NBC MILESTONES

1926: NBC establishes nation's first permanent radio network.
1931: NBC begins experimental TV broadcasts atop the Empire State Building.
1933: Bob Hope begins his long NBC broadcasting career.
1939: NBC demonstrates television at New York World's Fair and begins regular New York TV program service.
1941: NBC granted FCC's first commercial TV station license for WNBT in New York.
1947: Howdy Doody and Kraft Television Theatre debut on NBC. First televised World Series broadcast by NBC.
1948: Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle is TV's first runaway hit.
1950: NBC pioneers daytime television with the Kate Smith Hour. Sid Caesar rules primetime in Your Show of Shows.
1951: NBC inaugurates first regular coast-to-coast TV network service.
1952: Today becomes first network early morning news show.
1953: NBC begins first compatible color broadcasts, nine years ahead of other networks.
1957: Jack Paar takes over as host of The Tonight Show.
1959: Bonanza premieres, the first TV western in color.
1962: Johnny Carson begins 30-year run as host of The Tonight Show.
1964: NBC presents first made-for-television movie, See How They Run, produced by Universal Television.
1968: A revolutionary concept in comedy, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, debuts.
1975: Saturday Night Live launches a new standard in TV comedy.
1980: NBC miniseries Shogun wins huge audiences and critical praise.
1981: Destined to be one of TV's most honored programs, Hill Street Blues debuts.
1982: Quality new series such as Cheers, St. Elsewhere and Family Ties make NBC a favorite with critics.
1983: NBC garners 133 Emmy nominations, the most ever. Tom Brokaw assumes sole anchor duties of NBC Nightly News.
1984: The Cosby Show debuts and quickly becomes TV's most popular series.
1985: With hits like Miami Vice and Golden Girls, NBC enjoys its most successful season in 30 years.
1986: General Electric acquires RCA and becomes NBC parent company. Bob Wright is named president and chief executive officer.
1989: Popular sitcom Seinfeld premieres as The Seinfeld Chronicles. NBC launches CNBC.
1992: Jay Leno becomes host of The Tonight Show. NBC airs the Summer Olympics from Barcelona, Spain.
1993: NBC brands Thursday nights "Must See TV." Cheers spin-off Frasier premieres. Conan O'Brien introduced as new host of Late Night.
1994: Thursday night blockbuster hits ER and Friends debut.
1997: Television's longest-running program, Meet the Press, hits half-century mark. Today celebrates 100 straight weeks in first place.
1999: Saturday Night Live celebrates its 25th anniversary.
2001: NBC marks 75 years of broadcast excellence.
2002: NBC acquires Telemundo, Bravo, and station KNTV in San Jose/San Francisco.
2003: NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment agree to merge and form new entity called NBC Universal.
May 12, 2004: Day One of the new NBC Universal.