NBCUniversal
, global
media
and entertainment company that develops, produces, and
markets
news and entertainment through its various
subsidiaries
. Its headquarters are in
New York City
.
NBCUniversal was formed in 2004 via the merger of the American television network
National Broadcasting Co., Inc.
(NBC), a subsidiary of
General Electric Co.
(GE), and the French global media conglomerate Vivendi Universal Entertainment (now Vivendi SA). NBCUniversal is the parent company of numerous cable networks, such as Syfy (formerly the Sci Fi Network), the USA Network, and Bravo;
film
companies, including
Universal Pictures Company
; digital media services; and theme parks, including Universal Studios.
In 2007 NBCUniversal purchased Oxygen, a
cable television
network geared toward women. That same year it also obtained the British media company Sparrowhawk Holdings, now NBCUniversal Global Networks, thereby acquiring nearly 20 international Hallmark channels. In 2011
Comcast
acquired a 51 percent stake of NBCUniversal from GE; two years later Comcast bought the remaining shares. In 2016 NBCUniversal acquired
DreamWorks Animation
.