History of NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) was founded in 1926 by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), making it the first major broadcast network in the United States. Initially, NBC operated two radio networks, the NBC Red Network and the NBC Blue Network, which aired a variety of news, entertainment, and sports programs. However, due to antitrust concerns, NBC was forced to sell the Blue Network in 1943, which later became ABC. NBC expanded into television in 1939, broadcasting the first-ever televised presidential address by Franklin D. Roosevelt at the New York World's Fair.
Throughout the 20th century, NBC became a dominant force in television, producing iconic shows like The Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, and Friends. It played a key role in shaping modern TV, introducing color broadcasting in the 1950s and pioneering major live events. NBC was acquired by General Electric in 1986 and later became part of Comcast in 2011, forming NBCUniversal. Today, NBC continues to be one of the 'Big Three' U.S. television networks, delivering news, entertainment, and sports to millions of viewers.