The Peacock as used by NBC (and their affiliates) is a trademark and in order for it to be kept in their legal possession they must "exercise" it by using it in SOME manner.

Even Pontiac kept using their Indian Chief head silhouette for many years in order to keep it alive.....at one point the high beam indicator on the dash was in the shape of Chief Pontiac's profile!

If a company lapses in the use of a trademark, no matter how well known it may be to the public, it will eventually revert to the public domain. A company can try to argue prior use etc, but often that's a losing battle. Bottom line, NBC may still be using it not so much out of a reverence to past glory, but to keep their legal right to it.

Anthony