The 100th Anniversary of NBC (1926-2026)

The oldest broadcasting network in the United States, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), was founded in 1926 by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA). As a prelude to its centennial next year, this course presents a video-heavy overview of a century’s worth of its programming. From the network's radio roots to its present-day streaming-centric portfolio, NBC has been at the forefront of many of the medium’s innovations, among them the launch of color TV (Bonanza), the establishment of viewing beachheads outside of prime-time (The Tonight Show, Today, NBC News Overnight), the recalibrations of both the crime drama (Police Story, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice) and the sitcom (Seinfeld, The Office, Parks and Rec), and the introduction of the made-for-TV-movie genre. This memory-stirring course also puts a spotlight on key moments and key figures from the network’s storied history—both as a business and a creative force, and how it all came together to help change the country as it changed television. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.