NBC Enterprises

Credits

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

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

Editions by
Shadeed A. Kelly

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

Background

NBC Enterprises was the syndication unit of NBC. In 1956, 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 the 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 had 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.

1st Logo (September 1963-1966)

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

Variant: On Kimba the White Lion, it's the in-credit text: "An NBC Enterprises Presentation".

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The end title theme from any show.

Availability: Rare. 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.

2nd Logo (1979-1986)

Logo: On a black background, several colorful neon lines are drawn onto the screen. The neon lines zoom out and flash, revealing a CGI view of the NBC peacock, behind a blue stylized "N". The words "NBC Enterprises Inc. Presents", in a blue 3D, ITC Serif Gothic Heavy font (the NBC typeface from the era), appear underneath the logo. The peacock then shines.

FX/SFX: The lines drawing and the peacock forming. All Scanimate effects.

Music/Sounds: The 1953 NBC chimes theme.

Availability: Rare. 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 originally seen on Punky Brewster.

3rd Logo (1986-1996)

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Logo: Same as the 1986 NBC Productions logo, but the animation is slower and the word "PRODUCTIONS" is replaced by "ENTERPRISES, INC." with "PRESENTS" below it.

FX/SFX: Same as the 1986 NBC Productions logo, but slow.

Music/Sounds: Same as before.

Availability: Extremely rare. Seen on the pilot of Kissyfur, titled Bears Roots Special, which was released on VHS by Just for Kids. May have been seen on other programs.

4th Logo (1996-2004)

See NBC Studios for description.

5th Logo (2000-2004)

See NBC Studios for description.

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

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Logo: Over a black background, we see 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 2000 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 fall of 2006). NBC News' closing logo of the time also included glass feathers, and it was used till circa-2010s. The glass feathers are actual models that was filmed using motion control; more info here.

Variant: There is also a narrow version.

FX/SFX: The flipping peacock feathers.

Music/Sounds: The 1999 NBC Studios theme.

Music/Sounds Variant: On Starting Over, the low tone theme from the 1999 NBC Studios logo was used.

Availability: Uncommon. This was common in the early 2000s, but has become less frequent than it used to be, as NBC's merger with Universal put an end to this logo in 2004.

• It appears on reruns of Fear Factor whenever someone decides to air those (but was last seen on the now-defunct Chiller network), the DVDs of Homicide: Life on the Street, seasons 2 & 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 & 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 DVDs of Groucho Marx's You Bet Your Life along with many SNL DVDs such as The Best of Steve Martin.
• This logo was used as a home video logo on pre-2004 DVDs of NBC shows. Prior to the 2004 NBC-Universal merger, NBC licensed its TV shows to MGM Home Entertainment, Lions Gate Home Entertainment, A&E Home Video, Starlight Home Entertainment and Imavision Direct for DVD release.
• 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 last 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 called Conan O'Brien, The Best of Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog.