2000
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At the turn of the century, the American public could tune in to just about anything from anywhere, anytime, and on any device. This revolution made the new century an exciting age for content and technology. For media companies like NBC, these changes brought incredible opportunities for innovation. In 2004, NBC and Universal merged to form NBCUniversal.
2000
NBC broadcasts the XXVII Olympiad from Sydney
NBC would air 441.5 hours of taped coverage on NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC, attracting a total of 185 million viewers. NBC’s coverage garnered 10 Emmy Awards. In an electriying 400m sprinting event,…
Universal’s Gladiator premieres
Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe, the global blockbuster Gladiator reinvented the sword-and-sandal genre and won five Oscars® including Best Picture at the 73rd Academy Awards®.
2001
Grand Opening of Universal Studios Japan
The first Universal theme park in Asia, Universal Studios Japan shattered attendance records worldwide, reaching 1 million visitors just 37 days after opening, faster than any theme park in history.
Universal's Fast & Furious premieres
Over the course of eleven films that have stoked passion in an ever-expanding audience and have earned more than $7 billion at the worldwide box office, Universal Pictures’ record-smashing, homegrown Fast & Furious Saga has become one of the studio’s most-profitable and longest-running franchise.
2002
NBC acquires Telemundo
NBC expanded its Spanish-language content with the acquisition of Telemundo. Over the last 20+ years, Telemundo has delivered news, entertainment and sports across platforms, becoming the number one Spanish-language content powerhouse.
Bravo joins NBC
The addition of Bravo gave NBC a leading entertainment cable network that could reach more audiences across the country.
The XIX Olympic Winter Games is held in Salt Lake City
This marked NBC's first coverage of the Olympic Winter Games since 1972. The Games were the second-most-watched Winter Games in history, attracting 187 million American viewers. During the…
Focus Features Formed
Since forming in 2002, Focus Features has earned more than 140 Academy Award® Nominations with 14 of those being Best Picture. Their catalog includes nearly 200 movies including Promising Young Woman, Lost in Translation, Milk, The Kids Are All Right, BlacKkKlansman, Phantom Thread, Darkest Hour, Atonement, A Serious Ma, Dallas Buyers Club, The Theory Of Everything and Belfast.
2003
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy debuts on Bravo
The makeover show became a smash hit and transformed Bravo into a pop culture trendsetter. In 2023, the show celebrated 20 years of pushing boundaries for diversity and representation.
Universal becomes the first studio with five summer releases breaking the $100 million mark
The summer hits were Bruce Almighty, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Hulk, Seabiscuit, and American Wedding.
2005
NBC's The Office premieres
The sitcom went on to find a massive audience and critical success, winning multiple Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, and Golden Globe awards. After its run, the show became a hit on multiple streaming platforms, including Peacock, and continued to find new fans from younger audiences.
Focus Features showcases groundbreaking LGBTQ+ representation with Brokeback Mountain
The movie grossed over $178 million worldwide against its $14 million budget and won three Academy Awards in addition to the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Wide Release.
2006
NBC kicks off coverage of the Winter Olympics from Torino, Italy
The company's networks would broadcast an unprecedented 416 hours of programming. American speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno captured the gold in the 500m event.
The Real Housewives of Orange County premieres on Bravo
In 2006, Bravo premiered the first iteration of its franchise with The Real Housewives of Orange County. The success led to more than 25 total spinoffs in New York, Atlanta, New Jersey, Beverly Hills, Miami, and more – garnering a massive fan base.
As part of a record-breaking deal, the NFL returns to NBC for the first time since the 1997 season, debuting the iconic Sunday Night Football brand
NBC's debut broadcast was the Thursday-night season-opener between the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the Miami Dolphins.
30 Rock premieres on NBC
Starring Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, the critically acclaimed comedy would dominate the awards landscape during the next few seasons, winning multiple Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, and Golden Globe awards.
USA Network begins 13-year streak as #1 cable network in total viewers
Thanks to Blue Sky series such as Suits, White Collar, Royal Pains and Burn Notice, USA dominated the basic cable landscape.
NBC Sports begins airing NHL games with NHL on NBC
Running until 2021, NHL on NBC included broadcasts of multiple Stanley Cup Playoffs and Finals and, starting in 2008, created and presented the NHL Winter Classic – an annual outdoor hockey game played in a football or baseball stadium.
2007
Universal Pictures enters a deal with Chris Meledandri’s Illumination Entertainment, a new film animation studio
Illumination is one of the entertainment industry’s leading producers of event-animated films. Illumination’s iconic, beloved franchises—infused with memorable and distinct characters, global appeal and cultural relevance—have grossed more than $8 billion worldwide.
2008
NBC Broadcasts the Summer Olympic Games from Beijing
At the time, the Games was the most-watched television event in U.S. history, with 215 million Americans tuning in. Swimming phenomenon Michael Phelps made history by becoming the most successful…
Rachel Maddow becomes the first openly lesbian anchor to host a major prime-time news program with the launch of The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC
She went on to win numerous awards, including a Gracie Allen Award for Individual Achievement.
2009
Top Chef premieres on Bravo
Top Chef has since become one of television's most popular unscripted competition shows, recently celebrating its milestone 20th season. The series has won multiple Emmys, James Beard and Critics' Choice Awards.
Parks and Recreation premieres on NBC
With a beloved ensemble cast led by Saturday Night Live’s Amy Poehler, the hit comedy show aired for seven seasons, receiving 14 Emmy nominations and helping launch the careers of Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt (star of Universal’s Jurassic World), and comedian Nick Offerman.
