NBCUniversal

NBCUniversal Media, LLC
NBCUniversal
FormerlyNBC Universal, Inc. (2004–2011)
Company typeSubsidiary
Industry
Predecessors
FoundedMay 11, 2004 (May 11, 2004)
HeadquartersComcast Building, ,
U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Products
Services
RevenueIncrease US$39.2 billion (2022)
Number of employees
35,000 (2020)
ParentComcast
Divisions
Subsidiaries
Websitenbcuniversal.com Edit this at Wikidata
Footnotes / references
[1][2][3][4]
Evolution of Comcast NBCUniversal
Comcast logo since 2024 NBCUniversal logo since 2011
1912Universal Pictures is founded
1926NBC is founded
1928Universal Cartoon Studios (later known as Universal Animation Studios) is founded
1943Universal Television is founded
1953NBC begins first compatible color broadcasts, preceding other networks by nine years
1956NBC's peacock logo debuts
1963American Cable Systems is founded
1964Universal Studios Hollywood opens
1967NBC broadcasts the first-ever Super Bowl
1968American Cable Systems rebrands to Comcast
1972Comcast began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
1975PolyGram Filmed Entertainment is founded
Universal releases Jaws
1982Universal releases E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
1983Sally premieres
1985Universal's Back to the Future premieres
1986General Electric buys NBC for $6.4 billion
NBC's modern peacock logo introduced
1989NBC launches CNBC
1990Sky is founded
Universal Studios Florida opens
Law & Order premieres
1991Universal releases Backdraft and Cape Fear
Jerry Springer and Maury both premiere
1992Dateline NBC premieres
1993Universal releases Jurassic Park and Schindler's List
Homicide: Life on the Street premieres
1994DreamWorks Animation is founded
New York Undercover premieres
1996NBC and Microsoft launch MSNBC
1998Seagram acquires PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Universal Television becomes Studios USA Television
1999PolyGram Filmed Entertainment is folded into Universal Pictures
Universal Studios Florida expands to become Universal Orlando Resort
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit premieres
2001Grand opening of Universal Studios Japan
Universal releases The Fast and the Furious and A Beautiful Mind
Law & Order: Criminal Intent premieres
2002NBC acquires Telemundo and Bravo
Focus Features is formed
Comcast acquires AT&T Broadband for $44.5 billion
2003Universal becomes the first studio with five summer releases breaking the $100 million mark
2004GE and Vivendi merge NBC and Universal into NBCUniversal
2005Law & Order: Trial by Jury and The Office both premiere
Focus Features releases The Constant Gardener and Brokeback Mountain
Comcast sets up a joint-venture with PBS, Sesame Workshop & HIT Entertainment to form PBS Kids Sprout
Comcast & Time Warner Cable jointly acquire Adelphia Cable assets for $17.6 billion
2006USA Network begins 13-year streak as #1 cable network in total viewers
Focus Features releases Hollywoodland and Catch a Fire
2007Illumination is founded
The Steve Wilkos Show premieres
2010Universal releases Despicable Me
Law & Order: LA premieres
2011Vivendi divested in NBCU; Comcast buys 51% of NBCU from GE, turning it into a limited liability company
The name "PBS Kids" is dropped out from Sprout (Leaving the name "Sprout")
NBCUniversal Archives is founded
2012Universal celebrates its 100th anniversary
Chicago Fire premieres
2013Comcast buys GE's remaining 49% of NBCU
PBS sells Sprout to Comcast/NBCU
2014Comcast attempts to acquire Time Warner Cable for $45.2 billion
Chicago P.D. premieres
NBCUniversal reaches a new long-term deal with WWE
2015Chicago Med premieres
2016NBCU acquires DreamWorks Animation
2017Chicago Justice premieres
Sprout relaunches as Universal Kids
2018Comcast acquires Sky after a heated bidding war with 21st Century Fox
FBI premieres
2019NBCU acquires Cineo Lighting
Judge Jerry premieres
2020NBCU launches Peacock
FBI: Most Wanted premieres
2021Grand opening of Universal Beijing Resort
Law & Order: Organized Crime and FBI: International both premiere
2022Karamo and Lopez vs Lopez both premiere
2023Universal releases The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken and Oppenheimer

NBCUniversal Media, LLC (abbreviated as NBCU and doing business as simply NBCUniversal or Comcast NBCUniversal since 2013) is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate that is a subsidiary of Comcast and is headquartered at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan in New York City.[5]

NBCUniversal is primarily involved in the media and entertainment industry. The company is named for its two most significant divisions, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) – one of the United States' Big Three television networks – and the major Hollywood film studio Universal Pictures. It also has a significant presence in broadcasting through a portfolio of domestic and international properties, including USA, Syfy, Bravo, E!, Telemundo (Spanish), Universal Kids, the streaming service Peacock and ownership stakes in Snap and Vox Media. Via its Universal Destinations & Experiences division, NBCUniversal is also the third-largest operator of amusement parks in the world.[6] Since 2018, its sister company under Comcast's control, Sky Group Limited, holds its media and telecommunication assets.

NBCUniversal was formed on May 11, 2004, beginning on November 8, 2004 as NBC Universal, Inc., with the merger of General Electric (GE)'s NBC with Vivendi Universal's film and television subsidiary Vivendi Universal Entertainment, after GE had acquired 80% of the subsidiary, giving Vivendi a 20% share of the new company.[7][8] In 2011, Comcast attained 51% and thereby the control of newly reformed NBCUniversal, by purchasing shares from GE, while GE bought out Vivendi. Since 2013, the company has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast, which bought GE's ownership stake.[9]

  1. ^ "Comcast and GE Complete Transaction to Form NBCUniversal, LLC" (Press release). Comcast Corporation and General Electric Company. January 29, 2011. Archived from the original on February 9, 2011. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
  2. ^ "4Q17 Earnings Release with Tables". Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  3. ^ "Quarterly report for the period ended March 31, 2017". Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  4. ^ James, Meg (April 27, 2017). "NBCUniversal earnings soar, boosted by hit movies and Universal Studios crowds". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  5. ^ "NBC Universal to sell Burbank, Calif, studio". MarketWatch. October 11, 2007. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
  6. ^ "TEA/AECOM 2017 Global Attractions Attendance Report" (PDF). May 17, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 19, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  7. ^ Levy, Jean-Bernard (May 13, 2004). "Overview of NBC Universal Merger" (PDF). Vivendi Universal. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 18, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  8. ^ Keating, Gina (December 3, 2009). "TIMELINE: NBC, Universal through the 20th century and beyond". Reuters. Archived from the original on December 8, 2009. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  9. ^ Lieberman, David (March 19, 2013). "Comcast Completes Acquisition Of GE's 49% Stake In NBCUniversal". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2019.