NBC Enterprises

Credits

Descriptions by
Jason Jones, James Fabiano, Shadeed A. Kelly, Mr.Logo and TheLogoFan2004

Captures by
Eric S., Shadeed A. Kelly, Mr. Logo Lord, V of Doom, and Mr.Logo

Editions by
Shadeed A. Kelly, TheLogoFan2004 and TheRealMarcel2000

Video captures courtesy of
JohnnyL80, LogicSmash, Eric S., MrMcBridesIsHereNetwork33, and 91pontus

Background

NBC Enterprises was the syndication unit of NBC. Its history traces back to 1956, when NBC started a subsidiary called California National Productions for merchandising, syndication and opera stage production. The subsidiary started producing The Silent Service that year. By 1957, NBC planned to remove the opera department from CNP and Earl Rettig was named president. CNP was also in discussion with MGM Television about handling distribution for the latter's series. Following the Financial Interest and Syndication Rules in 1971, NBC had to divest its NBC Films unit to National Telefilm Associates, while programs from NBC News continued to be distributed internationally by NBC Enterprises for $7.5 million. In 1993, while the Fin-Syn rules were relaxed, NBC returned to distributing off-net syndicated reruns of their programming under the name "NBC Enterprises". In 2001, NBC Enterprises made a deal with Hearst-Argyle Television Productions to deal with their programming alliance to produce first-run syndicated series. In 2004, after the formation of NBC Universal, NBC Enterprises was folded into Universal Television Distribution to become NBC Universal Television Distribution.

1st Logo (September 1963-1966)

Visuals: An in-credit logo that features "IN ASSOCIATION WITH", and below it is the NBC snake logo and the text "ENTERPRISES" next to it.

Variants:

• On Kimba the White Lion, it's the in-credit text: "An NBC Enterprises Presentation".
• On Bonanza, it's set on a cloudy background with the logo in gold and in a blue square. "PRESENTS" is shown below.

Technique: Fading effects.

Audio: The end title theme from any show or none.

Availability:

• It's seen on Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion, among other programs.
• The former appears from time to time on Adult Swim's Toonami block.
• The on-screen logo is intact on the Feeling release of Bonanza.

2nd Logo (1979-1986)

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Visuals: Same as the 1979-1980 NBC network ID, but with the words "NBC Enterprises Inc. Presents", in a blue 3D, ITC Serif Gothic Heavy font (the NBC typeface from the era), appearing underneath the logo.

Technique: Motion-controlled animation.

Audio: The 1953 NBC chimes theme.

Availability:

• Can be seen on the 1984 Vestron Video release of Heidi and on older Warner Home Video releases of NBC content from 1981, before the network's "Our Pride Is Showing" campaign was introduced, such as Saturday Night Live: Richard Pryor.
• It was also originally seen on Punky Brewster.

3rd Logo (1986-1996)

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Visuals: Same as the 1986 NBC network ID (and to that extant, the then-new NBC Productions logo), but the animation is slower and the word "PRODUCTIONS" is replaced by "ENTERPRISES, INC." with "PRESENTS" below it.

Technique: CGI designed by Marks Communications and animated by Pacific Data Images.

Audio: Same as before.

Availability:

• Seen on the Kissyfur special, titled Bears Roots, which was released on VHS by Just for Kids.
• May have been seen on other programs as well.
• It also appears at the start of a streaming print of the 1984 version of the Punky Brewster season 2 episode Milk Does a Body Good on Peacock as well.

4th Logo (1996-2004)

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See NBC Studios for description.

5th Logo (2000-2004)

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See NBC Studios for description.

6th Logo (Fall 2001-September 19, 2004)

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Visuals: Over a black background, very huge peacock feathers in transparent glass form flip around, revealing the company name "NBC ENTERPRISES", which appears on the most prominent feather. A small purple NBC peacock logo appears below the name.

Trivia: This logo was based on NBC's on-air look from 1999 to 2002 (although on bumpers and promos for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O'Brien still featured glass feathers until the 2005-2006 season). NBC News' closing logo of the time also included glass feathers, and it was used until circa-2010s. The glass feathers are actual models that were filmed using motion control; more info here.

Variant: There is also a narrow version.

Technique: CGI combined with live-action.

Audio: The 1999 NBC Studios theme.

Audio Variants:

• On Starting Over, the low tone theme from the 1999 NBC Studios logo was used.
• On Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell, the closing theme plays it over.
• On the Saved by the Bell second season DVD, the logo uses a portion of the audio from the preceding Lions Gate Home Entertainment logo.

Availability:

• It appears on reruns of Fear Factor (when it was broadcast on the now-defunct Chiller network), the DVD releases of Homicide: Life on the Street, seasons 2 and 3 of Will & Grace, Profiler (retained on Start TV airings), Saved by the Bell: The New Class, PAL releases of seasons 1-3 of Little House on the Prairie (seasons 2 and 3 have the NBC Universal logo following this logo), and seasons 1 & 2 and two season 4 episodes (after a CTTD plaster and a 1989 CPTD plaster) of Punky Brewster (along with the It's Punky Brewster cartoon), syndicated airings of Providence (plastering the NBC Studios logo), and some DVD releases of Groucho Marx's You Bet Your Life along with many SNL DVD releases such as The Best of Steve Martin.
• This logo was also used as a home video logo on pre-2004 DVD releases of NBC shows (which have the NBC Home Entertainment logo on the cover).
  • Prior to the 2004 NBC-Universal merger, NBC had home video deals with Lions Gate Home Entertainment and A&E Home Video for DVD/VHS releases in the US.
• It was also seen when the now-defunct Trio cable network reran Late Night with David Letterman. It should be intact if that show is ever reran again.
• It was seen on reruns of the syndicated version of Weakest Link on GSN and the first season of Starting Over last aired on Centric.
• It was also used on late 2001-04 episodes of Access Hollywood in syndication and also appeared on the syndicated talk show The Other Half.
• It also appeared on a DVD release of Conan O'Brien, The Best of Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog.

NBC Enterprises

NBC Universal Television Distribution ►