NBC News removes ‘live’ reference from ‘Today’ open

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NBC News’Today” dropped the reference to the word “live” in its open because the show isn’t, in fact, live, in some time zones.

The change started Monday, March 9, 2020.

For years, the show’s announcer has read essentially the same line: “From NBC News … this is ‘Today’ with (co-anchor name) and (co-anchor name)… live from Studio 1A in Rockefeller Plaza.”

The announcer’s open now eliminates the word “live” (and it seems as though that part of the prerecorded open has been trimmed off).

Like its counterparts “Good Morning America” and “CBS This Morning,” “Today” typically starts live at 7 a.m. eastern time.

These shows typically air on “tape delay” in the other time zones, though during breaking news, the central time zone, being only an hour behind New York, may start the morning with the 8 a.m. eastern hour airing truly live at 7 a.m. local time.

Other time zones will also often receive updated live versions as breaking news warrants (it’s also possible for networks to insert live updates while running from tape for other segments).

“CBS This Morning” doesn’t include a traditional open with announcer, so, under its current format, it’s never had a direct reference to being “live” in the open.

“GMA” has switched between using a “live” reference in its open off and on over the years — though it currently is including the reference on at least the eastern and central time zone versions.

Network morning shows also often insert a “live” bug with the added notation of “ET” next to it — meant to reference that the content was live for the eastern time zone only.

“Today” has halted that practice as well — and “live” has also been removed from opens for the franchise’s other hours.

Using a reference to “live” is often viewed as permissible in TV also long as the original version was, in fact, aired live in at least one time zone and the output is identical to what viewers watching it live saw.

This practice is also common with syndicated talk shows — many of which are produced live in major markets but may not air live in all markets due to differing schedules on stations that carry it, but still include references to the word “live” in their opens.

Other shows may actually include a direct reference to “live to tape” in their opens.

In fact, it’s not uncommon for shows to have the word “live” in their titles — but it doesn’t actually air live everywhere.