NBCUniversal Celebrates 100 Years of Innovation, Storytelling and Cultural Impact
One hundred years ago, NBC was founded as America's first broadcast network, introducing the country to a new way of hearing, seeing, and experiencing the world. NBC helped lay the foundation for modern media – transforming how audiences connect with entertainment, news, and live events.
February 18, 2026
From the very beginning, NBC has led in innovation, repeatedly redefining what was possible and leaving an enduring mark on American culture. Over the past century, NBC has pioneered industry firsts that shaped the media landscape as we know it today. The network delivered the first coast-to-coast radio broadcast, aired the first paid television commercial, and brought historic moments – from the World Series to the first Super Bowl – into American homes.
NBC also transformed news and information. The company launched the first regularly scheduled television news program, the nation's first morning show, TODAY, and the first televised presidential debate. NBC pioneered color broadcasting and helped establish the modern late-night talk show format, setting the stage for generations of cultural conversations.
As the company expanded, NBC merged with Universal to become NBCUniversal – a global media and entertainment leader transforming how entertainment, news, and live events are experienced.
A Century of Storytelling, Powered by a Unified Portfolio
NBCUniversal's strength has always come from the power of its entire ecosystem working together – creating and producing world-class entertainment, news, sports, and live events, while building iconic franchises and devoted fandoms.
Across entertainment, NBCUniversal has built franchises that define generations. Saturday Night Live has shaped cultural conversation for decades, while series including The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Law & Order continue to engage fans across eras. On Bravo and Peacock, shows such as The Real Housewives, The Traitors, and Love Island USA spark real-time conversation and community among audiences.
In film, franchises including Jurassic Park, Fast & Furious, Despicable Me, and Wicked have captivated global audiences and built passionate fandoms that extend far beyond the screen.
In news, TODAY established a daily ritual for millions of Americans. Dateline helped define modern true-crime storytelling. NBC Nightly News has remained a trusted destination across generations, reinforcing NBCUniversal's commitment to journalism and public service. NBCUniversal's 42 local television stations across the country have long served as trusted sources of information, supporting and strengthening their communities.
In sports and live events, NBCUniversal consistently redefines how iconic moments are experienced – from the Olympics and Sunday Night Football, to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade – leveraging cutting-edge production, storytelling, and technology to connect audiences in real time.
Beyond the screen, Universal Destinations & Experiences brings stories to life through immersive, real-world experiences – that extend fandom into physical environments and create lifelong connections with audiences.
Marking 100 Years with an Unprecedented Year of Content and Experiences
Our centennial year will showcase the full power of the company's portfolio, highlighted by one of the most ambitious live events calendars in industry history. NBCUniversal is strengthening its leadership in live sports and events, delivering tentpole cultural moments that drive unmatched reach and engagement across platforms. The company continues investing in Peacock to bring NBCUniversal's iconic franchises and live experiences directly to fans in new interactive ways.
In 2026, NBCUniversal will host approximately 40 percent of the industry's major live events, delivering many of the biggest cultural moments across sports, entertainment, and news. Highlights will include the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the 50th Macy's 4th of July Fireworks, Super Bowl LX, Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup on Telemundo, NBA and WNBA coverage, Sunday Night Football, BIG10 football, Ryder Cup, U.S. Open, Emmys, MLB, Kentucky Derby, NBC 100 Anniversary special and more.
NBCUniversal's new agreement with Major League Baseball establishes the company as the year-round home for major Sunday night live sports – spanning the MLB, NFL, and NBA. Legendary February will feature a historic 17-day stretch including Super Bowl LX, the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, and NBA All-Star Weekend, showcasing NBCUniversal's unmatched platforms, talent, and production capabilities.
NBCUniversal continues to scale immersive experiences as one of only two global media companies with a theme parks division. This includes expanding Universal Epic Universe, developing a new theme park in the United Kingdom – the company's first in Europe – and introducing new formats including its first Universal Kids Resort and year-round horror experiences in Chicago and Las Vegas.
The company is expanding partnerships with leading creators like Taylor Sheridan to develop premium global franchises and reinforce NBCUniversal as the home for top storytellers. NBCUniversal will deliver major theatrical releases and highly anticipated television and streaming programming in 2026. Upcoming films include Nintendo and Illumination's The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Disclosure Day directed by Steven Spielberg, Minions & Monsters, and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. Across television and streaming, audiences can expect new and returning hit series including The Traitors Season 4, The 'Burbs, The Five-Star Weekend, Love Island USA Season 8, St. Denis Medical, and The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins.
In 2026, the NBCU News Group will play a central role in U.S. midterm election coverage, delivering trusted journalism, real-time analysis, and multiplatform reporting across broadcast, streaming, and digital. Additionally, across NBC News, Telemundo, and NBCU Local, the organization remains the most-watched news portfolio in America, reaching more viewers across platforms than any competitor.
Looking Ahead
For 100 years, NBCUniversal has pushed the boundaries of storytelling, technology, and cultural connection. That progress has only been possible through collaboration across every part of the company – from production and creative to technology, journalism, parks, streaming, and live events.
As NBCUniversal looks ahead, the mission remains the same: continue innovating, continue connecting audiences, and continue shaping culture for generations to come.
