Today is an American morning television program broadcast by the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). Launched in the early 1950s, it established the morning news-and-talk format that many other broadcasters later adopted. The show mixes national and international news, live interviews, human-interest stories, specialized reports, weather forecasts and lighter lifestyle features. Over the decades it has expanded from a single hour to a multi-hour franchise that reaches a broad morning audience across the United States.

Format and structure

The core, or flagship, portion of the program traditionally airs in the early morning hours and focuses on hard news, political coverage and live reports. Surrounding hours often emphasize softer content such as celebrity interviews, entertainment, cooking and consumer segments. A prominent element of the program is its dedicated weather reporting, provided by long-serving meteorology personalities, which is integrated with local forecasts for viewers in different time zones.

Anchors and recurring contributors

Throughout its history the show has featured many well-known journalists and personalities. Recent decades have seen a mix of main co-anchors, a weather anchor, and contributors responsible for social media, lifestyle and field reporting. Notable figures associated with the program include long-time weather anchor Al Roker, daytime personality Kathie Lee Gifford, and former co-anchors such as Katie Couric, Meredith Vieira and Ann Curry. In addition to the primary hosts, the program frequently features correspondents and guest contributors who handle specific beats such as politics, finance, health and entertainment.

History and development

First broadcast in 1952, the program was among the pioneers of televising a regular morning information show that combined news with lifestyle elements. It steadily evolved into a multi-hour broadcast, adding additional segments and spin-off hours to serve different viewer interests—ranging from straight news to more conversational, magazine-style hours. The program has adapted its presentation, studio design, and music several times to reflect changing viewer habits and the influence of digital media.

Notable features and innovations

  • Integration of live weather and localized forecast updates throughout the morning.
  • Use of remote satellite and live-location reports for breaking news and major events.
  • Expansion into multiple distinct hours, allowing for both hard news and relaxed, entertainment-oriented segments.
  • Engagement with viewers through phone-ins, social media and live audience appearances for some segments.

The program has also served as an incubator for personalities who later moved on to other national roles, and it has periodically refreshed its lineup of hosts and contributors in response to audience trends and network strategies.

Impact and distinctions

As one of the longest-running shows of its kind on American television, the program has shaped expectations for morning broadcasts nationwide. Its blend of journalism, entertainment and consumer reporting has been imitated by competitors and local stations. Changes to the program—whether in personnel, branding or format—often draw significant public attention because of its large, established audience and its position in the daily routines of many viewers.

For viewers seeking more information about current anchors, segments and broadcast times, official program pages and local NBC station listings provide up-to-date details and schedules. The show remains a prominent example of how television can combine timely news coverage with features aimed at a broad morning audience.