NBC AND MACY'S RETEAM TO CELEBRATE 2015 HOLIDAYS IN STYLE

"Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade(R)" and "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks(R)Spectacular" Return to Network in Multi-Year Deal

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - Feb. 18, 2015 - NBC and Macy's are continuing their annual tradition of celebrating America's most popular holidays together as the two team up once again to telecast both the 2015 "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade(R)" and 2015 "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks(R)Spectacular" as part of a multi-year deal.

"We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Macy's on these time-honored traditions. The parade and fireworks have become essential parts of the holidays and it is a privilege to bring them into homes across America," said Paul Telegdy, President, Alternative and Late Night Programming, NBC Entertainment.

"We are tremendously excited to renew our valued partnership with NBC, once again making the Peacock network the official national broadcast partner of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Macy's 4th of July Fireworks," said Amy Kule, Group Vice-President of Macy's Parade & Entertainment Group and the executive producer of both events. "NBC's coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has now spanned well over a half-century and has been honored with more than a dozen Daytime Emmy Awards for the talented teams behind the show. 'Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular' has aired on NBC for 15 years and has become one of the summer's top-rated primetime entertainment specials, commemorating Independence Day across the country. It's an honor to partner with NBC on the national broadcast of both iconic events that define the holidays with breathtaking artistry and entertainment value, bringing millions of Americans, across generations, together to share in the joy and magic of these national celebrations."

The "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" is annually one of television's top-rated events, with the 2014 telecast averaging a 6.2 rating, 27 share in adults 18-49 and 22.6 million average viewers in "live plus same day" results from Nielsen Media Research. Both the 6.2 rating and the 22.6 million average viewership top every primetime non-sports telecast on the Big 4 networks so far this season. According to NBC research, 42.4 million viewers watched at least a portion of the original parade broadcast in 2014. It was it the second most-watched "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" in the last 13 years, trailing since 2001 only the record 25.2 million average viewership of the 2013 telecast.

Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie of NBC's "Today" anchored the broadcast, which featured more than 8,000 participants, the event's signature giant character helium balloons, fantastic floats, high school and college marching bands, performance groups and the one-and-only Santa Claus ringing in the holiday season. There was also Broadway's best shows and a host of celebrity performers, including Cirque du Soleil, Renee Fleming, Becky G., Nick Jonas, KISS, Idina Menzel, the cast and Muppets of "Sesame Street," Romeo Santos, Meghan Trainor and Quvenzhané Wallis, to name a few.

For their massive effort with the parade, the NBC and Macy's team have collectively won more than a dozen Daytime Emmy Awards in the categories of Outstanding Special Class Program, Outstanding Special Direction, Outstanding Special Class Writing and Outstanding Original Song.

Since 1976, Macy's Fireworks have grown in scale and artistry as they burst to life over many of New York City's waterways and neighborhoods. Annually the largest Independence Day pyrotechnic display in the nation, Macy's Fireworks each year aim to incorporate new fireworks technology and effects, as well as landmarks and milestones to add new dazzle to Macy's Fireworks signature theatrics. For the 2014 edition, Macy's showcased the Brooklyn Bridge in a 25-minute fireworks spectacle, igniting the famed landmark with jaw-dropping effects.

Last summer's two-hour "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" dominated the night for NBC among the Big 4 networks, averaging a 1.1 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.4 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET. The telecast grew +18% in adult 18-49 rating with its second hour versus the event's prior Friday telecast (1.3 from 9-10 p.m. vs. a 1.1 for that hour on Friday, July 4, 2008) and was up +19% or 1.1 million persons in total viewers (6.5 million vs. 5.4 million in 2008).

Guests for last year's telecast included Ariana Grande, Enrique Iglesias, Zac Brown Band, Hunter Hayes, Miranda Lambert, Miley Cyrus and Lionel Richie.

Both the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" and "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" are productions of Universal Television in association with Macy's.