NBC

NBC (short for National Broadcasting Company) is a network created in 1926 by RCA whose symbolic Peacock, originally used to signify that a program was airing "in living color", has had many forms, including the 6-feathered rainbow Peacock that has been in use since 1986, as seen at right. The network originally consisted of two "arms", NBC Red and NBC Blue, the latter of which was sold off in October 1943 due to the FCC; in June 1945, the Blue Network changed its name to ABC. The "arms" themselves were the basis for the two-trapezoid "N" logo used from 1975-87.

Other logos include various microphones (from their days as a radio network), as well as a snake logo and a xylophone logo from which the symbolic G-E-C chimes are also a hallmark for the network; the chimes themselves represent the initials of the network's co-founder and eventual owner, the General Electric Company (the network is currently owned by Comcast, although NBCUniversal owns CNBC, MSNBC, USA Network, Bravo, and the Spanish-language network Telemundo). Interestingly, the G.E. Building is located not too far from the network's New York headquarters of 30 Rockefeller Center, also home to flagship station WNBC-TV as well as the long-running late-night staples Saturday Night Live, Late Night and The Tonight Show (Steve Allen, Jack Paar, and Jimmy Fallon eras). The network's Los Angeles headquarters, home to KNBC-TV as well as Tonight (Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien eras) are located at 3000 West Alameda Avenue in Burbank.

While NBC has had several high points (most notably its "Must-See TV" period from 1984-2004), it has also had several low points, most notably the reign of Fred Silverman (1978-81) and the late-night debacle (2009-10). While retaining several critically-loved shows despite failing in the ratings, the network as a whole has had ratings trouble since about the late 2000s and, in February 2013, fell to fifth place behind Spanish-language network Univision; one affiliate, tired of the low network ratings, pre-empted two hours of the Thursday-night lineup for an episode of Matlock which managed to score larger ratings than most of the network's shows.

Possibly the most notable thing from a game show perspective is that NBC owns all versions of Concentration, having bought it from Barry-Enright shortly after its 1958 debut; while Goodson-Todman was responsible for the 1973-78 and 1987-91 versions, they merely licensed the format from the network. For unknown reasons, NBC has done very little with the franchise; Game Show Network attempted to get the Goodson versions in the 1990s, to no avail.

The network is home to The Today Show, the longest-running morning TV news program. NBC has also covered the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1952 and, as official broadcaster, is the only network with the rights to actually use the Macy's name.