The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) has undergone a number of logo changes in its long history, with its most famous and enduring symbol being the peacock. This logo has evolved significantly over the years, reflecting the network's shifting identity and expansion from radio to television and beyond.

NBC Logo History

NBC was founded in 1926 as the first U.S. radio network and expanded into television in 1939. Throughout the years, the network has been known for its popular programming, such as Friends, ER, and Seinfeld, particularly in the 1990s when it became the top television network in America. NBC has changed ownership several times, including being acquired by General Electric in 1986, Vivendi in 2004, and Comcast in 2010, which led to the network refining its visual identity to match its modernized role in the media industry.

Logo Evolution

1. 1926 – 1931: Early Designs
   NBC’s first logo featured a microphone with lightning bolts, symbolizing its radio origins. This logo was minimalist, with a focus on the microphone as a central element. The second version, introduced in 1931, still incorporated lightning bolts, but the logo became simpler and stricter, with diagonally set lettering and a thin square frame.
2. 1931 – 1942: Simplification and Structure
   The logo of 1931 kept the lightning bolts but added a more structured, minimalist look with bold diagonal lettering and a square frame with rounded corners. This logo stayed with the network for nearly a decade.
3. 1943 – 1946: Television Era Begins
   In 1943, NBC introduced a more refined design, resembling the 1926 version with a microphone and lightning bolts, symbolizing its transition into television broadcasting.
4. 1946 – 1952: Simplicity and Elegance
   By 1946, NBC had adopted a simple black-and-white logo with elegant serif lettering. This logo conveyed sophistication, marking a more professional era for the network.
5. 1952 – 1953: Modern Strength
   In 1952, the logo became more modern, with bold, sans-serif letters and a clean, sharp look, reflecting NBC’s growing stature in the broadcasting world.
6. 1953 – 1959: The Xylophone
   In 1953, NBC created an emblem that became known as the xylophone logo, often accompanied by its iconic seven-tone chimes. This design marked the introduction of music and sound into the network’s visual identity.
7. 1956 – 1975: The Peacock Era Begins
   In 1956, NBC introduced the iconic peacock logo, designed by John J. Graham. The peacock had eleven feathers, symbolizing the richness of the color programming NBC was rolling out. This logo was further refined in 1962 with the addition of a kaleidoscopic background, specifically for NBC’s own productions.
8. 1975 – 1979: Abstract Designs
   From 1975 to 1979, NBC’s logo became more abstract, using geometric shapes in red, blue, and white, which hinted at the letter "N." This design was artsy and less literal than previous logos, symbolizing a more innovative approach to broadcasting.
9. 1979 – 1986: Return of the Peacock
   The peacock reappeared in 1979, this time with rainbow-colored feathers and a refined blue outline around the bird. The logo continued to evolve in 1986 with the addition of the NBC wordmark, solidifying the brand’s identity.
10. 1986 – 2010: Modernizing the Peacock
    The 1986 redesign added sharper lines to the peacock’s body and refined the NBC wordmark. The bird was positioned above the lettering, which was set in a bold, sans-serif typeface. This logo stayed with NBC for decades.
11. 2010 – 2013: Three-Dimensional Look
    In 2010, NBC introduced a more modern, three-dimensional look with gradient shades, making the peacock appear metallic. The NBC wordmark was removed from the logo, leaving just the peacock emblem.
12. 2013 – 2022: Clean, Modern Version
    In 2013, the peacock was kept but was paired with a newly-designed typeface for the NBC wordmark. The peacock became more refined, with more 3D elements, giving the logo a sense of depth.
13. 2022 – Present: A Return to Flat Design
    The 2022 redesign brought back the flat and clean logo from the 1986 design, with updated and more prominent contours. The NBC lettering is now set in a bold, geometric sans-serif font, modernizing the look while retaining the peacock as the central visual element.

The Peacock Symbol

NBC’s peacock, originally introduced in 1956, became the network’s most iconic symbol. The eleven feathers represented NBC’s commitment to color television, and over the years, the bird itself was modified to reflect the evolution of television technology and the network’s brand. The peacock’s vibrant feathers were often used to represent the full spectrum of NBC’s programming, from news to entertainment.

NBC Snake Symbol

In 1959, NBC also introduced a second symbol, the NBC Snake, which was used alongside the peacock. The snake’s design was based on the interlocking letters of NBC, and it had various iterations over the years. However, this symbol never gained the same recognition as the peacock.

Font and Color

• Font: NBC's fonts evolved over time from italicized serif to bold sans-serif and finally to a geometric sans-serif typeface. The 2013 logo marked a shift to a minimalistic and modern font, further refined in the 2022 redesign.
• Colors: The peacock emblem has always featured a rich color palette, including yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, and green, representing the diversity and vibrancy of NBC's programming.

Legacy

The evolution of NBC's logo reflects not only its changes in corporate ownership but also the network’s ability to adapt to new technologies and cultural shifts. From its radio roots to becoming a global television powerhouse, the peacock logo remains one of the most recognizable and enduring symbols in the history of television.