NBC Logo
The National Broadcasting Company, more commonly known as NBC, is a leading American television network headquartered in Rockefeller Center, New York City. A former radio network, it was founded in 1926 by Radio Corporation of America (RCA). One of the oldest broadcast networks in the world, NBC runs 10 owned-and-operated stations and has about 200 affiliates in the United States and other countries.
DESIGN ELEMENTS, HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF NBC LOGO
Shape of the NBC Logo
The NBC logo is undoubtedly one of the world’s most iconic and instantly recognizable logos. It has undergone various modifications before finally getting back to its illustrious peacock design. The earliest-known version of the NBC logo was unveiled in 1943, comprising of a vintage microphone. The later lightning bolts are supposed to have originated from the parent company RCA. The three chime notes, publicly introduced on NBC Radio in 1927, appeared with the “xylophone” logo of 1954.
The “eleven feathered” peacock logo was originally designed by John J. Graham in 1956, aiming to observe the advent of color television broadcasts. The animated version of the peacock symbol was also devised in 1957. The company changed its corporate logo yet again in 1959. This short-lived animated logo featured the snake and its use was discontinued in 1975.
The NBC logo became a subject of controversy when the company introduced an overly generic and conventionalized “N” as its corporate identity, which bore an uncanny resemblance to an already existing logo of Nebraska ETV Network. As a result, NBC was sued in February 1976. A settlement was made out of court and NBC agreed to change the color scheme and use the red-and-blue version for a couple of years. The company finally revived their earlier peacock logo in 1986, with a much refined and greatly improved version of the original design.
Colors of the NBC Logo
The NBC logo beautifully employs the color palette of the peacock feather, resulting in a very vibrant, energetic and visually appealing design.
Font of the NBC Logo
The NBC logo incorporates a slightly modified form of the Gotham typeface.