Today (U.S. TV program)

Today (U.S. TV program)
NBCUniversal · Public domain · source
Show name	Today
Caption	Title card used since 2013
Genre	Morning news program
Presenter	See Hosts and notable personalities
Country	United States
Language	English
Num seasons	73
Executive producer	See Production and broadcast details
Company	NBC News
Network	NBC
First aired	July 14, 1952
Last aired	present

Today (U.S. TV program) is an American morning television program airing on NBC since July 14, 1952. Combining news reporting, interviews, lifestyle features, and entertainment segments, it has been a major fixture in United States broadcasting and a formative influence on morning shows in Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and beyond. The program has featured numerous journalists, entertainers, and public figures from United States presidential administrations to Hollywood, and has broadcast live from locations including Rockefeller Center, Washington, D.C., and international events such as the Olympic Games.

Overview

Today is a multi-hour morning broadcast produced by NBC News that blends live journalism with feature-driven content. The program occupies a prominent place on the network schedule and competes directly with Good Morning America on ABC and morning programming on the CBS. Over decades, Today has alternated anchors, formats, and sets while maintaining core elements: news headlines, interview segments, weather reports, and special events coverage such as United States presidential elections, state funerals like those for John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, and international crises including the September 11 attacks.

History

Today debuted during the early television era, coached by executives at NBC and on-air personalities from radio and television. Its inception paralleled milestones at networks like CBS and personalities including Edward R. Murrow and institutions such as the Columbia Broadcasting System. The program evolved through the tenures of early hosts connected to figures like Sylvester "Pat" Weaver and later anchors who covered major events including the Watergate scandal, the Iran hostage crisis, and the Gulf War. In the 1990s and 2000s, Today underwent notable personnel changes amid corporate shifts at General Electric and Comcast, and covered events such as the 2000 United States presidential election controversy, the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, and the Iraq War. The show expanded digitally with NBCUniversal properties and adapted to streaming platforms during the 2010s and 2020s, responding to competition from programs produced by ABC News and CBS News.

Format and segments

The program's format mixes hard news—covering beats associated with bureaus like those in Jerusalem, Beijing, and London—with lifestyle and entertainment pieces. Regular segments have included interview features with figures comparable to Oprah Winfrey, promotional appearances tied to Academy Awards nominees, and recurring lifestyle spots similar to those produced by personalities from The New York Times or The Washington Post. Weather forecasts are presented by meteorologists with ties to organizations such as the National Weather Service and have incorporated remote reports from locations including Times Square and Central Park. Special editions have been produced for events like the Super Bowl, the Academy Awards, and state funerals, and the show has integrated long-form segments resembling documentaries about subjects linked to Smithsonian Institution exhibitions and United Nations initiatives.

Hosts and notable personalities

Anchors and contributors have included high-profile journalists and media figures associated with institutions such as Harvard University, Columbia University, and Princeton University; entertainers and correspondents with ties to Hollywood; and politicians who later served in United States Senate or cabinet positions. Notable on-air figures have had professional intersections with entities like The New York Times Company, Reuters, Associated Press, CNN, and BBC News. Guest interviewees have ranged from presidents like Barack Obama and Donald Trump to cultural figures such as Meryl Streep, Taylor Swift, and Steven Spielberg. The program has employed meteorologists, correspondents, and producers who moved between networks including ABC, CBS, Fox News, and cable outlets such as MSNBC and CNBC.

Production and broadcast details

Today broadcasts live from the NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City and operates production facilities affiliated with NBCUniversal and affiliate stations across the United States. The show has utilized technical infrastructure provided by corporations in broadcasting and media technology sectors similar to Sony Corporation, Grass Valley Group, and cloud services used by outlets like The Washington Post Live. Executive producers and showrunners have at times come from backgrounds including major news organizations like Reuters and academic institutions such as Columbia Journalism School. Syndication and affiliate carriage involve partnerships with local stations owned by groups such as Sinclair Broadcast Group, Tegna Inc., and Gray Television.

Reception and cultural impact

Today has been influential in shaping morning television conventions and has been the subject of academic study at universities including Columbia University, New York University, and University of Pennsylvania. Its interviews, segments, and on-air moments have generated widespread cultural attention, intersecting with events involving public figures linked to institutions like the Supreme Court of the United States and major corporations on the Fortune 500. The program's coverage style has been parodied and referenced in films and television series produced by studios such as Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, and 20th Century Studios, and it has played a role in promotional campaigns tied to franchises including Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars. Today’s long tenure has made it a persistent participant in public life, shaping perceptions of broadcast journalism alongside peers at ABC News and CBS News.

Category:American television news shows Category:NBC original programming Category:Television shows filmed in New York City