Variety and NBCUniversal Launch Cross-Platform Series for NBC’s Centennial

Variety and NBCUniversal have entered a partnership to produce a cross-platform content series that will explore NBC’s past, present, and future. The series will draw on Variety’s extensive archive and collaborate with NBCUniversal archivists to highlight milestone moments, unsung contributors, and innovations that have shaped the mass-media landscape. The rollout is scheduled to run through December, concluding with a live three-hour primetime special on Dec. 10.

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NBC is marking its 100th anniversary with a yearlong celebration. The centennial campaign culminates in the Dec. 10 broadcast, positioning the network as a cornerstone of the media and entertainment business for a century.

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• Variety – Entertainment-industry publication providing archival resources and editorial leadership.

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• NBCUniversal – Broadcast network and media conglomerate supplying archival material and co-producing the series.

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• Cynthia Littleton – Variety’s co-Editor in Chief, overseeing the partnership.

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• Emily Longeretta – Variety’s director of features, co-leading the initiative.

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• Michael Schneider – Executive editor of television at Variety, co-leading the initiative.

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• Donna Pennestri – Associate publisher, Variety, involved in project steering.

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• Alex Hughes – Executive producer, Variety Content Studio, involved in project steering.

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• Early 2026 – Partnership announced and series development begins.

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• January – December 2026 – Ongoing release of cross-platform content examining NBC’s legacy.

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• Dec. 10, 2026 – Live three-hour primetime special marks the culmination of NBC’s anniversary campaign.

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• 100-year anniversary of NBC’s founding.

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• Yearlong series rollout spanning the calendar year.

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• Three-hour live special scheduled for Dec. 10.

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The collaboration aims to illuminate NBC’s enduring influence on the mass-media sector, spotlight previously overlooked contributors, and trace the network’s evolution from its inception to its current position. By leveraging Variety’s archival depth, the series seeks to provide a comprehensive narrative of how NBC helped shape modern broadcasting.

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Variety’s leadership described the partnership as a rare chance to conduct a comprehensive review of a company that helped create today’s mass-media environment. The initiative will combine Variety’s archival expertise with NBCUniversal’s internal records to produce a multi-format exploration of NBC’s historical impact. NBCUniversal’s role includes providing access to its own archives and supporting the series’ production, though no direct quote from NBCUniversal officials appears in the source material.

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• “Variety’s partnership with NBCUniversal on its centennial celebration offers a rare opportunity to take a top-to-bottom look at one of companies responsible for creating the mass media sector as we know it today,” — Cynthia Littleton, Variety’s co-Editor in Chief

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• “It’s also a chance to put a spotlight on unsung heroes and uncover untold moments that influenced the course of history.” — Cynthia Littleton, Variety’s co-Editor in Chief

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The series will continue to release content throughout December, culminating in the Dec. 10 live special that will broadcast NBC’s centennial narrative to a national audience. The partnership sets a precedent for archival collaborations that may inform future commemorations of media institutions.

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