NBC

Guintu

1954–1959
On January 1, 1954, a xylophone and mallet started being used for the logo, with the now-iconic three tone "GEC" jingle. Contrary to popular belief, the keys were not meant to represent the initials of the network's eventual owner, General Electric Company (GEC).
 * YouTube: NBC chime ident (1954)

1956–1975
On May 22, 1956, NBC started using a new logo for their color programming. The first logo showed the "wire" feathers of the peacock fanning out into color feathers (colored in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet), accompanied by a majestic orchestral tune. The original peacock is a lucky find today. In 1962, the network changed the logo, and this new variant was known by many as the "Laramie Peacock." It was shown on a kaleidoscopic background as a softer, woodwind-based, tune played, while the NBC peacock fanned its feathers and then transformed into the logo from before. This logo was accompanied by a voiceover which narrated, "The following program is brought to you in living color on NBC."


 * Youtube: Original 1957 NBC Peacock
 * Youtube: 1960's NBC Peacock

1959–1975


By 1960, a new logo, dubbed the "NBC snake," rendered the chimes obsolete. This logo is most famous for its vanity cards (also dubbed the "NBC Snake") that appeared at the end of programs NBC produced during this period.


 * Youtube: NBC Snake logo (1965-1975)

1976–1979


This NBC logo, nicknamed the Trapezoid N, was short-lived. The logo was first unveiled on October 1975 and premiered on-air January 1, 1976.

In 1976, a lawsuit was issued by a public television broadcaster in Nebraska named Nebraska Educational Telecommunications for potential copyright issues. The new NBC logo was virtually identical to the Nebraska ETV Network logo, except for the blue coloring in the right trapezoid of the NBC logo. An out-of-court settlement was reached in which NBC donated $800,000 worth of new equipment to Nebraska ETV, including a color mobile unit. It also paid Nebraska ETV $55,000 to cover the cost of designing and implementing a new logo. In return, NBC was allowed to keep the "N" logo.
 * YouTube: The NBC ID then used.
 * YouTube: An NBC logo bumper from 1977.

1979–1986


The Proud N logo with the "N" behind it.

The peacock returned, this time to stay, in this logo, which is shown with (above) and without (below) and with the color green replaced with indigo, the stylized "N." The version without the "N" was rarely seen after 1980. The network had, by this time, decided to take a new approach in its programming to introduce the slogan, "NBC - Proud As A Peacock!" It is nicknamed the "Proud N."

YouTube: The NBC "Proud As A Peacock" campaign, which restored the peacock logo, ran this promotional video on the network's stations.

1986–present
A new logo created by Chermayeff & Geismar, was launched on May 12, 1986. Chermayeff & Geismar are also responsible for the logos of PBS, Chase Manhattan Bank, Screen Gems Television, and others. This logo would go on to be the longest used for the company.


 * Chermayeff &amp; Geismar

2011–2013


In May 2011, NBC altered and modified their logo slightly to feature bevels and gradients on it. Other aspects of the 2009 graphics package remained intact.

2013–present
In April 2013, NBC altered and modified their 3D logo. The wordmark has a different font.