The Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) in Chicago is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history and cultural impact of radio, television, podcasting, and streaming. Through archives, exhibitions, programs, and digital platforms, the MBC brings broadcast history to life while elevating diverse voices, innovators, and storytellers who have shaped media and society.
MBC’s TV Encyclopedia brings the richly curated Horace Newcomb Encyclopedia of Television online to a searchable interface. This resource offers detailed entries on TV programs, personalities, networks, industry terms, and historical events from around the globe. Covering everything from classic shows such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Batman to influential figures such as Roone Arledge and Lucille Ball, the online TV Encyclopedia provides alphabetical access to deep-dive articles, archival materials, and media research on television’s impact and evolution. Built with a clean, searchable interface, it serves as an invaluable tool for students, fans, and anyone else interested in exploring the rich tapestry of television history.
Plus: The Museum of Broadcast Communications has acquired the set of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The museum already has one of Stephen Colbert’s old desks, and now it will receive the whole Late Show set. The Museum of Broadcast Communications also has desks from NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and the same show of decades past with Johnny Carson. They are part of the exhibitions “The Centennial: Johnny Carson” and “The Evolution of Late Night Television.”