From its earliest days in radio to the rise of television and today’s media landscape, NBC has been at the forefront of how Americans experience the world. Through a century of defining moments, NBC has been there as history unfolded, bringing it into homes across the country and helping generations of Americans experience it together.
As NBC celebrates its 100th anniversary, take a look back at some of the historic firsts and defining moments that have shaped both NBC and American life.
A Look Through History: The Broadcast Moments That Shaped NBC and America
Through some of the nation’s greatest triumphs and most challenging moments, NBC has helped shape how Americans understand the world around them and experience culture.
1926: NBC's First National Radio Broadcast
On November 15, 1926, founder David Sarnoff established the National Broadcasting Company as the nation’s first permanent radio network, marking the beginning of connecting Americans through broadcasting.
1939 – 1945: NBC Radio Covers World War II and V-E/V-J Day
During WWII, Americans turned to radio to learn the news from across the globe, tuning into NBC to hear historic reporting delivered directly into their homes. Throughout the war, NBC Radio's role went beyond delivering wartime news to Americans, it informed a nation through its live updates from the front lines and in critical moments, culminating in V-E and V-J Days in the summer of 1945.
1947: NBC is the First to Broadcast World Series
NBC helped bring America’s pastime to the people as it was the first to broadcast the World Series in 1947. Jackie Robinson played in this historic game series between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers, the first ever racially integrated championship. NBC and MLB’s partnership remains strong, with NBCSN covering Sunday Night Baseball and the MLB Wild Card Round and the past season of Sunday Night Baseball became the most watched since 2007.
1947: Meet the Press Debuts
Two years after its radio debut, Meet the Press took to the TV screens, bringing D.C. to every part of America and establishing an enduring connection between the nation and the capital. Today, Meet the Press holds the title for the longest running television program in American history and is #1 in the key A25-54 demo.
1952: TODAY Debuts on NBC
TODAY marked the beginning of an American morning television institution during a transformative decade for television as the first network early-morning show. Sixty years later, the TODAY show continues to define the morning news landscape, recently finishing the 2025-2026 broadcast season as the #1 morning news program in total viewers and the key demo.
1953: First Nationally Televised Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
In 1953, NBC broadcast the first nationally televised Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and for over 70 years since, it has continued to bring holiday excitement to American homes. Through their extensive partnership, Macy’s and NBC have become centerpieces at the Thanksgiving dinner table, uniting Americans as they watch the floats and balloons traverse the streets of Manhattan. NBC will continue to be an integral part of the holiday traditions with broadcast and streaming rights to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade through 2034.
1954: The Tonight Show Premieres
1954 brought the premiere of The Tonight Show, introducing audiences to a late-night talk show format that would transform the media landscape for decades. From Steve Allen in 1954 to Jimmy Fallon today, The Tonight Show has remained the blueprint for late-night television, shaping cultural moments and conversation since its inception, and notably inventing the monologue. The show has brought guests from film, television, music, and even presidents to the late-night couch and it remains the longest-running talk show in television history, filming daily from Studio 6B.
1960: The Kennedy-Nixon Presidential Debate
On September 26, 1960, NBC broadcast the first nationally televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. The historic broadcast brought politics into Americans' living rooms in a new way, demonstrating television's growing influence on presidential elections and forever changing how candidates connect with voters.
1964: First Olympic Broadcast
NBC broadcasted the first live telecast of any kind from Japan to the United States with coverage of the 1964 Summer Olympics. As the broadcasting home for the Olympic Games since 1988, NBC has instilled national excitement and pride as Americans watch and cheer on athletic achievements across the world. Through NBC’s commitment to bringing Americans the Olympic Games, people across the country have been able to tune in and support their loved ones going for gold, and can continue to do so, as NBCUniversal has extended their Olympics Games rights through the 2034 Winter Olympics in Utah.
1967: First Broadcast of the Super Bowl
On January 15, 1967, NBC broadcast the first Super Bowl, bringing viewers the matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The meeting of the NFL and AFL champions marked the beginning of a tradition that would become one of America’s biggest shared cultural experiences. For generations, fans have turned to NBC to experience the football moments that bring millions of Americans together.
1969: NBC News Covers the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
NBC News covered the historic Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969, taking one small leap for mankind and a giant leap for media, bringing America’s innovation from the surface of the moon to screens nationwide. The Apollo crew’s historic mission was watched by over 90% of U.S. TV households with NBC News reporting from the front lines.
1975: Saturday Night Live Debuts
On October 11, 1975, Chevy Chase’s infamous words “Live from New York, It’s Saturday Night” were heard across the nation for the first time as Saturday Night Live debuted on NBC. In the five decades since, the show has continued to influence the television landscape with its witty comedy, political satire, and cultural commentary.
2001: NBC News' Tom Brokaw delivers breaking news on September 11
As the events of September 11, 2001 unfolded, NBC News was there, reporting live from the scene and helping Americans make sense of an unimaginable moment. In the days and weeks that followed, Tom Brokaw and NBC News continued to chronicle the aftermath of the attacks and a profound sense of grief and national unity, reflecting NBC News’ longstanding role in covering the moments that define our country and our shared history.
2006: Sunday Night Football Comes to NBC
In 2006, NFL football returned to NBC with the debut of Sunday Night Football, establishing a new weekly primetime tradition for millions of Americans. The franchise went on to rank as primetime’s #1 show for an unprecedented 15 consecutive years, reinforcing NBC’s longstanding role in bringing the nation together around live sports.
For a century, NBC has brought generations together around the moments and stories that have shaped American culture, evolving alongside audiences across television, film, news, sports, streaming, and experiences around the world.
As NBCUniversal looks to the next 100 years, it is carrying that legacy forward with the same spirit of innovation and ambition. The platforms may change and the ways audiences connect will continue to evolve, but NBC’s purpose remains the same: to create unforgettable experiences, bring people together, and remain a meaningful part of people’s lives for generations to come.