NBC National IDs

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 Paramount Global, through CBS Media Ventures 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)
8iwqbkE2dCc 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.

Variant: A color version is seen on Red Skelton's Christmas Classics. The background remains gray, the inside of the box is red and the "NBC" text and the outline of the box is silver.

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 (1952-1966?)
Logo: On a gray background, we see "NBC" in large, black, 3D block letters. As the chimes play, the letters change to white, one-by-one.

Variants:
 * Most copies of this logo have a disclaimer in white under the letters: "THIS PROGRAM WAS REPRODUCED BY THE KINEPHOTO PROCESS." The "NBC" letters are shifted upwards to make room for the disclaimer.
 * One version does not have the letters light up. This was used on early episodes of Today.
 * Occasionally, a promotional slide for a program replaces the animation; the chimes remain.

FX/SFX: The letters lighting up.

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

Availability: Extinct. Seen on period kinescopes. This was seen on two NBC programs aired during Buzzr's 2021 "Lost & Found" marathon: one pilot of the unsold 1966 show It Had to Be You and a 1955 episode of Make the Connection. The latest known use of this was on the two known pilots of It Had to Be You, which were apparently taped on November 7, 1966.

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

Logo: We see a xylophone with three keys. A mallet 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.

9th Logo (1967)
Nickname: "It all adds up on NBC"

Logo: On a greenish background, we see multiple 1-digit numbers in white cover up the screen. We then see the NBC "Snake" logo made up in these numbers. We keep zooming out until the NBC logo can be entirely seen & is at the center of the screen. After that, the NBC logo turns white. We then see the text "IT ALL ADDS UP ON NBC" entirely made of dots appear.

FX/SFX: 2D animation, which is quite advanced.

Music/Sounds: At first, we hear typing noises. Then we hear people making beeping noises for the rest of the logo.

Availability: Extinct.

10th Logo (June 12, 1970)
Logo: On a white background, a black weird looking peacock walks in from the right. The peacock's feathers fan out, starting from the right. The company name does not appear at that time.

FX/SFX: The peacock walking in and the feathers blooming. All stop motion using paper,

Music/Sounds: Same as the short version of the Laramie Peacock logo.

Availability: Extinct. The only currently known appearance of this was before the June 12, 1970 airing of The New Communicators 2. It is not currently known whether this appeared before any other programs.

Editor's Note: The design is quite odd. The color scheme is currently unknown as the only known copy is a poor quality black-and-white home videotape recording.

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)
Nickname: "Glassy N"

Logo: On a black background, we see a closeup of a blue, rotating 3D glassy abstract "N", which then zooms out to show the full block. The "N" shines all throughout the logo, with overlays of the animation rippling out.

Variants:
 * For NBC's 50th anniversary in 1976, a "50" overlay was used. The animation is gold-tinted and goes much slower.
 * For NBC's 1977-78 season promo, three different stacked overlays were used:
 * The beginning of the promo uses an "NBC 77" overlay, which then zooms (alongside the N) into the screen.
 * This is shortly followed by a yellow-tinted "NBC 78" overlay, in which the animation freezes and zooms in when the N is front-facing.
 * The end of the promo has the yellow-tinted N animation zoom out and freeze, with a "A BIG YEAR! 78" overlay flashing when the N freezes.

FX/SFX: The rotating "N".

Music/Sounds: A majestic fanfare.

Music/Sounds Variant: The 50th anniversary variant uses various beeping sounds.

Availablity: Extinct. Check old off-air recordings for this ID, if you can even locate tapes from this era at all. First appeared (as the 50th Anniversary variant) on the "NBC: The First 50 Years" special.

Editor's Note: A well done effort for the time.

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 orange gradient wings. 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. Several local versions appear on Image West demo tape #15B (1979), available on Dave Sieg's Scanimate DVD.

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.
 * WPSD-TV 6 (Paducah, Kentucky; Harrisburg, Illinois; Cape Girardeau, Missouri): The station's logo replaces the NBC logo.

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"

Logo: TBA.

FX/SFX: TBA.

Music/Sounds: TBA

Availability: Extinct.

Editor's Note: None.

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

26th Logo (1990-1991)


Nickname: "The Place to Be"

27th Logo (1991-1992)
Nickname: "The Place to Be II"

Logo: The words "THE PLACE TO BE" in an arch on the peacock slides to the right, covering its beak.

FX/SFX: The arch sliding.

Music/Sounds: TBA.

Availability: Extinct.

Editor's Note: None.

28th Logo (1992-1993)


Nickname: "It's A Whole New NBC"

29th Logo (1993-1994)


Nickname: "The Stars Are Back on NBC"

Logo: TBA.

FX/SFX: TBA.

Music/Sounds: The campaign's song, "The Stars Are Back on NBC".

Availability: Extinct.

Editor's Note: None.

31st Logo (1993-2002)
1993 IDs

1998 IDs Nicknames: "Network IDs", "Must See TV"

Logo: Variant: On Access Hollywood, the URL is absent.
 * 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.
 * Historical: We start out with the 1931 logo (a square with a diagonal "NBC" text in it, and lightning bolts around the "B") against the black background, then it morphs into the 1943 logo, into the 1954 "Xylophone" logo, into the 1962 NBC peacock logo, into the 1979 NBC peacock logo and into the current NBC peacock logo.
 * Impressionism/Gratz: TBA
 * 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: It's the 1962 NBC peacock logo, but it morphs into the current 6-feathered peacock near the end.
 * Plympton Peacock: TBA.
 * Crop Circle: TBA.
 * Raindrops: We see the NBC peacock in tiny raindrops. We then zoom out to see the peacock in its full size.
 * Etch-a-Sketch: TBA.
 * Website: TBA.
 * Affiliates: TBA.

Trivia: The 1993 IDs were animated by other people. The 1995 IDs were made in-house.

FX/SFX: Music/Sounds:
 * 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!
 * Historical: The morphing.
 * Impressionism/Gratz: Hand-drawn animation.
 * 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: The old peacock morphing into the current one.
 * Plympton Peacock: TBA.
 * Crop Circle: TBA.
 * Raindrops: The raindrops and the zooming-out of said raindrops.
 * Etch-a-Sketch: TBA.
 * Website: TBA.
 * Affiliates: TBA.
 * Fireflies: A tranquil synth theme with a backing that sounds a bit like the NBC peacock theme from the '60s.
 * Historical: A whimsical tune based around the NBC Chimes.
 * Impressionism/Gratz: A baroque tune ending the NBC Chimes played on the flute.
 * 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.
 * Raindrops: TBA.
 * Etch-a-Sketch: TBA.
 * Website: TBA.
 * Affiliates: 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: This is a very impressive ID with great live action.
 * 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: An excellent combination of both old & new.
 * Plympton Peacock: TBA.
 * Crop Circle: TBA.
 * Raindrops: The calming music in the ID makes it so beautiful.
 * Etch-a-Sketch: TBA.
 * Website: TBA.
 * Affiliates: TBA.

32nd Logo (1996-2005) (Europe)
TBA.

33rd 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: The 75th anniversary variant uses a reorchestration of the theme from the Laramie Peacock logo.

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

Editor's Note: TBA.

34th Logo (2002-2003)
Nickname: "Enjoy the Best Moments"

Logo: TBA.

FX/SFX: TBA.

Music/Sounds: TBA.

Availability: Extinct on TV.

Editor's Note: TBA.

35th Logo (2003-2006)
Nickname: "Always With You"

Logo: TBA.

FX/SFX: TBA.

Music/Sounds: TBA.

Availability: Extinct on TV.

Editor's Note: TBA.

36th 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.

37th Logo (2006-2007)
Nickname: "Goodbye Must See TV!"

Logo: TBA.

FX/SFX: TBA. Designed by Capacity.

Music/Sounds: TBA.

Availability: Extinct on TV.

Editor's Note: TBA.

38th Logo (2007-September 22, 2008)
TBA.

39th Logo (September 16, 2008-2009)
TBA.

40th 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. Like the 37th logo, this was designed by Capacity.

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. It also could be a throwback to when "in living color" was there unofficial slogan. Either way, this is still a good logo.

41st Logo (2013-2018)
Nicknames: "Rainbow Paint", "Welcome Back Must See TV!" "Special," "Nine Burns Company"

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 loud whoosh when the paints collide, combined with a piano synth tune with the NBC chimes at the end, which would be composed in 4 different sets, each arranged by Brendan Cooney:
 * The first set is shorter and plays 5 notes (E2, F2, G2, A2, B2) and then a C major chord with the NBC chimes ("You're watching special NBC"), used from 2013 to 2015.
 * The second set is a bit longer has more energy put in it, putting 2 more notes after note 1 and repeating notes 1-3 again (E2, G1, D2, E2, F2, G2, A2, B2) rendering 8 notes, and then the NBC chimes themselves with no chord behind them, used from 2015 to 2017.
 * The third set is a bit longer and includes a context bridge to the chimes, which are more spread out (E2, G1, D2, E2, F2, G2, A2, B2, C3, D3, E3, F3) rendering a total of 12 notes.
 * The fourth set is a bit different. We still have the deep chord, but the NBC chimes are more vibrant and reverbed for better hearing, and the "G" is in one piece. We can't hear and other notes, so our eardrums know that the G is the lowest, not the highest like the NBC Kids bumpers made us think. This was used from 2017 to 2018.

Availability: Extinct.

Editor's Note: It's a very colorful and memorable logo.

42nd 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. Also (surprisingly) appears on Paramount Network prints of the current seasons of Saturday Night Live.

Editor's Note: None.

Here is the logo history of the company: