‘Today’ marks milestone in Studio 1A

NBC News‘ “Today” celebrated 25 years in Studio 1A — marking a quarter of century in its “window on the world.”

Although the show has actually been on the air much longer — 67 years — it didn’t move into the current space at the corner of the West 49th Street and Rockefeller Plaza until 1994.

“Today” originally used a windowed space down the street in the 10 Rockefeller Center building where Christie’s auction house is currently located, but moved out of the space in 1958 in favor of Studio 3K inside NBC’s headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Center.

The show moved back into a streetside studio from 1962 to 1965, but with the network converting to color television, it was too pricy to upgrade cameras used in a standalone studio, so the show moved back inside 30 Rock for over 20 years, using studios 8G and 3B.

However, in 1994, NBC decided to take over a space that was previously a bank — also within the 10 Rock building — and turn it into a three story broadcasting facility.

Katie Couric and Bryant Gumble opened the show June 20, 1994 from the corner.

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Since then, “Today” has called Studio 1A home, though it would occasionally use a portable glass enclosed studio for special events and while the space underwent multiple updates over the years.

The space includes a lower “mezzanine” level below street level, the primary studio space next to the sidewalk and a floor above used for both studio space and support facilities.