"Seinfeld" originally aired on NBC in the United States. The network commissioned the series after comedian Jerry Seinfeld was given an opportunity to develop a television project, and NBC broadcast the pilot in 1989.
The show began its original run on July 5, 1989, and continued through May 14, 1998. It ultimately lasted nine seasons and produced 180 episodes. NBC's support helped turn a modestly rated early sitcom into one of American television's most influential comedies, particularly after its audience grew substantially in later seasons.
Viewers sometimes confuse NBC with CBS because both networks aired major sitcoms during the same era, and because "Seinfeld" was produced at studios associated with other television companies. The broadcast network, however, was NBC throughout the show's original run. The series became closely associated with NBC's Thursday-night comedy lineup, often called "Must See TV," alongside shows such as "Friends" and "Frasier."