stylized 'N' was introduced, consisting of two trapezoids. The design was bold, bright and contemporary. In February 1976, NBC was sued by the Nebraska ETV network for trademark infringement since the new NBC logo was virtually identical to the ETV logo. An out-of-court settlement was reached in which NBC gave ETV new equipment and a mobile color unit (valued at over $800,000) in exchange for allowing NBC to retain their logo. In addition, NBC paid $55,000 to ETV to cover the cost of designing and implementing a new logo. One of the technological innovations of this logo was the first electronically animated ident for an American television network. ([1])
In the aftermath of the September 11th Attacks, NBC turned the peacock to resemble an American flag, which was used right up until the 2002 Winter Olympics.
