NBC’s Peacock Logo Turns 40: How the Network Landed on the Iconic Design

By Michael Schneider

Michael Schneider

Variety Editor at Large

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In the history of broadcast network logos, NBC’s Peacock is relatively young. CBS introduced its “Eye” icon in 1951, while the ABC meatball has been more or less the same (with some slight font alterations) since 1962. But although NBC first started using a peacock to promote color TV in 1956, the ubiquitous six-feathered Peacock everyone now identifies as NBC’s logo didn’t premiere until forty years ago today.

The Peacock as we now know it was first introduced on screen on May 12, 1986, at the very end of the star-studded “NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration” special. The event, hosted by “The Cosby Show” stars Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Keshia Knight Pulliam, featured some of the most iconic NBC stars of all time: Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Johnny Carson, Jack Paar, Steve Allen and more. At the end of the three-hour special, a crowd of NBC stars gathered to sing a tribute song to the network — as they surrounded the new NBC logo, the first time that version of the Peacock had been seen.

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