As the name suggests, NBC News is the news division of the National Broadcasting Company. This division includes programs such as “NBC Nightly News” and “Today.” One can listen to the news on various platforms, including television, digital media, and radio. NBC News is known for its trustworthy reporting on national and international events, politics, business, health, science, technology, and culture. The channel has correspondents in various corners of the world.
Meaning and History
NBC News has a history dating back to its founding in 1926 by the Radio Corporation of America. The network initially provided a platform for radio broadcasts. As television emerged in the late 1940s, NBC expanded its news channels. The first television newscast started in 1948. “NBC Nightly News” began in 1947, while “Today” was launched only five years later. NBC News gained prominence by covering significant events, including World War II, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and presidential elections. With the advent of the internet, it adapted by launching platforms such as NBCNews.com and the mobile app.
What is NBC News?
NBC News is the news division of NBC, one of the major television networks in the United States. It has been a significant player in American journalism. The organization is known for its investigative reporting, in-depth analysis, and coverage of breaking news events.
1940 – 1959
This logo was created when the TV news started gaining popularity. It features “NBC News” printed on two lines and framed with a border that has rounded corners. The lettering has bold strokes, high-stroke contrast, and bracketed slab serifs. There is also an illusion of volume, which gives the logo some depth. The overall design is classic and creates an image of a respected company.
1959 – 1970
This logo looks very contemporary thanks to its minimalistic design, clean lines, and black-and-white color palette. The name is still printed on two lines but the top line is no longer enlarged to create the same stroke length. Instead, the lines are aligned to the left. The font choice is stylish and sleek.
1970 – 1972
This logo looks very much different from the earlier version. First of all, it features a completely different font style. It is an elegant cursive font called Bookman Light Italic. To add a unique touch to the design, the letters share some of the strokes. Although it was quite creative, the inscription looked hard to read.
1972 – 1975
A fancy, cursive font has been replaced by a bold font with prominent slab serifs. Just like in the previous version, the name is printed in one line. The letter “N” also shares the vertical stroke with “B” and “E” in the next word. The whole inscription is italicized, which gives the channel a dynamic and progressive feel. In addition, the company introduced a new color palette – the first word is done in light gray, while the second is printed using teal color.
1976 – 1979
A new color palette was presented by the Lippincott & Margulies design company a few years later. This time, it was a combination of red, blue, white, and black. On the left, there was a square emblem split in half vertically by color. The white rays running diagonally across it symbolized the light that the news cast on the events. This symbol can also be interpreted as a stylized letter “N”. The name was printed to the right on two lines with the words aligned to the left. It uses a well-known font called Helvetica. The inscription is done in black, which gives it a professional touch.
1979 – 1982
It was not long before a new version appeared. It features the iconic peacock. It had its tail fanned out and done in a yellow, orange, red, purple, and blue gradient. The peacock is placed in front of the stylized “N” which is done in a solid white color and a thin blue line separating the different shapes. To the right, it has “NBC” printed using a bold font with small bracketed slab serifs. The word “News” is added underneath, creating a nice rectangular emblem. The font used for the inscription resembles Serif Gothic Bold font.
1982 – 1985
Updated in 1982, the logo is back to a one-line inscription of a black color. There is, however, a bright red line underlining the white inscription and giving the log a powerful, eye-catching appearance. The name features Serpentine Bold Italic font with high stroke contrast and italicized letters. The fact that the inscription features all caps gives it a bolder and respected look.
1985 – 1990
The company returned to Helvetica font, using Helvetica Bold Oblique this time. There is no red line running underneath the name. The black, thick strokes give the logo a professional and trustworthy impression. The logo turned out minimalistic and timeless.
1990 – 1992
Since 1990, the logos have become colorful and bright. The multicolor peacock was brought back. It is featured at the very bottom of the logo and now has seven colors – yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, green, and white. The word “NBC” is printed across the top on a blue strip with the white letters widely spaced. The “News” part is added below on a white background and features a significantly larger font size. The letters are also done in white and have a thin black outline to separate them from the background. Behind the peacock, there is a blue and white striped background, which reminds of lines on old TV screens and adds dimension to the logo.
1986 – 2023
This version set the trend for several logos that were used afterward. The peacock image is enlarged and placed above the name. The latter is printed using a modified version of Futura font. It features clean, bold strokes with a combination of pointed turns and straight terminals.
2011 – 2013
This logo looks almost identical to the earlier version. The inscription remained unchanged. The bird, though, got a white outline with a shadow, which gave it an illusion of volume. The feathers also acquired a gradient and highlight in the upper right corner. The overall design is simple yet memorable, making it easily recognizable to viewers.
2013 – 2023
A few modifications to the logo have been made in 2013. The white border and highlight on the features were removed. Instead, the gradient was made more notable and the colors appeared richer.
2018 – 2023 (online only)
For several years, the online platforms of the company featured a black-and-white version of the logo. The name was placed to the right of the bird emblem. It featured a bold, sans-serif typefaces with all caps. It was a neutral design that the company used as it did a complete transformation of its online presence.
2023 – Today
This updated version looks like a modern take on the earlier brand images. For the name, it chose a bold, sans-serif font with thick strokes and straight terminals. The peacock acquired a brighter color palette and had the white space between the feathers slightly enlarged. The logo was gradually adapted by all the NBC programs.
Font and Color
Many logos have vibrant colors—typically orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple—representing the network’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity in its programming. The color of the text is typically black, providing a strong contrast to the colorful peacock.
Throughout history, NBC has used different fonts. The majority of them were sans-serif typefaces with a clean, minimalistic look. The logo introduced in 2023 features a custom bold, sans-serif typeface called NBC Tinker Pro.