Early Today

NBC's Early Today made waves in the television world when it premiered in 1999. Positioned as a pre-dawn early morning news program, the show garnered appreciation for its pioneer approach to news dissemination. Today, we bring you an extensive insight into the concept, organization, and reception of this innovative news program that has, since then, become a crucial part of the NBC lineup.

Structured as a prelude to NBC's flagship morning program, "Today", Early Today aims to provide the earliest snippets of the day's news. The show's initial release was scheduled for 4:30 a.m. in many markets; the semi-live program is designed to preempt local morning newscasts that commence at 5:00 a.m, and niche competition from other early morning network news.

The guiding philosophy of the program was to provide preliminary, accurate, and precise information to the morning viewership. It aimed to provide a robust morning news service and covered a broad spectrum of topics, ensuring that viewers went about their day feeling informed and aware. The broadcast mixed topical headlines, international affairs, finance and business news, sports updates, and weather forecasts, all delivered in a palatable, digestible format.

The original co-anchors of Early Today were the dynamic duo, anchor Nanette Hansen and meteorologist Joe Witte. They were aided by a proficient staff of correspondents, producers, and technical crew who meticulously delivered high-quality breaking news during the early morning hours. The show was segregated into distinct parts, including regular headlines at the top of the show, followed by a detailed coverage dedicated to each of the segments.

This early morning shot of news was also known for its bite-sized take on the day's prospects in the business world. This commitment to cover business news was designed to keep viewers posted about the previous day's stock market performance, upcoming IPOs, investor sentiments, and other significant financial developments.

Sports were another core aspect of the discussion. Early Today featured a highlights segment that encapsulated the results of games played on the previous day in professional, college sports, or other major sports events nationwide or worldwide. With up-to-minute scores, game recaps, and analysis segments, the show became an essential source for sports enthusiasts craving early morning updates.

Weather reports were an inherent part of the program and earned distinct admiration for their precision and immediacy. Joe Witte handled this portfolio with professionalism expected out of a distinguished network such as NBC. The show focused profoundly on the national weather scenario, a glance at regional conditions, and specific forecasts for major U.S. cities.

Presenting news segments for a predawn audience required a distinctive approach. Early Today adopted a lighter tone than conventional news programs, putting less emphasis on crime stories and more on the economic, political, and cultural news of the day.

Equally essential was the seamless and effervescent chemistry between Hansen and Witte, the founding anchors of the show. In 1999, these anchors became familiar faces in households across the United States, easing viewers into a new day with a blend of professionalism and friendly familiarity.

Early Today received praise for its brisk pace, timely subjects, and the presentation style of the anchors. It catered to professionals, early morning workout enthusiasts, and anyone else starting their day during the wee hours.

However, the show's ambitious launch wasn't entirely without hiccups. One significant challenge was coordinating with NBC's affiliates, many of which had previously used this time slot for syndicated programming or infomercials. The native advertising had to be realigned with the addition of the new program in the lineup.

In the broader landscape of NBC's broadcast portfolio, 'Early Today' fit snugly into the network's strategy of extending its brand familiarity into the early morning, previously regarded as an underutilized time slot.

Over the years, the format and anchors may have changed, but the mission remains the same - to deliver the latest, relevant news to audiences who start their day even before the sun rises. Early Today, over the years, has continually reinvented itself to maintain its relevance while staying true to its original mandate.

As we look back in retrospect, the introduction of Early Today by NBC in 1999 can be seen as an innovative approach in the landscape of network news – leveraging an underused time slot to extend brand reach while also providing viewers valuable morning news service.