NBC Today at 60

On Friday, the American NBC network’s Today show celebrated 60 years of broadcasting. It is the longest-running morning television program in the world. Today began on 14 January 1952, hosted by Dave Garroway with newsreader Jim Fleming and panellist Jack Lescoulie.   The concept was created by NBC vice-president Sylvester (Pat) Weaver (father of Hollywood actress Sigourney Weaver).

The program celebrated its 60th anniversary with current day hosts Matt Lauer and Ann Curry joined by a reunion of former Today presenters and newsreaders, including Tom Brokaw, Barbara Walters, Bryant Gumbel, Jane Pauley, Deborah Norville, Katie Couric, Willard Scott and John Palmer, while various national landmarks were emblazoned in the Today logo colours.

Since 1985, NBC’s Today has been beamed to Australian screens.  Hosted at that stage by Gumbel and Pauley, Today was the flagship of the Seven Network‘s News Overnight, starting every weeknight at midnight. As well as Today, News Overnight included newscasts and current affairs programs from the NBC and CNN networks.

While the News Overnight programming block was soon disbanded, Today (not to be confused with the Australian version of Today on Nine) continues as part of Seven’s overnight schedule – currently screening in an edited version at 4.00am on Tuesday to Saturday mornings, with the Sunday edition and NBC’s Meet The Press airing early on Monday morning.

NBC’s Today is also screened weekday mornings from 9.00am on the digital 7mate channel.

Source: Wikipedia, Today

Permanent link to this article: https://televisionau.com/2012/01/nbc-today-at-60.html

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