NBC

Background
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial terrestrial radio and television network owned by NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. The network is headquartered at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, with additional major offices near Los Angeles (at 10 Universal City Plaza), Chicago (at the NBC Tower), and Philadelphia (at the Comcast Technology Center). NBC is one of the Big Three television networks, and is sometimes referred to as the "Peacock Network", in reference to its stylized peacock logo, introduced in 1956 to promote the company's innovations in early color broadcasting; it became the network's official emblem in 1979. Founded in 1926 by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), NBC is the oldest major broadcast network in the United States. At that time, the parent company of RCA was General Electric (GE). In 1932, GE was forced to sell RCA and NBC as a result of antitrust charges. In 1952, NBC Films (also known as "NBC Enterprises, Inc.", who would later reform in late 1970s) was founded. It was the production/distribution arm of the NBC Television Network for NBC off-network programs originally formed in 1952. In 1973, NBC later spun-off NBC Films and later sold it including the library to National Telefilm Associates because it was against the FCC regulations for a television network to distribute its programs under its own name. As of now, most of the library is currently handled by ViacomCBS, through CBS Television Distribution and Spelling Television Inc., except several episodes of You Bet Your Life by Buddy Hackett and non-public domain episodes by Groucho Marx are retained by NBCUniversal. Many others have fallen in the public domain. In 1986, control of NBC passed back to General Electric (GE) through its $6.4 billion purchase of RCA. GE immediately began to liquidate RCA's various divisions, but retained NBC. After the acquisition by GE, Bob Wright became chief executive officer of NBC; he would remain in that position until his retirement in 2007, when he was succeeded by Jeff Zucker. In 2004, French media company Vivendi merged its entertainment assets with GE, forming NBC Universal. Comcast purchased a controlling interest in the company in 2011, and acquired General Electric's remaining stake in 2013. Following the Comcast merger, Zucker left NBCUniversal and was replaced as CEO by Comcast executive Steve Burke. NBC has thirteen owned-and-operated stations and nearly 200 affiliates throughout the United States and its territories, some of which are also available in Canada and/or Mexico via pay-television providers or in border areas over-the-air; NBC also maintains brand licensing agreements for international channels in South Korea and Germany.

1st Logo (1943-1946)
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Logo: Just the letters N, B and C in a vatical position on a microphone, surrounded by bolts of lightning on a black background.

FX/SFX: The movement of the lightning.

Music/Sounds: An announcer says "This is N-B-C. The National Broadcasting Company", followed by the chime notes "G", "E", and "C" with electrical buzzing in the background.

Availability: Extinct. This may appear on kinescopes of the period.

Editor's Note: This ID will most likely seem very strange to viewers familiar with modern television. However, keep in mind that this is a rather common design for the period.

2nd Logo (1946-1947)
TBA

3rd Logo (1949-1952)
Logo: We see the words "NBC" surrounded by a square zoom up on a gray background. The letters light up one by one in sync with the NBC chimes.

FX/SFX: The zooming, the letters lighting up.

Music/Sounds: An announcer saying "NBC Television.", followed by the famous "NBC chimes" as the letters light up.

Availability: Extinct. Once again, check old kinescopes.

Editor's Note: This is by far the most classic version of the NBC chimes.

4th Logo (1952-1963?)
Logo: We see the letters "NBC". They then light up one-by-one.

FX/SFX: The letters lighting up.

Music/Sounds: Same as the last logo, minus the announcer.

Availability: Extinct.

5th Logo (1954-1956)
Nickname: "NBC Xylophone"

Logo: We see a xylophone with three keys. A drumstick then hits all 3 keys, which makes the letters "NBC" appear on them.

FX/SFX: Neat animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as the last logo.

Availability: Extinct.

6th Logo (1955?-1956)
Logo: We see a card with the words "THIS PROGRAM IS BEING TELEVISED IN", with COLOR below it in a larger font, and below "AND BLACK AND WHITE" in the same font as the text above the word "COLOR".

Variant: A B&W variant exists.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: An announcer saying "The following program is brought to you in compatible color, pioneered and developed by RCA."

Availability: Extremely rare. Both captures appeared on a 1956 episode of The Dinah Shore Show. Ironically, it is only preserved in black and white.

Editor's Note: Some may not be expecting the announcer, but it's harmless.

7th Logo (1956-1962, 1984, 2019)
Nickname: "Early Peacock", "Cymbal Crash"

Logo: We see a white peacock facing left on a black BG. Its feathers, outlined in white and tipped with little diamond shapes, begin to fold up. As they meet in the center, they spread out in the opposite directions, becoming colored in the process. The feathers flash multiple colors and "bloom", becoming thicker, with the diamonds changing to teardrop shapes. The result is an 11-feathered peacock with its paper fan-shaped display feathers in various colors.

Variants:
 * The peacock was still in its earliest years. There is also a still version with the peacock appearing over the word "COLOR." On this, there is no music and just the spiel described below.
 * Another still variant has the words "AN NBC COLOR PRESENTATION" under the peacock. This was seen on the 1958 primetime version of the game show Tic-Tac-Dough.
 * B&W variants exist on prints of said colors.
 * An unknown B&W variant exists where the peacock suddenly freaks out and starts erratically moving in different directions, causing it to have its feathers ruffled up rather horribly and its body stretched out like it's screeching in pain. It then collapses to the ground.

FX/SFX: The peacock spreading its feathers.

Music/Sounds: We first hear a gong crash, then announcer Ben Grauer says "The following program is brought to you in living color on NBC.". This ends with a bombastic fanfare.

Music/Sound Variants:
 * Sometimes, there is no music, and the announcement is provided by Bill Hanrahan instead.
 * A special variant was used on Howdy Doody. It starts out with the NBC chimes performed on a guitar with the characters singing "Everyone in Doodyville is shouting 'hooray'!/'cause we're in living color/we're in living color/we're in living color todaaaaay!".
 * On The Steve Allen Plymouth Show, a big band tune based on the NBC chimes is heard.

Availability: Extremely rare. Appears on the pilot of Bonanza on DVD. This ID was spotted recently in front of the Bonanza episode "The Frenchman" on MeTV, and may appear on other early episodes.

Editor's Note: This logo might startle some, thanks to the cymbal crash, the bombastic fanfare and loud announcer.

8th Logo (1962-1975, May 22, 1992, June 1, 2009)
Nickname: "Laramie Peacock", "Kaleidoscope Peacock", "Psychedelic Peafowl" "Undead Peacock" (For the Nightmare: The Host and Rodney variant)

Logo: We see a kaleidoscope of many colors rotating. It wipes away, leaving us with the peacock from before, but its feathers greatly enlarged, which shrink down and form its feathers, looking the same from before, albeit with different colors.

Variants:
 * On Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, there is a variant where a man in white rolls a desk with a camera in from the left of the screen on a purplish-pink background. Another man in the same clothing floats down with a green rolled-up 16-millimeter screen. He unfolds it and walks around the movie screen as the movie starts with a countdown, then a blue "PICTURE START" screen, then this logo. The movie screen zooms in to fit the screen. After the music stops, the peacock sneezes, "Ah-CHOO!" and its feathers fly off as it looks around, wondering where its feathers went.
 * On The Dinah Shore Show, the peacock appears 3 times screaming "CAW!" during the opening of the show.
 * On the Star Trek: The Original Series gag reel, when the logo is about to finish, we see a hand holding a gun, shooting the peacock repeatedly, causing the peacock to flip over several times and scream.
 * On a rare marketing reel for Nightmare: The Host and Rodney, the logo looks a lot more deformed. The colors of the feathers are different, faded, and 2 of the tips are sagging, while the peacock body looks crooked and there are 2 feathers under it. This variant is also still and the Vincent Price-like announcer has an very menacing feel to it, complete with an echo. The voice says "in livid color" (livid is a blue-gray color) instead of "living".
 * B&W variants exist on prints of said colors.
 * On 70s episodes of "Today", the words "TODAY" will appear during the 2nd half of the logo.

FX/SFX: The kaleidoscope effects.

Music/Sounds: A mellow flute and harp tune with a different (and much softer) announcer (Mel Brandt) saying the spiel from before. Sometimes, a different announcer is used, and adds "It just starts in black-and-white." at the end. This was seen on a promo for Get Smart.

Music/Sounds Variants: There are versions of the bumper with a shortened jingle. Also, the announcement can vary depending on the situation.

Availability: Rare; it was first used on the western series Laramie, hence the nickname. It can be seen on DVD's of classic NBC shows, such as Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. The Get Smart variant can be found on the Get Smart complete series DVD. It made an appearance in front of the first episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien on June 1, 2009. This can also be seen on at least one The Tonight Show tape from Buena Vista Home Video featuring Johnny Carson, as well as the VHS versions of Movin' With Nancy (starring Nancy Sinatra) and Petula Clark Spectacular. Some of the prime time episodes of Hollywood Squares that GSN aired retained the peacock as well, as well as episodes on Hulu. This logo is restored on the newest prints of Bonanza episodes (dubbed "The Lost Episodes") on Me-TV.

Editor's Note: The logo is much more mellowed out this time, but the Nightmare: The Host and Rodney variant can be creepy for some viewers.

9th Logo (1967)
TBA

10th Logo (1970)
TBA

11th Logo (1972)
Logo: On a blue background, we see a weird spinning object. The object turns out to be a compressed NBC "Snake" logo. The logo decompresses and turns blue, and the background turns black.

FX/SFX: All of the animation in the logo, which was done by Computer Animation Industries using Scanimate.

Music/Sounds: A UFO sound that gets louder, and then an ascending tone when the NBC logo decompresses. When the NBC logo is formed a six-note theme plays.

Availability: This logo was never used. It was found on a demo reel for Computer Animation Industries.

Editor's Note: This logo features good animation for 1972.

12th Logo (Late 1975-1976)
TBA

13th Logo (January 1, 1976-1977)
Logo: We have a white background, which zooms out, revealing an abstract "N" on a black background. The text "Dolphin Productions/New York" in white fades in on the bottom of the screen. The left section of the "N" fills with red, and the right section fills with blue, becoming the NBC logo of the time. The text on the bottom of the screen fades to "NBC".

Variant: A still version exists.

FX/SFX: It's nothing more than zoom effects and fading. This was done at Dolphin Productions in New York; the footage here was taken from a watermarked Dolphin demo reel, which explains the "Dolphin Productions/New York" at the bottom of the screen at one part.

Music/Sounds: A loud jazzy fanfare with congas. The still version has no music and it has a voiceover.

Availability: Extinct. This was seen as a network ID starting on January 1, 1976.

Editor's Note: While definitely very simple by today's standards, this logo holds the groundbreaking distinction of being the first completely computer animated national television network ID.

14th Logo (1976, 1977-1978)
TBA

15th ID (1979-1980)


Nickname: "Proud as a Peacock"

ID: We see some sparkles zooming out in an image of outer space with a blue planet below. Then, the new redesigned peacock comes and spreads its multicolored gradient wings (think of candy corn). Under it is the wording "NBC PROUD AS A PEACOCK" with the NBC abstract N under it.

Variants:
 * An early version has the peacock having different, more vibrant feathers.
 * There's also a version with the abstract N from before zooming out with the sparkles.

Custom Local Variants:


 * KSBW-TV
 * KSBY-TV
 * KXAS-TV
 * WBBH-TV
 * WCKT
 * WESH-TV
 * WFMJ-TV
 * WMAQ-TV
 * WMC-TV
 * WPTV-TV
 * WPTZ-TV

FX/SFX: The peacock spreading its wings. This was animated by Image West.

Music/Sounds: The campaign song, Proud as a Peacock, with a chorus singing, "NBC, proud as a peacock!" Composed by Joey Levine.

Availability: Extinct. Check old off-air recordings of the period.

Editor's Note: This not only marks the return of the NBC peacock, but also the first use of it as official branding, as the peacock was originally an alternate logo used for color presentations.

16th Logo (1980-1981)


Nickname: "Proud as a Peacock II"

Logo: The 11-feathered peacock zooms out on a blue background with flares, unveiling "NBC PROUD AS A PEACOCK" underneath, along with a 2D drawing of the Proud N in outline form (or the station's logo for local campaigns). It also shines all over the peacock.

FX/SFX: The shining of the peacock, the pull out of the words.

Music/Sounds: A re-recorded version of the previous campaign's music, with the chorus singing, "NBC, proud as a peacock!"

Availability: Extinct. Check old off-air recordings of the period.

Editor's Note: None.

17th Logo (1981-1982)


Nickname: "Our Pride is Showing"

Logo: We start with a space background. Then, it rolls up to a magenta and navy blue striped background as the NBC "Proud N" lays on it. The body of the peacock, the abstract N and the two yellow feathers light up to the NBC chimes (G-E-C). Finally, the words "OUR PRIDE IS SHOWING" goes on the background as the logo comes to a stop.

FX/SFX: The flying of the text, the starry background rolled up for the magenta and navy blue striped background.

Music/Sounds: A chorus singing, "NBC. The magic keeps on growing, NBC, (G-E-C) Our pride is showing!"

Availability: Extinct. Check old off-air recordings of the period.

Editor's Note: None.

18th Logo (1982-1983)
Nickname: "Just Watch Us Now"

Logo: On a plane consisting of tiles of peacocks with 11 feathers, the text "NBC" rotates and flies out, followed by the text "JUST WATCH US NOW". Then the camera pans to the NBC peacock with the "N" from the previous logo, made by blue lines. Then, the peacock with the "N" zooms in.

FX/SFX: The flying of the text, the zooming.

Music/Sounds: The shortened version of the last part of the jingle "We're NBC, Just Watch Us Now". Sometimes, an announcer (Danny Dark) says, "This is NBC, the network that swept in Emmys.", followed by a chorus singing "We're NBC, Just Watch Us NOW!"

Availability: Extinct. Again, check old off-air recordings of the period.

Editor's Note: None.

19th Logo (1983-1984)
Nickname: "Be There"

Logo: On a moving NBC wallpaper, we see the NBC logo zooming in.

FX/SFX: The wallpaper, the zooming in.

Music/Sounds: Danny Dark says "This is the NBC television network!" over an excerpt of the network's "Be There" theme. After the voiceover, the theme concludes with the jingle "You can N-B-C there, be there!"

Availability: Extinct. Once again, check old off-air recordings.

Editor's Note: The "Be There" campaign is a favorite of many.

20th Logo (1984-1985)
Nickname: "Let's All Be There"

Logo: On a black silver-lined floor, there is a three-dimensional model of the 1979-1986 NBC logo sitting closely above ground. The camera pans below to some huge text, which is revealed to be "BE THERE", sitting on a black floor with red lines scrolling. The camera pans back to show another three-dimensional model of the aforementioned logo in front of the lettering. Then a dotted shine of light reveals the text "LET'S ALL." It then zooms through the letter "E."

Trivia: This logo was designed by Harry Marks, who was also notable for designing the 1983-1989 intro to Entertainment Tonight and the 1988-1989 ABC "Something's Happening" promotional film, and animated by Pacific Data Images.

Variants:
 * There's a version with different panning animation. First we see the NBC logo floating in mid-air. Then the camera zooms away from the logo and zooms into the "BE THERE" sign with the dotted shine revealing "LET'S ALL." Then it zooms through the letter "E."
 * There's another version which is on a black background with blue being emitted below. The NBC logo floats in mid-air on the right and "LET'S ALL BE THERE" sits on the left. This was used as a generic NBC ID.
 * An alternate version of this variant without the peacock was used as a template for NBC stations to place their logos when needed.
 * A version was made for Seven in Australia. In this version, the Seven logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * A version was also made for SBT and TVS in Brazil. In this version, the words "LET'S ALL BE THERE" are translated into Portuguese as "QUEM PROCURA ACHA AQUI". Also, the entire logo is 2D and cuts to the words coming in. After the camera zooms through the words, either the SBT or TVS logo zooms in.
 * Local Variants:
 * KPRC-TV 2 (Houston, Texas): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WMAR-TV 2 (Baltimore, Maryland; now an ABC affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * KYTV-TV 3 (Springfield, Missouri): Basically a still picture of the first part of the ID with different panning animation, but the station's logo is seen floating in mid-air, replacing the NBC logo. Also, there is a byline on a black floor with red lines saying "KYTV SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI" with an outlined version of the 1975-1979 NBC logo placed between the call letters and the city name.
 * WSTM-TV 3 (Syracuse, New York): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * KNBC-TV 4 (Los Angeles, California): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WDAF-TV 4 (Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas; now a FOX affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WNBC-TV 4 (New York, New York): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WRC-TV 4 (Washington, D.C.): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WSVN-TV 7 (Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Florida; now a FOX affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WLUK-TV 11 (Green Bay-Fox Cities, Wisconsin; now a FOX affiliate): The NBC logo is replaced by the station's logo, which is now set on a black background with the logo shown in front of the camera. There's a version with a byline that has the words "WLUK-TV" on the left and "Green Bay - Fox Cities" on the right.
 * WSFA-TV 12 (Montgomery-Dothan, Alabama): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WWBT-TV 12 (Richmond, Virginia): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WJCL-TV 22 (Savannah, Georgia; now an ABC affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WEEK-TV 25 (Peoria-Bloomington, Illinois): The station's logo, which is not in 3D for some reason, replaces the NBC logo.
 * WPTF-TV 28 (Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville, North Carolina; now known as WRDC-TV and now a MyNetworkTV affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo and there's a byline with the words "WPTF-TV" on top and "Durham-Raleigh-Fayetteville" on the bottom.
 * WVIT-TV 30 (New Britain, Connecticut): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WRBT-TV 33 (Baton Rouge, Louisiana; now known as WVLA-TV): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo; the "Let's All Be There" sign is gone in this version.
 * KCST-TV 39 (San Diego, California; now known as KNSD-TV): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo; the "Let's All Be There" sign is replaced by text reading "KCST-TV" on top and "SAN DIEGO" on the bottom.

FX/SFX: The dotted shine forming "LET'S ALL." All in all, this is great animation for a logo in the early 80's, as it was produced by Pacific Data Images on a DEC VAX-11/780. The modeling and animation was done on an IMI 500 display, and the lighting and rendering was done on a DeAnza framebuffer. The final logo was recorded to 1" C videotape on an Sony BVH-2000.

Music/Sounds: The campaign's song "Let's All Be There." Composed by David Buskin. Arranged and Conducted by Rob Mounsey.

Music/Sounds Variants:
 * The Seven version replaces the lyrics "N-B-C" with "Seven Yeah!", "Seven Wow!", and "Channel 7."
 * On the generic NBC ID of that time (with the peacock on the right and the slogan on the left), a shortened and instrumental version of the campaign's song is heard and we hear an announcer (played by voice actor Danny Dark) saying "This is the NBC television network."

Availability: Extinct, as it was only used as a station ID. Check home recordings of the period.

Editor's Note: Impressive CGI from PDI and great music by David Buskin.

21st Logo (1985-1986)


Nickname: "Let's All Be There II"

Logo: On a black background, there is a silver box with the 1979-86 NBC logo, illuminated like a neon sign, above it. After a few seconds, the camera pans to show a purple neon wall. The camera then pans around to reveal the NBC logo in the top-left corner of the wall. Right below it in the middle-left is the words "Let's all", flashing in pink, in the middle-right is the word "BE", and at the bottom-right is the word "THERE". It then zooms in to the wall and flies away across the screen.

Variants:
 * A version exists mostly for local station idents. The wall, usually with the station's logo on it, is facing the camera this time. It then turns around to show the "Let's all BE THERE" sign.
 * A version was made for Seven in Australia. In this version, the Seven logo replaces the NBC logo. One alternate version of this variant used in one promo had the logo animating in reverse. Another alternate version of this variant used as a station had stylized buildings changing color and dancing, before the Circle 7 forms and zooms to the same silver box from the regular Let's All Be There ID. The logo and silver box are in an opposite direction. Also, the camera does not pan to the purple neon wall at all and the slogan "Let's All Be There" is gone in this version.
 * Local Variants:
 * WMAR-TV 2 (Baltimore, Maryland; now an ABC affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WTWO-TV 2 (Terre Haute, Indiana): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo and there's a byline with the words "Terre Haute" in a curvy font below.
 * KYTV-TV 3 (Springfield, Missouri): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo and there's a byline with the words "KYTV Springfield, Mo." at the bottom.
 * KYW-TV 3 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; now a CBS O&O affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WSAV-TV 3 (Savannah, Georgia): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WSTM-TV 3 (Syracuse, New York): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo and the word "SYRACUSE" in violet appears below the ident.
 * WDAF-TV 4 (Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas; now a FOX affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * KXAS-TV 5 (Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WPTZ-TV 5 (North Pole-Plattsburgh, New York; Burlington, Vermont): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WPSD-TV 6 (Paducah, Kentucky; Harrisburg, Illinois; Cape Girardeau, Missouri): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WSVN-TV 7 (Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Florida; now a FOX affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WWBT-TV 12 (Richmond, Virginia): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WJKS-TV 17 (Jacksonville, Florida; now known as WCWJ and now a CW affiliate): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.
 * WRBT-TV 33 (Baton Rouge, Louisiana; now known as WVLA-TV): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.

FX/SFX: The camera panning, the "Let's All" sign flashing and the rows of the neon sign turning on and off. All this is impressive computer graphics for 1985, especially since it was produced by Pacific Data Images and Marks Communications. This was done, this time, using a Ridge32 supercomputer.

Music/Sounds: A re-orchestrated and a faster-paced version of the music from the previous ID. Composed by Jake Holmes. Most of the time, an announcer (the legendary Danny Dark) can be heard saying "This is the NBC Television Network!" On the Seven ID with colorful buildings, an instrumental and pop music-styled version of the music is heard in a different pitch.

Music/Sounds Variants: These are all variants of the network version.
 * There's a version from "Computer Animation Magic" where the background music is a generic stock, along with an interview by Harry Marks stating "I want something that looks like Vegas". Text reading "PACIFIC DATA IMAGES FOR MARKS COMMUNICATIONS" appears in the bottom right corner. This was likely taken from a compilation of computer graphics. Hence the title of the program.
 * The normal network music plays, but a completely different male announcer says, "Now, as NBC Sports presents game six of the National League Championship Series, programming normally seen at this time will return tomorrow!"
 * Another variant again has the normal music playing, but Danny Dark says, "It's Amazing Week, on the NBC Television Network!"
 * A sped up version with the Dark voiceover has a slightly shorter version of the music that begins with a bongo riff before the familiar jingle.
 * Another variant with no Dark voiceover has a version that begins with a slap bass vamp for the jingle before transitioning to the main theme. This can be seen here.

Availability: Long extinct. Check old off-air recordings of the period. Your best bet will probably be searching for PDI demo reels, as this ID appeared on several of them. The local station variants are even more difficult to find due to their local nature. According to several comments on YouTube, this logo would often be used to start NBC's primetime programming in the '85-'86 season and would occasionally appear during the middle of the primetime schedule.

Editor's Note: None.

22nd Logo (1986-1987)
Nicknames: "'90s Peacock", "The 1986 Peacock", "The Remake of the Peacock", "The Restored Peacock", "NBC Peacock III" "Come Home to NBC"

Logo: Against a black background, a red CGI mound appears. As it rises, more rainbow colors are revealed. Then from the top of the screen, the head/neck of the NBC peacock swings in, and the mound spreads to become its feathers. This peacock is the current version, and it backs away with a color trail around it. Below, the words:

NBC

in its typeface, NBC Futura (which is NBC's proprietary font), fly-in, also with a CGI-like appearance. When they move back into their places, they take on a more "solid", 2D color. This logo is slowed down and missing the word "PRODUCTIONS".

FX/SFX: The peacock forming, words zooming out, and the CGI colors turning solid. Pretty good CGI for 1986. Designed by Marks Communications and animated by Pacific Data Images.

Music/Sounds: A Broadway-sounding tune, with the NBC chimes near the end. Danny Dark announces, "This is the NBC television network!" One variant has a jazzy instrumental version of the "Come Home to NBC" promo music.

Availability: Extinct. It was used as a bumper in the 1980s. Check old tapes.

Editor's Note: A well-animated logo with a refreshing change with the peacock.

23rd Logo (1987-1988)
Nickname: "Come Home to NBC II"

Logo: The words, "COME HOME", become illuminated. Then it, the word "to", and the NBC peacock land down on a rectangle-like shape as the logo ends.

FX/SFX: Everything illuminating. CGI by Pacific Data Images.

Music/Sounds: A new song of the campaign, "Come Home to NBC".

Availability: Extinct.

Editor's Note: None.

24th Logo (1988-1989)
Nickname: "Come Home to the Best... Only on NBC"

25th Logo (1989-1990)
Nickname: "Come Home to the Best... Only on NBC II"

26th Logo (1993-2002)
1993 IDs

1998 IDs

Nickname: "Network IDs", "Must See TV"

Logo:
 * Fireflies: We see a rush of white "fireflies" (what they are referred to from now on). The fireflies take on the six primary colors and transform into the NBC peacock. When the peacock is formed, white fireflies continue to fly around in the black background.
 * Ice Sculpture: A man uses a chainsaw to make an ice sculpture of the NBC peacock.
 * Peacock in the Sky: On a sky background, an orange biplane flies over. The camera then cuts to the seat of the plane as it flies. Then, the camera cuts to the wheels. The camera then cuts to the seat again. We then cut to the wheels and then the front of the plane. The plane then reveals a cloud version of the 6 feathered NBC Peacock with the head looking at the right and then turns into color. When the logo forms, there's no corporate text at all, but the URL "www.NBC.com" may appear surrounded by a black oval.
 * The Flipping Peacock: We see the 6-feathered NBC peacock over a revolving set of many-colored feathers in the background. The logo appears to be flipping as if it were a book. It then makes a stop at the near end. There's no corporate text at all in this logo, but the URL from before may appear below.
 * Laramie Redux: TBA
 * Plympton Peacock: TBA
 * Crop Circle: TBA
 * TBA

Variant: On Access Hollywood, the URL is absent.

Trivia: This was animated by other people.

FX/SFX:
 * Fireflies: The animation of the fireflies, which still holds up today. In fact, it's so good, it doesn't even look like something you see in 1993!
 * Ice Sculpture: Live action.
 * Peacock in the Sky: The flying of the plane, the plane forming the peacock, and the peacock turning into color.
 * The Flipping Peacock: The flipping of the peacock.
 * Laramie Redux: TBA
 * Plympton Peacock: TBA
 * Crop Circle: TBA
 * TBA

Music/Sounds:
 * Fireflies: A tranquil synth theme with a backing that sounds a bit like the NBC peacock theme from the '60s.
 * Ice Sculpture: A rock tune, followed by the NBC Chimes played on electric guitar.
 * Peacock in the Sky: A dramatic theme with the sounds of the biplane's engine followed by a bell version of the 3 note NBC theme.
 * The Flipping Peacock: A series of chimes that leads into a bombastic fanfare.
 * Laramie Redux: Same as the NBC Laramie ID.
 * Plympton Peacock: TBA
 * Crop Circle: TBA
 * TBA

Music/Sounds Variant: On Access Hollywood episodes from 1997-99 distributed by 20th Television: a majestic rendition of the NBC chimes, ending in an orchestral flourish. For the 1999-01 episodes of the said show distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution: it used the NBC Studios music used in 1999. Sometimes, a normal NBC chimes is heard for said show's 1997-99 episodes. This was only used on The Flipping Peacock variant.

Availability: Again, it's extinct. It was used in-between programs in the mid-late 1990s. Check old off-air recordings. However, given its long lifespan (it served in various capacities during the '90s, such as a network ID or serving as NBC's "special presentation" ID, which it did as late as 2002) you might see it on tape somewhere. Another capacity it served was to signal the switch of Philadelphia's WCAU from CBS to NBC in the early hours of September 10, 1995. Also of note: this was one of many NBC IDs that made its debut in 1993, alongside several others (such as ones by John Kricfalusi of Ren and Stimpy fame, and another by Peter Maxx); according to one YouTube comment, this ID was overshadowed by the other ones, though it lasted the longest out of all of them. The Peacock in the Sky and The Flipping Peacock variants was also seen on pre-2001 episodes of Access Hollywood.

Editor's Note:
 * Fireflies: While this ID would certainly be unexpected to a first-time viewer, it is nevertheless a very good ID.
 * Ice Sculpture: None.
 * Peacock in the Sky: Another interesting concept with decent animation.
 * The Flipping Peacock: Another beautifully animated logo with a just as beautiful score (at least on the station ident variant).
 * Laramie Redux: TBA
 * Plympton Peacock: TBA
 * Crop Circle: TBA

27th Logo (1996-2005) (Europe)
TBA

28th Logo (2000-2002, August 20, 2004)
Nicknames: "In the Heart of America", "75 Years (75 Years variant)"

Logo: TBA

Variants: TBA

FX/SFX: Nice CGI!

Music/Sounds: TBA

Availability: Was only seen as a station ID. Also appeared on 2004 NBC Fall Preview.

Editor's Note: TBA

29th Logo (2002-2003)
Nickname: "Enjoy the Best Moments"

Logo: TBA

FX/SFX: TBA

Music/Sounds: TBA

Availability: Extinct on TV.

Editor's Note: TBA

30th Logo (2003-2006)
Nickname: "Always With You"

Logo: TBA

FX/SFX: TBA

Music/Sounds: TBA

Availability: Extinct on TV.

Editor's Note: TBA

31st Logo (2004)
Nicknames: "M&M's Color Adventure", "The Great Color Quest"

Logo: Depending on the variant.

FX/SFX: Nice computer animation animated by Rhythm and Hues Studios, Topix, and HouseSpecial.

Music/Sounds: Depending on the variant. Red's voice is provided by Billy West. Yellow's voice is provided by JK Simmons.

Availability: Extinct. Only seen on the M&M's promotion "The Great Color Quest".

Editor's Note: TBA

32nd Logo (2006-2007)
Nickname: "Goodbye Must See TV!"

Logo: TBA

FX/SFX: TBA

Music/Sounds: TBA

Availability: Extinct on TV.

Editor's Note: TBA

33rd Logo (2007-September 22, 2008)
TBA

34th Logo (September 16, 2008-2009)
TBA

35th Logo (2009-2013, 2017)
Nickname: "NBC Thursday Night"

Logo: We see various clips of characters from NBC's Thursday night line-up, separated by bars of colors from the NBC peacock logo.

Variants: TBA

FX/SFX: The colored bars.

Music/Sounds: A female announcer says "The following programs are brought to you in living color on NBC", afterwards a rendition of the NBC chimes is heard on a xylophone.

Availability: Was seen right before Community Thursday nights on NBC.

Editor's Note: A nice throwback to the last two logos, but it feels unnecessary to say “in living color”, since most, if not all modern TVs have color, however it was probably used as a gimmick for full HDTV, especially since this logo was used on the same year the US transitioned to digital from analog. Either way, this is still a good logo.

36th Logo (2013-2018)
Nicknames: "Rainbow Paint", "Welcome Back Must See TV!"

Logo: On a silver and white gradient background, the rainbow liquid paint splatters each other with colors including electric lime, razzle dazzle rose, absolute zero, red, neon carrot and laser lemon. On the neon carrot ball painting, we pan to the right and then the paint forms the peacock shell before the "NBC" text fades in.

FX/SFX: The paint splattering. Nice CGI.

Music/Sounds: A piano synth tune with the NBC chimes at the end.

Availability: Extinct.

Editor's Note: None.

37th Logo (2018- )
Nickname: "America's Most Watched Network"

Logo: On a black background, we see the NBC logo unfolding, similar to the classic Laramie logo. The peacock then morphs into the current logo, as the text "NBC" slides in from below.

Variant: On TV shows and TV specials like Minions Holiday Special, the word "PRESENTS" fades in.

FX/SFX: The peacock morphing.

Music/Sounds: A synth version of the NBC chimes.

Availability: Common. Can be seen on NBC programming.

Editor's Note: None. Here is the logo history of the company: