Let the Games begin!

Channel 4, the New York home of NBC’s extensive Olympic coverage, is enhancing the Games by sending two reporters to London.

Sports anchor Bruce Beck and reporter Katy Tur will provide updates and features for WNBC newscasts. Their reports will be seen each day of the fortnight starting Thursday and air on Today in New York, along with broadcasts at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. The noon will be pre-empted by the Olympics.

In addition, David Ushery, who hosts The Debrief, anchors a nightly show from Studio 3C, The Olympics Zone. The 30-minute-program runs at 7:30 Monday through Saturday nights during the Games. The program will feature local Olympian profiles and interviews from London, competition recaps, and other stories of interest to viewers.

“We are proud to offer our viewers local coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games,” said Michael Jack, president and general manager of NBC 4 New York. “With live reporting from our talent in London, to special programming such as The Olympic Zone, and extensive social media outreach, we will keep our viewers updated on the latest and most exciting Olympic news.”

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It’s a run for the ages. Sue Simmons closes the book on her storied 32 years as WNBC anchor. She’ll sit alongside her legendary partner Chuck Scarborough one final time tonight for the 11 o’clock newscast.

Throughout the day, WNBC is proud to point out that it’s featuring clips from Simmons’ illustrious past.

However there is, arguably, a bigger story.

While the station is planning one day of on-air tributes, beyond that there is not much more than a “no comment.” Actually, let’s call it what it is–a gag order.

Management is showing perfunctory fan fare, but when no current colleagues, especially one half of the famed anchor team, are permitted to speak about such a presence in New York, we’re left to scratch our heads.

In a terse statement, a WNBC spokesperson said, “Chuck is not available for interview.”

Even more shocking is that GM Michael Jack would not offer a comment as the face of WNBC.

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In conjunction with Green is Universal Earth Week, WNBC joined its new parent company for the Comcast Cares celebration. WNBC president and general manager, Michael Jack was among the volunteers at the New York City Housing Authority’s Manhattanville Houses in Harlem.

At Friday’s half-day project, WNBC helped to revitalize and renovate the houses, led by George Oliphant, host of LX-produced George to the Rescue, seen on Channel 4 weekends.

Oliphant worked with his production team and more than 150 Comcast and NBCUniversal volunteers. City Year New York is leading the work that includes building wooden beds for organic vegetables and flowers, constructing benches, removing concrete, and painting murals.

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As part of the ongoing NBC News special series “Making a Difference on the Homefront,” WNBC/Channel 4 is teaming up with the Manhattan and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The program, which launched last year, is designed to get the nation’s military back in the workforce. The day-long job fair, providing opportunities for vets, will run 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. tomorrow alongside Pier 86, home of The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

Katherine Creag provides live reports from the deck of the Intrepid during Today in New York, while Shiba Russell is on-scene, co-anchoring the noon and the 5 p.m. newscasts.

“NBC 4 New York is pleased to support our local veterans,” said Michael Jack, president and general manager of WNBC. “We are proud to help give our local veterans an opportunity to succeed after serving our country.”

The Today Show will also be broadcasting from the job fair starting at 7 a.m.

To register online, simply go to www.hoh.greatjob.net. On-site registration begins at 6 a.m., continuing throughout the day for job seekers.

WNBC and its digital outfit New York Nonstop, held the 2nd annual Nonstop Day of Giving Telethon last month. Partnered with WOR and WBLS, WNBC raised close to $195,000 to benefit City Harvest, an organization dedicated to feeding hungry men, women, and children in New York City. The money raised will allow City Harvest to rescue and deliver more than 720,000 pounds of food to those in need.

“Working with such influential media partners has greatly helped us to raise awareness about City Harvest’s mission,” says Michael Jack, WNBC general manager and president. “The continued success of the Nonstop Day of Giving allows us to further advance the cause of ending hunger, an issue facing more New Yorkers than ever before.”

Ahead of the holiday season, on December 15, famed DJ Egypt of WBLS and Governor David Paterson of WOR, each had special guests on their shows, which were based from the NBC Experience Store at 30 Rock.

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This isn’t only the time of the year for family and friends to gather. It is also the time to think about the less fortunate.

New York Nonstop is hosting today’s 2nd Annual Nonstop Day of Giving. New York Nonstop, the digital arm of WNBC, is partnering with City Harvest, WBLS, and WOR for the day-long charity telethon that runs until 8 p.m.

This year, the station joined forces with City Harvest, the world’s first food rescue organization feeding the hungry of New York City, as well as new media partner, radio station WBLS, along with returning media partner WOR radio.  Both radio stations will be broadcasting at times throughout the day from the MSNBC.com Digital Café at the NBC Experience store in Rockefeller Plaza.  WNBC will also feature live highlights direct from Rockefeller Center with celebrities, local dignitaries, and key business people who will talk about their charities and the importance of giving.

Proceeds from the Nonstop Giving telethon will benefit City Harvest, a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding New York City’s hungry men, women, and children for more than 25 years.  Those interested in making a donation can call 1-800-826-9888.  

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PATH riders will have company as they take to the rails.

WNBC/Channel 4 has joined forces with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for PATHVision. The service is an in-transit network that will provide the more than 6.5 million monthly commuters, up-to-date news, weather, sports and entertainment.  Over 2,900 PATHVision screens are featured throughout the new fleet, platforms, and stations.

“We are pleased to bring this service to PATH riders, delivering relevant information to commuters throughout the day,” said Michael Jack, president and GM of WNBC.  “The PATHVision system enables NBC 4 New York to reach out to the tri-state community in a unique and useful way.”

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How will WNBC mark two years on the air for lifestyle and entertainment show New York Live (formerly LX New York)?

WNBC/Channel 4 has announced that they will bring news back to viewers at the, once coveted, 5 p.m. slot.

“We’re excited to announce the launch of a 5 p.m. newscast on NBC 4 in September,” says general manager Michael Jack. ”We are dedicated to being the leader in local news in the Tri-State area and this additional newscast is the next building block to help us achieve that goal.”

A WNBC spokeswoman says the 5 p.m. anchors will be named later this summer.

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