The History of NBC on Television - Essay Sample

Introduction

Now a major broadcast network in the U.S., NBC was founded in 1926 by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA). It is counted among the oldest broadcasting houses. Significant are the hallmarks that NBC has accomplished since its debut in movies, then radio, and finally television in 1931. The field of television has undergone very many improvements and upgrades. It plays an essential role in shaping society, and its impacts are felt on a universal level. However, it has been a very long way coming to get to the level of complexity and sophistication it is at today. Several broadcast networks pioneered the venture into television production including NBC.

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One of the very first images to be broadcast on television was Felix the Cat. This was during experimental television broadcasts by NBC that happened on the roof of Empire State Building. Since lighting in early shows was intense and caused extremely high temperatures, Felix had a tonal contrast that enabled him to withstand these conditions. For a few hours, Felix was placed on a phonograph and televised daily. Two years after its entry into TV broadcast, NBC made the Rockefeller Center its headquarters. During this time, the Center was ranked as the most massive construction project in history and was privately funded.

In 1939, NBC commenced regularly programmed television service. NBC called this a new art revolutionizing the industry and was aimed at passing forth information and entertainment to millions of viewers. In a gathering headed by the then president of RCA, David Sarnoff, press comments reported it to be the first time that news was relayed through the new art. In the same year, the very first broadcast of a major league game was televised between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers at the Ebbets Field. This year also saw the first football game between the Fordham Rams and Waynesburg Yellow Jackets at Triborough Stadium televised.

The period between 1831 early 2000s was marked with the debuts of very many programs, shows, and other fantastic additions for spicing up entertainment and delivery of information and television farther spread its roots. All these significantly contributed to huge success NBC enjoyed. By the twentieth century, TV was declared the most influential and hugely relied on form of information and entertainment acquisition. For instance, as part of the expansion wave of television broadcast, NBC launched a digital cable channel that was dedicated to the programming of mystery and crime called Sleuth. It was later rebranded as Cloo.

NBC has an ever increasing number of subsidiaries. They include CNBC, MSNBC, NBC News and the umbrella that is NBC Universal. All these come together to make NBC the all-around leading company in the provision of news, information, and entertainment both on television and online. NBC has gone ahead to give the world the best experience in television broadcast with their ability to keep up with never-ceasing advancements in technology. In 2011, some of the most significant contributors of television broadcast, General Electric, and Comcast, came together to give rise to NBCUniversal. The link included NBC Universal's businesses, regional sports networks, cable networks of Comcast and digital properties.

Further adding to the increasingly incredible achievements and milestones crossed, NBCUniversal received U.S. media rights to the Olympic Games held in the years 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020. It also gained the other half of the Universal Studios Orlando they had not owned. The London Olympics aired on NBCUniversal's channels and is considered the most viewed event in the history of America with more than 219 million viewers in 2012. NBC channels have gone ahead to win numerous nominations, awards, and other accolades throughout its history.

Another great highlight in the history and transformation of NBC is the decision to give African-Americans and Latinos a platform they can use for their voices to be heard. For the longest time, these two groups have had close to zero representation in the media, and when it is present, it is easily ignored. NBCUniversal includes now in its policies consent to transfer licenses and the control of licenses to include Latinos and African-Americans in important positions fulfilling critical roles. There are increasing numbers in representations of these groups in the media, and their voices are growing. People have to look beyond race and cultural backgrounds to see the real identities. Equality creates mutual respect. NBC is giving these groups an opportunity to fearlessly voice their opinions and be heard by sharing experiences, thoughts, and much more.