OUGD504: Design Production - NBC Further Research

As an extension task from the workshop on Wednesday we were asked to look into one or more of the logos which were presented to us. I wanted to look further into the NBC logo.

I started by looking at the progression of the logo from the birth of the brand.

1926-1931

1931-1942

1942 - 1946

1946 - 1952

1952 - 1953

1953 - 1959

On January 1, 1954, a xylophone and mallet was shown with a three tone "G E C" tone, as seen in the Videosection. The keys refer to the General Electric Company (G, E, C).

1956 - 1975

On May 22, 1956, NBC started using a logo for their color programming. The original peacock is a lucky find today. In 1962, they changed the logo. On a kaleidoscopic background, a majestic tune plays, as the NBC peacock fans its feathers and then turns into the logo from before.

1959 - 1975

The chimes were rendered obsolete by 1960 as a new logo, dubbed the "NBC snake", arrived. There are some variants of it but the most famous is the one where it draws itself.

1976 - 1986

1976 - 1979

This short-lived abstract N logo was first unveiled on October 1975 and premiered on-air January 1, 1976. Nicknamed the "Trapezoid N".

1979 - 1986

This is shown with or without the stylized "N"; although 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!". Nicknamed the "Proud N".

2nd verison

1986 - present

A new logo, created by Chermayeff & Geismar, was finally launched on May 12, 1986. Chermayeff & Geismar are also responsible for the logos of PBS, Chase Manhattan Bank, Screen Gems Television, and others. This remains use as the on-screen bug.

2011 - 2013

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

2nd version

 2013 - present

On April 2013, NBC altered and modified their 3D logo.

Looking at the timeline of the logo it is clear that NBC felt the need to re-brand several times and some within one year of a new logo. The famous peacock has also made several appearances throughout the years and has also be re-introduced several times. Personally I think that the current logo is a very strong representation of the brand and is memorable.

During our session my group asked why a peacock. In the short time we had we could not find out why a peacock was used. From my findings it seems like they chose a peacock because it is known as quite a proud creature, especially when its feathers are open. NBC accompanied the logo with the phrase 'As proud as a peacock' I think that this is another sign of patriotism which is very common in America.

Logo History

The National Broadcasting Company is a leading American television network, which initially started off as a radio network. Headquartered in New York City, NBC has 10 owned-and-operated stations and nearly 200 affiliates in the United States.

DESIGN ELEMENTS OF NBC LOGO

The NBC logo has been changed several times before finally settling on its present peacock form. The earliest NBC logo was introduced in 1943, which consisted of a microphone. The consequent lightning bolts are thought to have been inspired by the parent company RCA. The three chime notes, made public on NBC Radio in 1927, came with the “xylophone” logo of 1954.

Shape of the NBC Logo:

The original peacock logo was created by John J. Graham in 1956, intended to observe the advent of color broadcasts. The static symbol was given an animated form in 1957. Another logo resembling a “snake” was introduced in 1959 but was discarded in 1975. This logo, too, was animated, and the field after it showed different colors as the familiar chimes played. A controversy arose in 1975 when an extremely simplified and conventionalized N logo appeared very similar to an existing logo of Nebraska ETV Network, who sued NBC in February 1976.

The case was settled out of court. NBC then employed the red-and-blue version for a couple years, which is said to be the most graphically advanced of all, but the company finally revived their earlier peacock logo with a much refined and amended form in 1986.

Colors of the NBC Logo:

The NBC logo artistically utilizes the color palette of the peacock feather, which gives it a very vibrant, energetic and eye-catching look.

Source[FamousLogos]

Merging with Comcast:

Source

Comcast has unveiled a new, but familiar, logo in the wake of its merger with NBC. The company's site now boasts a logo topped by the NBC peacock, previously used only for NBC-affiliated channels. The peacock is one of the best-known American media symbols, and it's a bit strange to see it linked to the part of Comcast better known for installing cable and internet. According to The Wall Street Journal, the logo will replace Comcast's current one on trucks, advertisements, and cable bills, though Comcast services themselves will continue to be use the Xfinity brand.

The deal between Comcast and NBC has been controversial — Comcast agreed to pay$800,000 to the FCC over allegedly failing to fulfill some of the merger's conditions, and antitrust watchdogs like Al Franken worry it's leading to a more consolidated, less competitive media landscape. Having been approved some time ago, though, it's not surprising to see some sign of it show up in the companies' official identities.