NBC

Definition

NBC, short for the National Broadcasting Company, is a major American commercial broadcast television and radio network that was founded in 1926. It is one of the three traditional national U.S. television networks and a flagship property of the media and entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. NBC was founded in 1926 and is one of the three major commercial broadcast networks in the United States, along with ABC and CBS.
2. The network is known for producing and airing a wide variety of popular entertainment programming, including news, sports, sitcoms, dramas, and reality shows.
3. NBC owns and operates numerous local affiliate stations across the country, which air the network's national programming in their respective markets.
4. NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC, is a subsidiary of the media conglomerate Comcast, one of the largest cable and telecommunications companies in the world.
5. NBC has been a leader in the production and distribution of popular entertainment, from classic sitcoms like 'Friends' and 'The Office' to hit reality shows like 'The Voice' and 'America's Got Talent.'

Review Questions

• Describe the role of NBC as a major commercial broadcast network in the United States.
  • As one of the three traditional national television networks in the U.S., NBC plays a significant role in the production and distribution of popular entertainment programming. The network owns and operates numerous local affiliate stations across the country, allowing it to reach a wide audience with its national programming. NBC is known for producing a variety of content, including news, sports, sitcoms, dramas, and reality shows, and has been a leader in the entertainment industry for decades.
• Explain the relationship between NBC and its parent company, NBCUniversal.
  • NBC is a flagship property of the media and entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, which is a subsidiary of the larger telecommunications company Comcast. NBCUniversal owns and operates a diverse portfolio of media assets, including broadcast networks, cable channels, film studios, and theme parks. As part of this larger media empire, NBC benefits from the resources, synergies, and strategic direction of its parent company, which helps to strengthen the network's position in the highly competitive entertainment industry.
• Analyze the impact of NBC's programming on the production of popular entertainment during the period of 24.1 Prosperity and the Production of Popular Entertainment.
  • During the period of 24.1 Prosperity and the Production of Popular Entertainment, NBC played a significant role in shaping the landscape of popular entertainment. As a major commercial broadcast network, NBC had the resources and reach to produce and distribute a wide variety of popular programming, from classic sitcoms to groundbreaking reality shows. The network's ability to tap into the growing prosperity and consumer demand for entertainment during this time period allowed it to become a dominant force in the industry, setting trends and influencing the types of content that resonated with audiences. NBC's programming not only reflected the cultural zeitgeist of the era but also helped to define and shape it, contributing to the overall growth and evolution of popular entertainment.

Related terms

Network Television: Network television refers to the major commercial broadcast networks in the United States, such as NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox, which distribute programming to affiliated local stations across the country.

NBCUniversal: NBCUniversal is a media and entertainment company owned by Comcast. It includes broadcast networks like NBC, cable channels like USA Network and Bravo, film studios like Universal Pictures, and theme parks.

Affiliate Stations: Affiliate stations are local television stations that are contractually linked to a national network like NBC, allowing them to air the network's programming in their local markets.