NBC Radio City Studios
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
Studio | Production | Notes | Floor | Size |
---|---|---|---|---|
1A | Today and NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt | Since 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, 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. Nightly News moved to the studio on September 13, 2021. | Ground floor | 2,430 sq ft (226 m) |
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. | 3rd floor | 4,794 sq ft (445.4 m) |
3B East | WNBC | Studio 3B was the former home of the Huntley-Brinkley Report, the NBC daytime serial The Doctors, 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 4,060 sq ft (377 m), 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. 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. | 3rd floor | 2,030 sq ft (189 m) |
3B West | WNJU (tentative) | 3rd Floor | 2,030 sq ft (189 m) | |
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. 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 Llamas. | 3rd floor | 1,310 sq ft (122 m) |
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 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. | 3rd floor | 2,668 sq ft (247.9 m) |
4E | MSNBC newsroom and studio, Dateline NBC, Early Today | A 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. Former home of Twenty-One, Say When!!, The Tomorrow Show, The David Letterman Show, 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. 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.
The Kelly Clarkson Show relocated to Studio 6A from the Universal Studios Lot in Los Angeles, beginning with the 2023–24 season. |
6th floor | 3,504 sq ft (325.5 m) |
6B | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | The former home of Broadway Open House, Bob Hope's radio program, the television version of Texaco Star Theater, The Ernie Kovacs Show, 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 floor | 3,690 sq ft (343 m) |
6E | Global Media Insert studio | 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. | 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. 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 floor | 2,280 sq ft (212 m) |
8H | Saturday Night Live | Studio 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 floor | 3,955 sq ft (367.4 m) |
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):
Program | Network/Station | Dates | Studio |
---|---|---|---|
The 11th Hour | MSNBC | 2016–present | 3A |
30 Rock | NBC | 2010 and 2012 | 8H (Live episodes) |
All In with Chris Hayes | MSNBC | 2013–present | 3K, 4E, 6A, 3A |
Ayman | MSNBC | 2021–present | 3C |
The Amber Ruffin Show | Peacock | 2020–2022 | 8G |
Call My Bluff | NBC | 1965 | 6A |
The Caroline Rhea Show | Syndication | 2002–2003 | 8G |
Charge Account/Jan Murray Show | NBC | 1960–1962 | 6B |
Concentration | NBC | 1958–1973 | 3A, 6A, 8G |
Countdown with Keith Olbermann | MSNBC | 2007–2011 | 1A |
The Crossover | NBC Sports Network | 2013–2014 | 8G |
The Cycle | MSNBC | 2012–2015 | 3A, 3K |
Dateline NBC | NBC | 1992–present | 3A, 3B, 3K, 4E |
The David Letterman Show | NBC | 1980 | 6A |
Deadline: White House | MSNBC | 2017–present | 4E, 3A |
The Doctors | NBC | 1963–1982 | 3B, 3A |
Dough Re Mi | NBC | 1958–1960 | 6A |
Dr. Nancy | MSNBC | 2009 | 3A |
The Dr. Oz Show | Syndication | 2009–2012 | 6A |
E! News | E! | 2020 | 6E |
Early Today | NBC | 2007–present | 3K, 6E, 4E |
The Ed Show | MSNBC | 2009–2015 | 3K, 3A |
Eye Guess | NBC | 1966–1969 | 6A |
Football Night in America | NBC | 2006–2014 | 8G, 8H |
He Said, She Said | Syndication | 1969–1970 | 8H |
House Party with Steve Doocy | Syndication | 1990 | 6A |
How to Survive a Marriage | NBC | 1974–1975 | 8G |
Howdy Doody | NBC | 1947–1960 | 3A, 3H, 3K, 8G |
Huntley-Brinkley Report | NBC | 1956–1970 | 6B, 5HN, 8G |
Jackpot | NBC | 1974–1975 | 8G |
The Jane Pauley Show | Syndication | 2004–2005 | 8G |
Jeopardy! | NBC | 1964–1975 | 8G |
The Kelly Clarkson Show | Syndication | 2023–present | 6A |
The Kids Tonight Show | Peacock | 2021 | 6A |
Last Call with Carson Daly | NBC | 2002–2005 | 8H |
The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell | MSNBC | 2011–present | 3K, 4E |
Late Night (David Letterman and Conan O'Brien) |
NBC | 1982–2009 | 6A |
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | NBC | 2009–2014 | 6B, 6A |
Late Night with Seth Meyers | NBC | 2014–present | 8G |
Later with Bob Costas | NBC | 1988–1994 | 8H |
Live at Five | WNBC | 1980–2007 | 6B |
The Match Game | NBC | 1962–1969 | 8H |
Maya & Marty | NBC | 2016 | 6A |
Megyn Kelly Today | NBC | 2017–2018 | 6A |
The Meredith Vieira Show | Syndication | 2014–2016 | 6A |
Top Story with Tom Llamas | NBC News Now | 2021–present | 4E |
Missing Links | NBC | 1963–1964 | 6A |
Morning Joe | MSNBC | 2007–present | 3A |
Morning Meeting with Dylan Ratigan | MSNBC | 2009 | 3A |
MSNBC Reports (Formerly MSNBC Live) | MSNBC | 2007–present | 3A, 4E |
NBC News at Sunrise | NBC | 1983–1999 | 3K |
NBC Nightly News | NBC | 1970–present | 8G, 3K, 3B, 3C, 1A |
NBC Sports studio shows | NBC | 1947–2014 | 6A, 3K, 8G |
News 4 New York | WNBC | 1941–present | 3B, 6B, 7E, 3C, 3K |
PDQ (New York shows) | Syndication | 1965–1969 | 8G |
Personality | NBC | 1967–1969 | 6A |
The Phil Donahue Show | Syndication | 1985–1996 | 8G |
Play Your Hunch | NBC | 1959–1963 | 6B |
Pop of the Morning | E! | 2020 | 6E |
Reach for the Stars | NBC | 1967 | 6A |
The Rachel Maddow Show | MSNBC | 2008–present | 3A |
Rock Center with Brian Williams | NBC | 2011–2013 | 3B |
The Rosie O'Donnell Show | Syndication | 1996–2002 | 8G |
Sale of the Century | NBC, Syndication | 1969–1974 | 8H |
Saturday Night Live | NBC | 1975–present | 8H |
Say When!! | NBC | 1961–1965 | 6A |
Shoot for the Stars | NBC | 1977 | 6A |
Split Personality | NBC | 1959–1960 | 6A |
That Was the Week That Was | NBC | 1963–1965 | 6A, 8H (live) |
Tic Tac Dough | NBC | 1956–1959 | 8G, 6B |
Today | NBC | 1952–present | 3K, 8G, 6A, 3B, 1A |
To Tell the Truth | Syndication | 1971–1978; 1980–1981 | 8G, 8H, 6A |
The Tonight Show (Jack Paar and Johnny Carson) |
NBC | 1957–1972 | 6B |
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | NBC | 2014–present | 6B, 6A |
Three on a Match | NBC | 1971-1974 | 6A |
Treasure Hunt | NBC | 1957–1959 | 8G |
Twenty-One | NBC | 1956–1958 | 6A, 6B |
Up | MSNBC | 2011–2013 | 3A |
Verdict with Dan Abrams | MSNBC | 2007–2008 | 3A |
What's My Line? | Syndication | 1971–1975 | 6A |
The Who, What, or Where Game | NBC | 1969–1974 | 6A, 8H |
Way Too Early | MSNBC | 2009–2016 | 3A |
Word for Word | NBC | 1963–1964 | 6A |
You're Putting Me On | NBC | 1969 | 6A |
Other locations
Some other New York originated programs are/were produced elsewhere in the area, including:
- Ambassador Theatre, 215 West 49th Street. The theater returned to Broadway use in 1956.
- Brooklyn Studios, 1268 East 14th Street in Midwood, Brooklyn. Included two studios, used as the filming location of many 1950s color "Spectaculars" such as The Esther Williams Aqua Special, Peter Pan; it is also where The Perry Como Show (1955), Mitch Miller Show (1960s), The Sammy Davis Jr. Show (1960s), Hullabaloo (1965–1966), Kraft Music Hall, Tic Tac Dough (nighttime), The Cosby Show, and Another World were produced. It was the home of CBS's soap opera As the World Turns until the series ceased production in 2010. The studio was equipped for color production when it opened in 1954. In 2000, the facility was sold to JC Studios, which closed in 2014. In June 2015, the building was sold and converted to office and self storage spaces.
- Center Theatre, 1236 Sixth Avenue. Productions included Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle, Your Show of Shows (1950–1954), Voice of Firestone). The theater was demolished in 1954 for an addition to 1230 Avenue of the Americas.
- Century Theater, 932 Seventh Avenue at West 58th Street. Productions included Caesar's Hour with Sid Caesar (1954–1957), Mister Peepers, Treasure Hunt). Leased to Videotape Productions of New York 1958–1961. Demolished in 1962 for construction of an apartment building.
- Colonial Theater, 1887 Broadway at West 62nd Street. It was the taping location of the original version of The Price Is Right hosted by Bill Cullen, 1953–1963, and Colgate Comedy Hour. The studio was the first equipped for color production and originated the first color telecast on November 3, 1953. Demolished in 1977.
- Florida Showcase, second street-front location for The Today Show, 1962-1965.
- Grumman Studios, Bethpage, New York. Located in the former Grumman Aircraft plant on Long Island. Since 2012, used by NBC for live musicals each December, including The Sound of Music Live, Peter Pan Live, and The Wiz Live.
- Hudson Theatre, 141 West 44th Street. The original home of Tonight hosted by Steve Allen (1954–1957)). The theater still stands as part of the Millennium Times Square New York hotel and returned to Broadway use in 2017.
- International Theater, 5 Columbus Circle. The site of shows such as Admiral Broadway Review (1949), it was demolished in 1954 for the New York Coliseum. The Time Warner Center is now on the site.
- New Amsterdam Roof Garden Theater, 214 West 42nd Street, converted in 1930. The rooftop theater is abandoned, but the main auditorium is used as a Broadway theater.
- RCA Exhibition Hall. Original home of The Today Show, 1952-1958.
- Ziegfeld Theatre, 1341 Sixth Avenue at West 54th Street. Shows included The Perry Como Show (from 1956), Concentration (primetime 1961)). It was demolished in 1966 for a 49-story office tower.
- 67th Street Studios, 101 West 67th Street. The Knickerbocker Beer Show aka The Steve Allen Show on WNBT-TV (1953-1954), the direct predecessor to Tonight Starring Steve Allen, originated from here. Also the site of The Home Show with Arlene Francis (1954-1957) and the primetime version of Concentration (1958). Built in 1949 as "9 Television Square" for WOR-TV, it was leased to NBC from 1953 to 1963. Between 1961 and 1968, it became the Videotape Center, owned by independent production company Videotape Productions of New York. The Reeves Lincoln Square Studios took over the space from 1968 to 1970. In 1970, it became ABC's Studios 18 and 19, the production facility for soap opera All My Children, and One Life to Live, until 1990. The building was demolished in 1995, and the site is now the 50-story Millennium Tower apartment building.
- Uptown Studios (now Metropolis Studios), 105 East 106th Street at Park Avenue. The first episode of Howdy Doody in 1947 originated here.
- NBC Universal Network Organization Center, 900 Sylvan Avenue (Route 9W), Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, home of CNBC and CNBC World.
- WNJU facility in Fort Lee, New Jersey; home of both Telemundo flagship WNJU and WNBC's New Jersey bureau, and former home of CNBC.
- WNBC-TV's New York Live formerly (LX: NY) was produced in Studio 51 at nearby 75 Rockefeller Plaza, then moved to Studio 3K.
References
- ^ "NBC NY Studios". Universal Studios Lot. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- ^ "Station Dedicated to Train Conductor Who Died Saving Passengers From Fire". Archived from the original on September 27, 2008.
- ^ "Studio 1A gets curvy update designed to unify 'Today' space's look". NewscastStudio. September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ "'NBC Nightly News' moves to Studio 1A, with its graphics still a work in progress". NewscastStudio. September 13, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ^ "MSNBC unveils reimagined Studio 3A with 'Deadline: White House'". NewscastStudio. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ "NBCNews.com Video Player". NBC News. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013.
- ^ Barmash, Jerry (October 19, 2011). "WNBC/Channel 4 Making the Move to Nightly News Studio". FishbowlNY. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Hill, Michael P. (August 9, 2022). "NBC News confirms plans to split Studio 3B into two spaces". newscaststudio.com. HD Media Ventures LLC. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ "WNBC moves into its half of the newly-split Studio 3B," from 'NewscastStudio.com, June 11, 2023
- ^ "NBC New York debuts new studio, graphics, music". NewscastStudio. April 22, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ^ http://www.eyesofageneration.com/Archives_NBC_ND8G.php Archived August 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine "It is approximately three times as large as 3H, the studio out of which NBC Television has been operating since 1935."
- ^ "NBCStudio3KCntrlRmDemo.JPG". flickr.com. May 6, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
- ^ "NBC New York debuts new home, gains more space at 30 Rock". newscaststudio.com. October 10, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
- ^ "RCA Review" (PDF). American Radio History. Radio Corporation of America. January 1942. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
- ^ Interview with Herb Stempel ([1]).
- ^ "NBC Studio 6A TmrrwShw 1976.jpg". flickr.com. May 26, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
- ^ "David Letterman Says Goodbye to Mornings". Splitsider.com. February 27, 2015. Archived from the original on June 2, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
- ^ Bond, Paul (May 7, 2013). "NBC Dumps $25 Million Jimmy Fallon NYC 'Tonight Show' Studio". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ White, Peter (July 13, 2020). "'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' Returns To Studio; Gov. Cuomo Welcomes Him Back To The City". Deadline. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (May 8, 2023). "'The Kelly Clarkson Show' Moving Cross Country From Universal Lot to 30 Rock". Variety. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Milton Delugg Interview". Classic Television Showbiz. 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
- ^ "David Letterman interview with Bob Hope". Late Night with David Letterman. NBC. 1985. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
- ^ "Tom Snyder interview with Milton Berle". The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder. CBS. 1998. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
- ^ "The David Letterman Show, Interview with Bill Wendell (2 min, 13 second mark)". Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2015 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Universal Studios Lot".
- ^ "E! News expands offerings, moves into new NYC home". NewscastStudio. January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 5, 2020). "'E! News', 'Pop Of The Morning', 'In The Room' Canceled By E!". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- ^ "Television cameras were the Eyes Of A Generation; this is Television history the way they saw it". eyesofageneration.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
- ^ "Ambassador Back Oct. 2 As Legitimate Theater". New York Herald Tribune. July 14, 1956. p. 4. ProQuest 1337527525.
- ^ Ticket for November 11, 1965 taping of Hullabaloo, oldtvtickets.com.
- ^ Ticket for January 30, 1966 taping of The Sammy Davis Jr. Show, oldtvtickets.com.
- ^ "RCA-NBC Firsts in Color Television". novia.net. Archived from the original on February 6, 2006.
- ^ Ticket for May 21, 1955 telecast of The Imogene Coca Show, oldtvtickets.com.
- ^ Ticket for May 29, 1955 telecast of Mr. Peepers oldtvtickets.com.
- ^ Tickets for June 18 and August 13, 1958 telecasts of Treasure Hunt, oldtvtickets.com.
- ^ Ticket for November 30, 1956 telecast of The Walter Winchell Show, oldtvtickets.com
- ^ Tickets for February 21 and April 11, 1961 telecasts of The Price Is Right, oldtvtickets.com.
- ^ "Colonial Theater". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ^ Tickets for October 20, 1954, and June 28, August 28, and November 30, 1956 telecasts of Tonight starring Steve Allen, oldtvtickets.com.
- ^ Ticket for October 23, 1957 telecast of Tonight Starring Jack , oldtvtickets.com.
- ^ "U.S. Steel-Carnegie Pension's 'Block' Threatens Porn Site; Hudson As Non-Profit Legit?". Variety. Vol. 178, no. 5. March 12, 1975. pp. 3, 75. ProQuest 1285992414.
- ^ Piepenburg, Erik (February 2, 2017). "The Hudson Theater Is Back on Broadway". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- ^ Ticket for October 3, 1951 telecast of The Freddy Martin Show, oldtvtickets.com.
- ^ "International Theater". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ^ "NBC Acquires Times Square Radio Studio: Former Home of Ziegfeld 'Follies' Transformed Into Elaborate Broadcasting Theater". The Hartford Courant. February 23, 1930. p. E12. ProQuest 557797201.
- ^ Gershenson, Adam (January 31, 1999). "F.Y.I." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
- ^ Ticket for March 12, 1957 telecast of Hold That Note, oldtvtickets.com.
- ^ Ticket for August 13, 1958 telecast of Haggis Baggis, oldtvtickets.com.
- ^ Ticket for August 9, 1960 telecast of The Price Is Right, oldtvtickets.com.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to NBC Studios (New York City).