NBC Studios (New York City) explained

NBC Studios
Former Name:NBC Radio City Studios
Building Type:Television Studios Complex
Developer:Radio Corporation of America

NBC Studios are located in the historic 30 Rockefeller Plaza (on Sixth Avenue between 49th and 50th streets) in Manhattan, New York City. The building houses the NBC television network headquarters, its parent NBCUniversal, and NBC's flagship station WNBC (Channel 4), as well as cable news channel MSNBC.

The first NBC Radio City Studios began operating in the early 1930s. Tours of the studios began in 1933, suspended in 2014 and resumed on October 26, 2015. Because of the preponderance of radio studios, that section of the Rockefeller Center complex became known as Radio City (and gave its name to Radio City Music Hall).

Current studio spaces

width=100Studio Production Notes Floor Size[1]
1A Today and NBC Nightly News with Lester HoltSince 1994, the network's morning program is produced at a ground-level, windowed studio across 49th Street from 30 Rockefeller Plaza at 10 Rockefeller Plaza; it was previously broadcast from inside 30 Rock. Studio 1A is a multilevel studio; the upstairs portion contains a kitchen used for cooking segments. The studio was also used by WNBC's Live at Five, MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann,[2] and NBC Nightly News for a short period during the decontamination of the broadcast's facilities and offices in October 2001 due to the 2001 anthrax attacks. After a minor renovation that started in mid-August 2021, Today debuted on September 7, 2021, with a new desk and flooring to Studio 1A.[3] Nightly News moved to the studio on September 13, 2021.[4] Ground floor 2430square feet
3A MSNBC main studios Debuted on October 22, 2007, and is the home to many MSNBC programs. A newsroom connects Studio 3A and Studio 3C. Former home of NBC Nightly News. A new set debuted on September 20, 2021, with Deadline: White House.[5] 3rd floor4794square feet
3B EastWNBCStudio 3B was the former home of the Huntley-Brinkley Report,[6] the NBC daytime serial The Doctors,[7] Today, Dateline NBC, NBC Nightly News, and coverage of the 2008 presidential election. Since Nightly left the space in 2017, 3B would be used for pre-taped segments and interviews. At 4060square feet, 3B was the last 30 Rock studio that had kept its original dimensions since the building's 1933 opening. In August 2022, NBC confirmed plans to divide the space equally into two studios for its New York stations' news operations.[8] WNBC would move into 3B East on November 3, 2023; Telemundo station WNJU is slated to move its newscasts into 3B West in late 2024.[9] 3rd floor2030square feet
3B West3rd Floor2030square feet
3C NBC News NOW, Top Story with Tom Llamas Formerly the home of NBC Nightly News from November 8, 1999, to October 23, 2011; however the studio's size decreased significantly during the 2007 renovations which connected it with 3A. From April 21, 2012, until October 9, 2016, WNBC originated from this studio.[10] Nightly News began using the space again in July 2017 following additional renovations that led to it being referred to as "3A West". Nightly News moved in with Today in Studio 1A in September 2021. 3C now acts as the main home for NBC News' streaming network, including its noon program NBC News Daily, which airs on affiliates in the country, and evening program Top Story with Tom Llamas3rd floor1310square feet
3K vacant 3K was formed by combining former radio studio 3F and studio 3H. 3H was the first studio in the building to be converted for television production, being converted in 1935 and serving as NBC Television's lone studio[11] until the conversion of Studio 8G in 1948. The former home of NBC Nightly News, NBC Sports, Today, The Ed Show, The Howdy Doody Show, NBC News at Sunrise, The Gabby Hayes Show, Early Today, All in with Chris Hayes, The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, Dateline NBC, and from October 9, 2016, until November 2, 2023, WNBC's News 4 New York.[12] [13] 3rd floor2668square feet
4EMSNBC newsroom and studio, Dateline NBC, Early TodayA new newsroom and studio for MSNBC, built in early 2016, is located in the northeast corner of the building, with windows overlooking West 50th St and Rockefeller Plaza. The glassed-in studio in the corner is designated Studio 4E, but shows also originate from the various locations in the newsroom area, which connects to the 3rd and 5th floors via a stairway.4th floor
6A The Kelly Clarkson Show The 6th and 7th floors of the studio building were left unfinished when NBC first occupied the space in 1933, and Studios 6A and 6B were not built until November 1941.[14] Former home of Twenty-One,[15] Say When!!, The Tomorrow Show,[16] The David Letterman Show,[17] Late Night with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Dr. Oz Show, 6A was the first 30 Rock studio to be converted for high-definition television. In August 2013, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon moved into this space while Studio 6B underwent renovations for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[18] From September 2014 to May 2016, Meredith Vieira's daytime talk show, The Meredith Vieira Show, originated from this studio as well. In the summer of 2016, Maya & Marty, a variety show that featured Maya Rudolph and Martin Short also originated from this studio. Megyn Kelly Today then occupied the space from 2017 to 2018. On July 13, 2020, The Tonight Show used Studio 6A for its first studio-produced episodes since the beginning of the pandemic, and remained until March 19, 2021, when it went back to Studio 6B.[19]

The Kelly Clarkson Show relocated to Studio 6A from the Universal Studios Lot in Los Angeles, beginning with the 2023–24 season.[20]

6th floor3504square feet
6B The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon The former home of Broadway Open House,[21] Bob Hope's radio program,[22] the television version of Texaco Star Theater,[23] The Ernie Kovacs Show,[24] Tic Tac Dough, Tonight Starring Jack Paar, Play Your Hunch, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC Nightly News, The Bell Telephone Hour, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and the former studio for flagship station WNBC. Fallon returned to the studio on March 22, 2021. 6th floor3690square feet
6E Global Media Insert studio[25] Consists of four small spaces. Former home of Early Today and MSNBC's secondary studio. This space was previously a portion of WNBC's Master Control. From January 6 until March 13, 2020, it was used for E!'s E! News and Pop of the Morning.[26] [27] 6th floor
8G Late Night with Seth Meyers A former radio studio converted for television use in 1948, it went on air on April 22 of that year.[28] Former home of Today, The Phil Donahue Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Caroline Rhea Show, The Amber Ruffin Show, The Jane Pauley Show, and Football Night in America, as well as the original Concentration and Jeopardy! which recorded their color episodes on alternating days/weeks from 1964 to 1975. NBC Nightly News used this studio during the 2007 renovations of NBC News headquarters, except on some Sunday evenings where, due to football programming, the news was broadcast from Studio 1A. This studio has also been used for 2008 and 2010 election night coverage.8th floor2280square feet
Saturday Night LiveStudio 8H was, at the time of construction, the world's largest radio studio. It was converted to television use in 1950 (however, it had hosted television broadcasts prior to conversion, namely simulcasts of The Voice of Firestone). Former home of Kraft Television Theater and other live dramas, election night coverage, Last Call with Carson Daly, Later, and the NBC Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini. Used for offsite coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics and for the "Live Show" and "Live from Studio 6H" episodes of 30 Rock. 8H was also the temporary home to Football Night in America during the 2013 NFL season. Has been home to SNL continuously since 1975.8th floor3955square feet

Shows produced at NBC Studios New York

Among the shows originating at 30 Rockefeller Plaza (shows taping as of the 2023–2024 season in bold):

ProgramNetwork/StationDatesStudio
The 11th HourMSNBC2016–present3A
30 RockNBC2010 and 20128H (Live episodes)
All In with Chris HayesMSNBC2013–present3K, 4E, 6A, 3A
AymanMSNBC2021–present3C
The Amber Ruffin ShowPeacock2020–present8G
Call My BluffNBC19656A
The Caroline Rhea ShowSyndication2002–20038G
Charge Account/Jan Murray ShowNBC1960–19626B
ConcentrationNBC1958–19733A, 6A, 8G
Countdown with Keith OlbermannMSNBC2007–20111A
The CrossoverNBC Sports Network2013–20148G
The CycleMSNBC2012–20153A, 3K
Dateline NBCNBC1992–present3A, 3B, 3K, 4E
The David Letterman ShowNBC19806A
MSNBC2017–present4E, 3A
The DoctorsNBC1963–19823B, 3A
Dough Re MiNBC1958–19606A
Dr. NancyMSNBC20093A
The Dr. Oz ShowSyndication2009–20126A
E! NewsE!20206E
Early TodayNBC2007–present3K, 6E, 4E
The Ed ShowMSNBC2009–20153K, 3A
Eye GuessNBC1966-19696A
Football Night in AmericaNBC2006–20148G, 8H
He Said, She SaidSyndication1969-19708H
House Party with Steve DoocySyndication19906A
How to Survive a MarriageNBC1974–19758G
Howdy DoodyNBC1947–19603A, 3H, 3K, 8G
Huntley-Brinkley ReportNBC1956–19706B, 5HN, 8G
JackpotNBC1974–19758G
The Jane Pauley ShowSyndication2004–20058G
Jeopardy!NBC1964–19758G
The Kelly Clarkson ShowSyndication2023–present6A
The Kids Tonight ShowPeacock20216A
Last Call with Carson DalyNBC2002–20058H
The Last Word with Lawrence O'DonnellMSNBC2011–present3K, 4E
Late Night
(David Letterman and Conan O'Brien)
NBC1982–20096A
Late Night with Jimmy FallonNBC2009–20146B, 6A
Late Night with Seth MeyersNBC2014–present8G
Later with Bob CostasNBC1988–19948H
Live at FiveWNBC1980–20076B
The Match GameNBC1962–19698H
Maya & MartyNBC20166A
Megyn Kelly TodayNBC2017–20186A
The Meredith Vieira ShowSyndication2014–20166A
Top Story with Tom LlamasNBC News Now2021–present4E
Missing LinksNBC1963–19646A
Morning JoeMSNBC2007–present3A
Morning Meeting with Dylan RatiganMSNBC20093A
MSNBC Reports (Formerly MSNBC Live)MSNBC2007–present3A, 4E
NBC News at SunriseNBC1983–19993K
NBC Nightly NewsNBC1970–present8G, 3K, 3B, 3C, 1A
NBC Sports studio showsNBC1947–20146A, 3K, 8G
News 4 New YorkWNBC1941–present3B, 6B, 7E, 3C, 3K
PDQ (New York shows)Syndication1965–19698G
PersonalityNBC1967–19696A
The Phil Donahue ShowSyndication1985–19968G
Play Your HunchNBC1959–19636B
Pop of the MorningE!20206E
Reach for the StarsNBC19676A
The Rachel Maddow ShowMSNBC2008–present3A
Rock Center with Brian WilliamsNBC2011–20133B
The Rosie O'Donnell ShowSyndication1996–20028G
Sale of the CenturyNBC, Syndication1969–19748H
Saturday Night LiveNBC1975–present8H
Say When!!NBC1961–19656A
Shoot for the StarsNBC19776A
Split PersonalityNBC1959–19606A
That Was the Week That WasNBC1963–19656A, 8H (live)
Tic Tac DoughNBC1956–19598G, 6B
TodayNBC1952–present3K, 8G, 6A, 3B, 1A
To Tell the TruthSyndication1971–1978; 1980–19818G, 8H, 6A
The Tonight Show
(Jack Paar and Johnny Carson)
NBC1957–19726B
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonNBC2014–present6B, 6A
Three on a MatchNBC1971-19746A
Treasure HuntNBC1957–19598G
Twenty-OneNBC1956–19586A, 6B
UpMSNBC2011–20133A
Verdict with Dan AbramsMSNBC2007–20083A
What's My Line?Syndication1971–19756A
The Who, What, or Where GameNBC1969–19746A, 8H
Way Too EarlyMSNBC2009–20163A
Word for WordNBC1963–19646A
You're Putting Me OnNBC19696A

Other locations

Some other New York originated programs are/were produced elsewhere in the area, including:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NBC NY Studios . Universal Studios Lot . January 19, 2019.
  2. Web site: Station Dedicated to Train Conductor Who Died Saving Passengers From Fire. https://web.archive.org/web/20080927002553/http://www.wnbc.com/station/1169359/detail.html. dead. September 27, 2008.
  3. Web site: Studio 1A gets curvy update designed to unify 'Today' space's look. September 7, 2021. NewscastStudio. September 7, 2021 . en-US.
  4. Web site: 'NBC Nightly News' moves to Studio 1A, with its graphics still a work in progress . July 29, 2022 . NewscastStudio . September 13, 2021 . en-US.
  5. Web site: MSNBC unveils reimagined Studio 3A with 'Deadline: White House'. September 25, 2021. NewscastStudio. September 20, 2021 . en-US.
  6. Web site: NBCNews.com Video Player. https://web.archive.org/web/20130129090138/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21134540/. dead. January 29, 2013. .
  7. News: Barmash. Jerry. WNBC/Channel 4 Making the Move to Nightly News Studio. October 19, 2011. FishbowlNY. October 19, 2011.
  8. Web site: Hill . Michael P. . NBC News confirms plans to split Studio 3B into two spaces . newscaststudio.com . HD Media Ventures LLC . August 18, 2022 . August 9, 2022.
  9. https://www.newscaststudio.com/2023/11/06/wnbc-new-set-2023/ "WNBC moves into its half of the newly-split Studio 3B,"
  10. News: NBC New York debuts new studio, graphics, music. December 13, 2021. NewscastStudio. April 22, 2012.
  11. http://www.eyesofageneration.com/Archives_NBC_ND8G.php "It is approximately three times as large as 3H, the studio out of which NBC Television has been operating since 1935."
  12. Web site: NBCStudio3KCntrlRmDemo.JPG. flickr.com. May 6, 2007. April 16, 2018.
  13. Web site: NBC New York debuts new home, gains more space at 30 Rock. newscaststudio.com. October 10, 2016 . April 16, 2018.
  14. Web site: RCA Review . American Radio History . Radio Corporation of America . March 15, 2020 . January 1942.
  15. Interview with Herb Stempel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Br1dtdXT9Q#t=1439s).
  16. Web site: NBC Studio 6A TmrrwShw 1976.jpg. flickr.com. May 26, 2007. April 16, 2018.
  17. News: David Letterman Says Goodbye to Mornings. May 22, 2015. Splitsider.com. February 27, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150602050445/http://splitsider.com/2015/02/david-letterman-says-goodbye-to-mornings/. June 2, 2015. dead.
  18. News: NBC Dumps $25 Million Jimmy Fallon NYC 'Tonight Show' Studio . The Hollywood Reporter . Paul . Bond . May 7, 2013.
  19. Web site: White. Peter. July 13, 2020. 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' Returns To Studio; Gov. Cuomo Welcomes Him Back To The City. July 14, 2020. Deadline. en.
  20. Wagmeister . Elizabeth . 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' Moving Cross Country From Universal Lot to 30 Rock . May 8, 2023 . . May 8, 2023.
  21. Web site: Milton Delugg Interview. 2011. Classic Television Showbiz. February 21, 2013.
  22. Web site: David Letterman interview with Bob Hope. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/Lh_IdW9KFuM . December 13, 2021 . live. 1985. Late Night with David Letterman. NBC. January 5, 2013.
  23. Web site: Tom Snyder interview with Milton Berle. https://web.archive.org/web/20130729204223/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRMljK95--o . July 29, 2013 . dead. 1998. The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder. CBS. January 5, 2013.
  24. Web site: The David Letterman Show, Interview with Bill Wendell (2 min, 13 second mark). YouTube . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/_z7YGgn-x-0 . December 13, 2021 . live. May 23, 2015.
  25. Web site: Universal Studios Lot.
  26. Web site: E! News expands offerings, moves into new NYC home . NewscastStudio . January 25, 2020 . January 17, 2020.
  27. Web site: Andreeva. Nellie. 'E! News', 'Pop Of The Morning', 'In The Room' Canceled By E!. Deadline Hollywood. August 5, 2020. August 5, 2020.
  28. Web site: Television cameras were the Eyes Of A Generation; this is Television history the way they saw it. eyesofageneration.com. April 16, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160806141733/http://eyesofageneration.com/Archives_NBC_ND8G.php. August 6, 2016. dead.
  29. News: July 14, 1956. Ambassador Back Oct. 2 As Legitimate Theater. 4. New York Herald Tribune. .
  30. http://www.oldtvtickets.com/2007/02/hullabaloo/ Ticket for November 11, 1965 taping of Hullabaloo
  31. http://www.oldtvtickets.com/2010/06/sammy-davis-jr-show-the/ Ticket for January 30, 1966 taping of The Sammy Davis Jr. Show
  32. Web site: RCA-NBC Firsts in Color Television . novia.net . https://web.archive.org/web/20060206115435/http://www.novia.net/~ereitan/rca-nbc_firsts.html . February 6, 2006.
  33. http://www.oldtvtickets.com/2006/02/imogene-coca-show-the/ Ticket for May 21, 1955 telecast of The Imogene Coca Show
  34. http://www.oldtvtickets.com/2006/02/mr-peepers/ Ticket for May 29, 1955 telecast of Mr. Peepers
  35. http://www.oldtvtickets.com/2006/02/treasure-hunt-1956-1959/ Tickets for June 18 and August 13, 1958 telecasts of Treasure Hunt
  36. http://www.oldtvtickets.com/2006/02/walter-winchell-show-the/ Ticket for November 30, 1956 telecast of The Walter Winchell Show
  37. http://www.oldtvtickets.com/2007/02/price-is-right-the-1956-1965/ Tickets for February 21 and April 11, 1961 telecasts of The Price Is Right
  38. Web site: Colonial Theater . Cinema Treasures . February 15, 2014.
  39. http://www.oldtvtickets.com/2005/12/tonight-1954-1957/ Tickets for October 20, 1954, and June 28, August 28, and November 30, 1956 telecasts of Tonight starring Steve Allen
  40. http://www.oldtvtickets.com/2005/12/tonight-1957-1962/ Ticket for October 23, 1957 telecast of Tonight Starring Jack
  41. March 12, 1975. U.S. Steel-Carnegie Pension's 'Block' Threatens Porn Site; Hudson As Non-Profit Legit?. Variety. 178. 5. 3, 75. .
  42. News: Piepenburg. Erik. February 2, 2017. The Hudson Theater Is Back on Broadway. en-US. The New York Times. live. October 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020003417/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/02/theater/hudson-theater-broadway.html. October 20, 2021. 0362-4331.
  43. http://www.oldtvtickets.com/2012/01/freddy-martin-show-the/ Ticket for October 3, 1951 telecast of The Freddy Martin Show
  44. Web site: International Theater . Cinema Treasures . February 15, 2014.
  45. News: February 23, 1930. NBC Acquires Times Square Radio Studio: Former Home of Ziegfeld 'Follies' Transformed Into Elaborate Broadcasting Theater. E12. The Hartford Courant. .
  46. News: Gershenson. Adam. January 31, 1999. F.Y.I.. en-US. The New York Times. October 16, 2021. 0362-4331. October 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211016222258/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/31/nyregion/fyi-098388.html. live.
  47. http://www.oldtvtickets.com/2012/01/hold-that-note/ Ticket for March 12, 1957 telecast of Hold That Note
  48. http://www.oldtvtickets.com/2008/12/haggis-baggis/ Ticket for August 13, 1958 telecast of Haggis Baggis
  49. http://www.oldtvtickets.com/2007/02/price-is-right-the-1956-1965/ Ticket for August 9, 1960 telecast of The Price Is Right