NBC News, MSNBC, ABC News and others from across the pond

Very derivative, which isn't necessarily a problem. Seems dated and tacky to me, however.

I will point out NBC News has used similar effects, especially the focus on Rock Center, in its presentation during special programming, including elections, as seen below:



It's also unclear what Deborah Turness' role and responsibilities actually are at NBC since the new Chairman was appointed.

And it ignores the fact that, unlike London, which is central to British national consciousness, New York doesn't really play a comparable role in the United States. It's the main media center, true, but the U.S. is decentralized and has several cities that rival New York in a way that Manchester, for instance, can never rival London. In fact, the late historian Tony Judt remarked that New York, his adoptive hometown, "is not the great American city - that will always be Chicago."

In other words, I would argue that it's a mistake that the open centers to such a degree on New York City -- after all, the U.S. certainly doesn't.

Got to say, this is excuted far more nicely than the new NBC open, despite being eight years old. Still looks fantastic. And that theme music! Really do miss it.

A bit of odd news, parts of MSNBC's daytime programming is coming from a heavily modified version of WNBC's previous set in Studio 3C. It's a bit odd considering they already have two real newsroom studios. I also don't quite understand why they would trade studios with WNBC in the first place!

Looks very cramped and messy. WNBC made much better use of it.

They did but given the small space but they needed a bigger studio with interview spaces and demonstration areas for shows like New York Live.

Below is a photo of the studio after WNBC moved out showing how small it is. The monitor wall in the background was where the desk was, the monitor wall on the right was where a demonstration / interview area and right behind where the photo was taken was the weather center. Add in four robotic cameras and you have a pretty cramped space.

The video wall on the right was added after they moved out.



I assume NBC wanted to reuse the vertically mounted 103" monitors until they die. The probably spent $1 million on them when WNBC first moved in.

I think MSNBC would have done better if they changed the shot blocking. They could have the main anchor against the 5 vertically mounted monitors but have most of their guests to the anchors right so they would have a similar background of 3 vertical monitors.

I can't believe how poorly executed the NBC Nightly News version is. Trying to ensure the Statue of Liberty is in focus and clearly visible makes it stick out far too much and look almost plastered on top. It doesn't look realistic enough to look good.

Right.....
Yes its amazing how tiny the former WNBC studio is/was. But it was so well designed it didnt looks that way. I do like how they completely stripped of the wood so that it fits with the other MSNBC sets. That "virtual window will always look great. That is if the camera angle is correct. The shots used by WMAQ Chicago is appalling and the shot used by WRC DC is ok.

As an aside, remember how NBC built a set in there, decided they didn't like it/the floor was sinking, so they completely trashed it and then built that set? Amazing to think how much waste there is. I'm sure we're only a few years away until the next time WNBC, Nightly News, and MSNBC shuffle studios again for reasons unseen.

Was it this iteration of 3C? I miss the window!

I think they just added the vertical windows and likely put the monitor wall somewhere else.


Nightly News with the window lasted from the time MSNBC moved in from NJ in 2007 until they needed more space for Rock Center with Brian Williams in 2011. In late 2011/2012 the window was closed off to make seperate studios for WNBC. On the MSNBC side of the window they added a monitor grid.