Nightly News Packs Up, Leaves Studio 3C

“The time has come to leave our longtime home on the third floor of 30 Rock,” Brian Williams blogged on Friday.

NBC Nightly News is moving from 3C — the broadcast’s home since 1999 — to 8G. “I’m literally taking the anchor desk upstairs with me — since its still better than anything we have. After a stint in 8G, we’ll return to an immense and new studio and newsroom complex,” Williams wrote.

He mentioned the change at the end of Friday’s broadcast. “Maybe this is a good time to confess: those people behind us aren’t really there,” he said. “That’s the assignment desk at MSNBC in New Jersey, it was shot back in 1999…and the tape repeats on a continuous loop once a minute.” Click continued to read his remarks.

Nightly News moves into new facilities this winter…

> Also: Brett Holey‘s behind the scenes video blog…

Finally tonight a word about our home.


This has been packing and moving week for us here at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.


While our offices and studios get completely re-done, we are going to temporary digs elsewhere in the building.

It means this studio.. will be no more.. and this is our last broadcast from here.


This room, Studio 3C, first went on the air as the home of Nightly News in November of 1999.


In the years and decades before that, we had a number of different studios, not all in color, many on different floors. They became iconic backdrops for the legendary anchormen who delivered the news to millions of Americans each night.


This room saw and broadcast a lot of history. It was swabbed and swept for anthrax after 9-11. It was also our headquarters for the Iraq war coverage.


A little over two years ago, its where Tom Brokaw said goodbye as the anchor of this broadcast. Then that new guy took over. And maybe this is a good time to confess: those people behind us aren’t really there. That’s the assignment desk at MSNBC in New Jersey, it was shot back in 1999…and the tape repeats on a continuous loop once a minute.


Next week, we will begin life in our new temporary home, studio 8G. Sharp-eyed viewers will note its where we covered election night. Its bigger and more modern and it will more than do until our all-new facility is ready this coming winter.


So for this place: Studio 3C, and for the men and women who have worked here over the years:


That is our Friday night broadcast.

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