NBC Studios (New York City)
NBC Studios (New York City)
NBC Studios are located in the historic 30 Rockefeller Plaza (on Sixth Avenue between 49th and 50th streets) in the borough of 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[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | The Today Show | Since the mid-1990s, 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, and MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann[2] and NBC Nightly News for a short period during decontamination of the broadcast's facilities and offices in October 2001 due to the 2001 anthrax attacks. | Ground floor | 2,430 sq ft (226 m2) |
| 3A | MSNBC main studios | Debuted 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. | 3rd floor | 4,794 sq ft (445.4 m2) |
| 3B | Vacant | Former home of the Huntley-Brinkley Report,[3] the NBC daytime serial The Doctors,[4] the Today Show, Dateline NBC, NBC Nightly News, and coverage of the 2008 presidential election. 3B is the only studio in the building which has kept its original dimensions since it was constructed in 1933. Nightly News ceased occupying this space in 2017. | 3rd floor | 4,060 sq ft (377 m2) |
| 3C | NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt | Formerly home of NBC Nightly News from November 8, 1999 to October 23, 2011; however the studio's size was decreased significantly during a 2007 renovation. From April 21, 2012 until October 9, 2016, News 4 New York originated from this studio.[5] The network's flagship evening broadcast began using the space again on July 14, 2017. | 3rd floor | 1,310 sq ft (122 m2) |
| 3K | WNBC | 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[6] until the conversion of Studio 8G in 1948. The former home of NBC Nightly News, NBC Sports, The Today Show, 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 and Dateline NBC,[7] it became the home of News 4 New York on October 9, 2016.[8] | 3rd floor | 2,668 sq ft (247.9 m2) |
| 4E | MSNBC newsroom & studio, Dateline NBC and Early Today | A new newsroom and studio for MSNBC, built in early 2016, 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 | Vacant | A former home of Twenty-One,[9] The Tomorrow Show,[10] The David Letterman Show,[11] Late Night with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Dr. Oz Show, and NBC Radio Network programs with studio audiences from 1933 to the 1950s, 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.[12] 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. Today used it for the third hour until moving back to 1A in January 2019. | 6th floor | 3,504 sq ft (325.5 m2) |
| 6B | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | The former home of Broadway Open House,[13] Bob Hope's radio program,[14] the television version of Texaco Star Theater,[15] The Ernie Kovacs Show,[16] Tonight Starring Jack Paar, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC Nightly News, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and the former studio for flagship station WNBC. | 6th floor | 3,690 sq ft (343 m2) |
| 6E | Global media insert studios[17] | 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. | 6th floor | |
| 8G | Late Night with Seth Meyers | A former radio studio converted for Television use in 1948, it went on air April 22 of that year.[18] Former home of The Phil Donahue Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Caroline Rhea 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 m2) |
| 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 for 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 with Bob Costas, 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. | 8th floor | 3,955 sq ft (367.4 m2) |
Shows produced at NBC Studios New York
Among the shows originating at 30 Rockefeller Plaza (shows taping as of the 2018–19 season in bold):
| Program | Network/Station | Dates | Studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| The 11th Hour with Brian Williams | MSNBC | 2016–present | 3A |
| 30 Rock | NBC | 2006–2013 | 8H (Live episodes) |
| All In with Chris Hayes | MSNBC | 2013–present | 3K, 4E, 6A |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Early Today | NBC | 2007–present | 3K, 6E, 4E |
| The Ed Show | MSNBC | 2009–2015 | 3K, 3A |
| Football Night in America | NBC | 2006–2014 | 8G, 8H |
| He Said, She Said | Syndication | 1968 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Missing Links | NBC | 1963–1964 | 6A |
| Morning Joe | MSNBC | 2007–present | 3A |
| Morning Meeting with Dylan Ratigan | MSNBC | 2009 | 3A |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 ShowJack PaarJohnny CarsonJimmy Fallon | NBC | 1957–1972; 2014–present | 6B |
| 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 Theater, 215 West 49th Street. Now a theater presenting Broadway shows.
Brooklyn Studios,[19][20] 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 (1960s), 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.[21] In 2000, the facility was sold to JC Studios, which closed in 2014. In June 2015 the building was sold and converted to office space for a social service agency and a self-storage company.
Center Theatre, 1236 Sixth Avenue at West 49th Street. 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,[22][23][24] 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,[25][26] 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 1977.[27]
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,[28][29] 141 West 44th Street. The original home of Tonight hosted by Steve Allen (1954–1957)). The theater still stands as part of the Millennium Broadway Hotel. The theater returned to Broadway theatre use in the 2016-17 season.
International Theater,[30] 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.[31]
New Amsterdam Roof Garden Theater, 214 West 42nd Street. The main auditorium is again home to Broadway musical productions.
Ziegfeld Theatre,[32][33][34] 1341 Sixth Avenue at West 54th Street. Shows included The Perry Como Show, Concentration (primetime 1961)). It was demolished in 1966 for 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.
WNBC-TV's New York Live formerly (LX: NY) was produced in Studio 51 at nearby 75 Rockefeller Plaza, then moved to Studio 3K.