Today (American TV program)

Today
Also known asThe Today Show
GenreMorning news/talk
Created bySylvester Weaver
Presented by
Narrated by
Theme music composer
Opening theme2012 Today AGOpen1 (2013–present)
Ending theme"Energetic Today"
"Slow Today"
ComposerAdam Gubman & Non-Stop Music
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons70
No. of episodes18,000+
Production
Executive producersLibby Leist,[1] Tom Mazzarelli
Production locationsStudio 1A, NBC Studios
New York City, U.S.
Camera setupMulti-camera setup
Running time4 hours (weekdays),
90 minutes (Saturdays),
1 hour (Sundays)
Production companyNBC News Productions
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseJanuary 14, 1952 (1952-01-14) –
present
Related
Early Today
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Today (also called The Today Show) is an American morning television show that airs weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on NBC. The program debuted on January 14, 1952. It was the first of its genre on American television and in the world, and after 72 years of broadcasting it is fifth on the list of longest-running United States television series.

Originally a two-hour program airing weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., it expanded to Sundays in 1987 and Saturdays in 1992. The weekday broadcast expanded to three hours in 2000, and to four hours in 2007 (though over time, the third and fourth hours became distinct entities). Today's dominance was virtually unchallenged by the other networks until the late 1980s, when it was overtaken by ABC's Good Morning America.

Today retook the Nielsen ratings lead the week of December 11, 1995, and held onto that position for 852 consecutive weeks until the week of April 9, 2012, when Good Morning America topped it again. Today maintained its No. 2 status behind GMA from the summer of 2012 until it regained the lead in the aftermath of anchor Matt Lauer's departure in November 2017.[2][3] In 2002, Today was ranked No. 17 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.[4]

The entertainment magazine Variety reported the 2016 advertising revenue during the first two hours of the show was $508.8 million.[5]

On July 15, 2020, NBC launched Today All Day, a 24-hour digital streaming extension of the program available through its website and Peacock.[6]

  1. ^ Steinberg, Brian (January 17, 2018). "Libby Leist Will Lead NBC's 'Today' to Tomorrow". Variety.
  2. ^ "'GMA' Weeklong Win Over 'Today' Confirmed; First Win in 16 Years". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  3. ^ Koblin, John (December 19, 2017). "After Matt Lauer's Firing, 'Today' Has Rare Ratings Wins". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "TV Guide Names Top 50 Shows". CBS News. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  5. ^ Steinberg, Brian (November 29, 2017). "Madison Avenue Spends $500 Million on 'Today', and Could Keep Dollars Flowing". Variety. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  6. ^ Johnson, Ted (July 13, 2020). "NBC's 'Today' To Expand With New Streaming Service". Deadline. Retrieved February 26, 2022.

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