NBC4 is owned and operated by NBC, the first television network.

The station broadcasts 24 hours a day to an area that includes more than eight million viewers.

Throughout NBC4's more than 55-year history, the station has maintained an exemplary tradition of leadership.

Cutting edge accomplishments in technology include being:

• the first RCA color station
• the first station to broadcast in stereo
• the first station to simulcast a live newscast in Digital High Definition Television
• the home base for the national Model High Definition Television station
• the first commercial television station to broadcast in Digital High Definition in the Nation's Capital

In addition, NBC4 is a leader in news and community outreach. The station broadcasts 39 1/2 hours of news per week -- more than any other station in the market. NEWS4 at 11, the late news, has held the No. 1 position since February 1994 outside of the '98 Winter Olympics.

The station is involved in and brings numerous projects and campaigns to area residents each year. The largest of them are the NBC4 Health and Fitness Expo, which has served more than half a million people over its 10-year history and our NBC4 Digital Edge Expo, marking its fifth year in 2005.

---

Slideshow: Take A Trip Through WRC's History
Slideshow: NBC4's Logos Through Time

---

Here are some of the highlights from NBC4's eventful history:

The station, owned by NBC, went on the air on June 27, 1947 at 7:20pm from the Wardman Park Hotel's Garden Room. It was originally known as WNBW, channel 4 on the dial. After the evening's mix of programs--newsreel film, a variety show, scenic film, boxing matches, and a symphony orchestra with Toscanini conducting--the station signed off at 11:00pm.

When WNBW went on the air, there were only 700 television sets in homes around the Washington metropolitan area. Less than one month later, according to Business Week magazine, there were 1,400 sets; six months later, the number had leaped to 6,600 and 4 years later, the number was 280,000.

October 4, 1947, NBC supplied the camera gear and technical facilities for pool coverage of the first appearance (directly from the White House) of an American President on television. President Truman delivered a message on the world's food problems from the Oval office.

In February 1948, David Brinkley, with his cameraman George Johnson, began the program "Washington Newsreel."

President Truman's Inauguration aired on WNBW in 1949.

In 1950, channel 4 first began broadcasting in color; in 1956 the NBC peacock first appeared as the symbol of color TV and a year later, came the now famous animation and phrase "The following program is brought to you in living color on NBC."

In 1950, high school student Willard Scott came to channel 4 as a page. He teamed with Ed Walker in 1955 to form radio's Joy Boys. He was TV's Bozo the clown from 1959 to 1964 and in 1967, he became WRC-TV's weatherman. 13 years later, he joined the Today Show and rose from local icon to national treasure.

In 1950, Mac McGary brought his rich voice to channel 4 as a staff announcer. He hosted several TV shows and then in 1961, he became host of "It's Academic", now the longest running high school quiz show in the country.

Broadcasting pioneer Bryson Rash took part in the first TV-signal experiments in Washington and became the first local TV anchorman. Later, as editorial director of channel 4, he won a Peabody Award for his editorials in favor of home rule for the District.

In 1952, viewers could see the Today Show on WNBW...the first early morning news/talk show with host Dave Garroway.

On January 15, 1953, channel 4 brought viewers pictures of a breaking news story in record-breaking time. The story was the passenger train crash at Union Station in which dozens of people were injured. The pictures were broadcast within 2 and a half hours of the accident because NBC already had cameras at Union Station for the upcoming inauguration of Dwight Eisenhower.

On October 18, 1954, the WNBW call letters were formally changed to WRC-TV...to be more closely identified with sister radio stations WRC and WRC-FM. WRC stood for Washington Radio Corporation (of America). The radio station had been in existence since 1923. However, it is no longer owned by NBC.

In 1954, a college student named Jim Henson brought his hand puppet show "Sam and Friends" to channel 4. It became a local favorite. In 1961, he and his muppets moved on to Sesame Street and to national stardom.

In May 1958, WRC-TV moved to its current location at 4001 Nebraska Avenue, N.W. President Dwight Eisenhower dedicated the building (pictured, right); it still is shared with NBC News.

In 1960, one of the most memorable events to take place in the new building, in Studio A, was the Kennedy-Nixon debate. These televised presidential debates changed forever the character of political campaigns.