Today Show Logo

Today Show LogoToday Show Logo PNG

The Today Show logo reflects the highest level of professionalism and clarity in delivering information. The emblem resembles a serving tray on which the day’s freshest and most important news is presented. The program informs viewers about current events daily, helping them start their workday with up-to-date information and a positive attitude. With the sunrise, the morning broadcast is already prepared to cover the main events, providing a burst of energy and creating an atmosphere of readiness for new achievements.

Today Show: Brand overview

The history of the Today Show began on January 14, 1952, when it debuted on NBC. The morning news and entertainment program concept came from Sylvester “Pat” Weaver, NBC’s president. Weaver wanted to create a show that combined light entertainment, weather forecasts, interviews, and news.

Dave Garroway was the show’s original host, and his relaxed style suited the morning TV format well. The original cast also included Betsy Palmer, who hosted the “women’s” segment, and Jack Lescoulie, who presented the news.

One of the most important features from the start was the “window on the world”—a large studio window that allowed viewers to see what was happening on the streets of New York City. This innovation became a defining characteristic of the program.

The early years were filled with technical and creative challenges. Morning television was new to American TV, and live broadcasting came with its own set of problems. However, the program grew in popularity, and by the mid-1950s, it had become a daily routine for many Americans.

Barbara Walters joined in 1961 as a writer and researcher. She later became the first female host, a significant milestone.

The program continued to evolve in the 1960s. Garroway left in 1961 and was replaced by John Chancellor. In 1962, Hugh Downs took over as host, remaining in the role until 1971. The show grew its audience during this time, introducing new features and expanding its reach.

The 1970s brought the rise of iconic hosts Barbara Walters and Frank McGee. Their partnership strengthened the morning show’s position as the top morning program in the country. After McGee left in 1974, Jim Hartz stepped in.

In 1976, Tom Brokaw and Jane Pauley became co-hosts, bringing renewed energy to the program. They worked together until 1981 when Brokaw left to anchor NBC Evening News.

In the 1980s, ABC’s Good Morning America faced fierce competition. In response, the show introduced new segments and high-profile guests to keep viewers engaged.

Bryant Gumbel joined in 1982, teaming up with Jane Pauley to form one of the show’s most successful duos. Pauley left in 1989, and the 1990s brought more changes. Katie Couric joined Gumbel in 1991, and their chemistry helped the morning show regain the top spot in the ratings.

In 1994, the program moved to a new home at Rockefeller Center in Studio 1A, which became a favorite spot for fans who gathered outside the studio windows each morning.

The 2000s brought both changes and challenges. After Katie Couric left in 2006, Meredith Vieira stepped in, followed by Ann Curry in 2011, though Curry’s time as co-host was brief.

In 2012, Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer became the main hosts, but their partnership ended in 2017 when Lauer was fired following sexual harassment allegations.

In 2018, the show made history with its first all-female anchor team, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, reflecting changing times and societal shifts.

By 2023, the morning show will remain one of the most-watched programs in the U.S., continuing its tradition of blending news, interviews, entertainment, and audience interaction. The show has adapted to new technologies and media platforms, ensuring it stays relevant in the digital age.

For over 70 years, this iconic morning program has been a key part of American culture. It has adapted to reflect social changes while maintaining its position as a morning television leader.

Meaning and History

Today Show Logo History

What is Today Show?

This iconic American morning TV show has become an integral part of the morning routine for millions of viewers. Broadcast live from Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, NBC’s flagship program blends entertainment, lifestyle segments, interviews, and news, creating a dynamic show that sets the tone for the nation’s day. The cozy atmosphere, created by a team of charming hosts, makes the show feel like morning coffee with friends, fostering a sense of connection with viewers. The program’s influence extends beyond the broadcast, touching on pop culture, social issues, and current events. Fans often gather at the outdoor plaza to participate in the live broadcast, which has become a popular tourist attraction. The show’s adaptability attracts a broad audience, offering everything from humorous food segments to serious interviews with world leaders. It remains a trusted source of news and entertainment in homes across America.

1951 – 1952

Today Show Logo 1951

The emblem was created a year before the show’s official launch and used during preview screenings to analyze audience reactions. The logo represents the program’s name, primarily focusing on its meaning.

The name “Today” emphasizes that the program focuses on the latest and most relevant news, intuitively attracting viewers who want to stay informed about all important events. Interestingly, the project was considered under the name “Rise and Shine Revue.” However, the final choice of “Today” proved more successful, as it better conveys the idea of daily updates and the significance of what is happening now.

The logo also symbolizes the passage of time. The title uses lowercase black letters associated with printing ink and newspaper headlines, highlighting the connection to print news discussed in the show’s early episodes. The absence of capital letters emphasizes the simplicity and casual atmosphere in the studio, creating a sense of easy and accessible communication.

Special attention is drawn to the letter “O,” which is transformed into a clock. This element hints at the program’s start time and that the show will last for two hours, symbolically emphasizing the importance of timeliness and the promptness of the information provided to viewers.

1952 – 1960

Today Show Logo 1952

By the time the show was launched, the logo had been updated to align with its entertainment theme. Each letter of the title is now painted in its own color, symbolizing the variety of topics and opinions discussed on air. This bright palette emphasizes the program’s dynamics and versatility, creating a sense of richness and energy.

An important detail is that the inner spaces of the letters are also filled with color, further enhancing the sense of completeness and activity within the show. The second letter retained the image of a clock, which continues to mark the time slot from 7 to 9 a.m. — the exact time when the program airs. Thus, the updated logo became more visually appealing and highlighted the show’s key features, reflecting its timeliness, vibrancy, and content richness.

1960 – 1969

Today Show Logo 1960

Two years later, the logo acquired a more official and restrained appearance, reflecting changes in the program’s nature. This redesign demonstrated that the show had lost its former spontaneity and transitioned to a format where it was no longer broadcast live. Segments began to be recorded the day before, and their broadcast was interrupted by news bulletins.

The black letters of the logo, crafted with clear and even glyphs, are slightly tilted forward, symbolizing forward movement and readiness for change. This design highlights the program’s ability to adapt, skillfully combining pre-recorded segments with live elements, creating a balance between the immediacy of news and pre-prepared content.

1969 – 1971

Today Show Logo 1969

The late 1970s emblem once again references the style of newspaper headlines, emphasizing the program’s informational nature. The letters are compactly arranged, and despite their bulkiness, their lines are stretched upward, creating a sense of dynamism and a drive for development. This design technique symbolizes the show’s growing popularity and improved quality of its broadcasts.

The condensed arrangement of the letters conveys the idea that the news and discussions are practically overflowing the allotted airtime, hinting at the show’s readiness to expand its format. This visual solution highlights that the project is reaching a new level, reflecting both the increase in content and its importance to viewers.

1971 – 1974

Today Show Logo 1971

The change of the main host to Frank McGee and the studio’s move to Studio 3K led to a complete transformation of the program’s identity. The new emblem symbolizes the refreshed approach, where bright yellow letters echo the morning sun’s rays, symbolizing energy, freshness, and the joy of a new day. A thin black outline clarifies the letters and emphasizes the accuracy of the information conveyed despite the program’s entertaining nature.

Despite its brightness and playfulness, the program maintains a balance between lightness in delivery and the seriousness of the topics discussed. The new design reflects a commitment to current news, honest journalism, and impartiality. The emblem radiates optimism and energy, showing that the program, while remaining lively and cheerful, retains its informational value and accuracy.

1974 – 1984

Today Show Logo 1974

With the arrival of the new host, Jim Hartz, new accents appeared in the logo, reflecting the program’s precision and seriousness. Black became the primary color, giving the emblem a more mature and official appearance. However, a curved arc rises above the title, symbolizing the rising sun and emphasizing the show’s morning format.

This element represents the dawn with which the program greets its viewers, accompanying them at the start of a new workday. This refined touch became the starting point for creating the show’s iconic symbol, which would continue to be associated with the beginning of the day and renewal.

1974 – 2006

Today Show Logo 1974-2006

One logo variation was a colorful disc, which radically differed from the previous black arc. This new element featured bright stripes in various shades of red and yellow, creating a dynamic and cheerful image. The stripes radiating from the center started with a deep red core. They gradually transitioned into lighter tones, resembling the sun’s dispersing rays and conveying the celestial body’s warmth and light.

The combination of multicolored lines visually resembled a rainbow, symbolizing the diversity and multifaceted nature of the stories within a single program. This design emphasized the show’s vibrancy and dynamism, adding visual harmony by representing the unification of many topics into a cohesive whole.

1977 – 1982

Today Show Logo 1977

The move to the new Studio 8G and the arrival of anchor Thomas John Brokaw updated the program’s logo. The emblem was painted blue, symbolizing a clear sky and morning freshness.

The black letters were replaced with silver ones, giving the logo a more welcoming and bright appearance. This color conveyed the idea of a new morning—the beginning of the day with a clean slate and fresh news. The added volume to the letters emphasized the depth of the reports and the detail of the events discussed, highlighting the careful presentation of information.

The sun disc’s color palette became closer to natural tones, ending with a white stripe harmonizing with silver letters. This element symbolized the start of the day, and the program gently ushered viewers into the day’s rhythm, providing them with the most important news and filling them with a positive attitude.

1982 – 1984

Today Show Logo 1982

The arrival of the Black anchor, Bryant Charles Gumbel, led to a slight adjustment of the logo, reflecting updates in the program. The emblem’s background became darker, emphasizing the early morning atmosphere when the show began. The center of the sun also changed, adopting a richer hue, symbolizing breaking news and the creative energy buzzing in the studio.

As the disc extended toward the edges, its colors became lighter, creating harmony with the white letters of the title. This gradient added a sense of smoothness and freshness to the logo. The volume was removed from the design, giving the symbol a more whimsical and cartoon-like appearance, making it lighter and more approachable for viewers.

1984 – 1985

Today Show Logo 1984

The move to Studio 3B briefly led to a change in the main image. The logo began to resemble a view of Earth from space, with clear outlines of continents and oceans, reflecting the program’s global reach. The brand, covering major events from around the world, greets each morning alongside the people of America, delivering the latest news from across the planet.

The emblem shows the sun rising over the horizon, with its first rays illuminating Eurasia and gradually moving toward the United States. This symbolizes the start of a new day and the shift in focus to events in America. The show’s title is placed on a dynamic red band, with the letters designed to look like rose gold, emphasizing the stories’ quality and the program’s high standard.

Above the title is the white “NBC News” inscription, which indicates the show’s affiliation with NBC and adds trust and brand recognition.

1985 – 1988

Today Show Logo 1985

In 1985, a new emblem appeared in a patriotic style, bringing special symbolism. On a dark pre-dawn background, the Statue of Liberty is depicted, with the glowing windows of the restaurant located in its crown. This creates a vivid and realistic image as if the scene were captured in real-time. This element emphasizes the truthfulness and reliability of the information being delivered.

The program’s title and the “NBC News” inscription are rendered in a unified style, giving the logo a sense of harmony and completeness. The shining white letters symbolize the beginning of a new day, embodying the freshness of the morning broadcast. The program seems to enter every home, bringing vitality and an energetic start, illuminating important events that affect all viewers.

1988 – 1990

Today Show Logo 1988

Expanding the program’s broadcast to Sundays and weekdays led to another transformation of its identity. The new logo emphasizes the program’s prestige and accomplishments, highlighting its status as a leader among morning shows. The title is rendered in gold, symbolizing its high standing and leading role on a national level.

In the background, a rising sun gently illuminates the title, enhancing the effect of a new day’s dawn. The sun seems to rise above the world, emphasizing its importance and stability, creating the impression that it is the unshakable center around which events, stars, and all important news revolve.

1990 – 1992

Today Show Logo 1990

In the 1990s, the Today logo underwent a new interpretation, becoming more dynamic and symbolic. The orange gradient background smoothly transitions from darker to lighter shades, reflecting the rising sun and the start of a new day. White stripes, dividing the base into equal segments, create a sense of rapid rotation and symbolize the broadcast waves covering the entire planet.

At the logo’s center is the word “news,” highlighted within a wide white stripe in large white letters with a thin black outline. This element emphasizes the importance of the program’s informational component. The show’s main goal is to entertain viewers and discuss the day’s key events.

The program’s title is placed below, as if immersed in the striped background, reinforcing its connection to the main image and emphasizing the harmony between the show’s entertainment and informational functions.

1992 – 1994

Today Show Logo 1992

The next attempt to update the program’s visual style came in the early 1990s with the launch of Saturday broadcasts. The emblem is a vertical gold rectangle that lightens toward the top, symbolizing the rising sun and its movement across the sky. This gradient reflects the smooth trajectory of the sun’s ascent, which aligns with the essence of a morning show.

A thin horizontal gold line crosses the emblem, reminiscent of a news ticker. Along this line is the full block name — NBC News Today. This element adds dynamism to the logo and highlights the program’s informational focus.

At the top, on a light background, a peacock with a vibrant, colorful tail is depicted — a symbol of the main colors of the light spectrum, which break into the sun’s rays. The six tail feathers hint at the six days of the week, emphasizing the expansion of the broadcast to Saturday. This visual image harmoniously ties the show’s core concept to its new possibilities and format expansion.

1994 – 1999

Today Show Logo 1994

The emblem returned to a style and design reminiscent of twenty years ago while maintaining fresh accents. The large black inscription with a rising sun disk above it remained almost unchanged, except for small color details. This design choice highlighted the program’s move to a new studio, which resembled the original filming location with a view of the bustling city streets.

A bright yellow halo around the sun enhanced the show’s positive atmosphere, reflecting its cheerful tone and morning energy. This element visually conveyed the warmth and light of a new day, emphasizing the program’s strong connection to its long history and renewed broadcasting approach.

1995 – 1999

Today Show Logo 1995

A multilayered composition of disks rotating in different planes created a sense of depth while simultaneously hinting at the globe’s image. This design gave the emblem a dynamic feel and emphasized the program’s global reach. The logo’s golden tones symbolized the program’s return to the top of the morning show ratings, reflecting its success and significance in the media landscape.

The word “Today” is repeated multiple times on the logo, reinforcing that every day is “today.” This repetition emphasizes the program’s close connection to current events and daily news, adding depth to the composition and highlighting its leading role in covering ongoing events.

1999 – 2002

Today Show Logo 1999

On the eve of the new millennium, the latest change to the program’s logo emphasized the expansion of airtime by an additional hour. The emblem retained its familiar style with the black inscription and sun disk, symbolizing stability and new opportunities. At the center of the composition is a burgundy core, from which stripes in three bright shades—red, orange, and yellow—radiate outward. This gradient symbolizes the dispersion of sunlight, which illuminates and warms viewers, giving the logo a sense of cheerfulness and warmth.

Each stripe carries additional meaning, reflecting the three different formats of the program: weekday, Saturday, and Sunday editions. These elements highlight the program’s flexibility, adapting to different days of the week and offering viewers unique content, whether on weekdays or weekends.

2002 – 2004

Today Show Logo 2002

The new emblem features an abstract figure of rotating, glowing rings, behind which the outlines of the horizon and the American continent can be seen. This design gives the logo a sense of grandeur and scale, emphasizing the program’s global reach and significance.

The show’s name, rendered in dark letters, seems to blend with the moving rings, creating the effect of constant rotation. This approach symbolizes the dynamism and continuous development of the events the program covers daily.

The grand emblem was created in honor of the show’s inclusion in the list of the 50 greatest TV shows of all time, where it secured an honorable 17th place. This highlights its long history and influence in the world of television.

2004 – 2005

Today Show Logo 2004

The abstract image evolved, approaching a solar disk surrounded by a radiant halo and bright flashes of light. A three-dimensional silver inscription flying against the background of this luminary creates a sense of a spectacular show, attracting attention with its dynamism and brilliance.

The background’s primary colors change smoothly, symbolizing a boiling cauldron filled with creativity, imagination, and talent—the elements that make the show truly unique and inimitable. This visual composition conveys energy, movement, and brightness, reflecting the program’s constant striving for new heights.

2005 – 2006

Today Show Logo 2005

The rays of light gently fall on the rising solar disk, which majestically ascends above the inscription, creating a sense of dawn. A bright light path appears in the composition’s center, adding depth and emphasis. The silver inscription, framed with a golden outline, begins to shimmer under these reflections, creating an impression of sophistication and refined style.

The emblem looks luxurious, as if made from precious materials, highlighting its shine and prestige. This effect gives the logo a special significance, as if it reflects the morning light, and emphasizes the high value and importance of the program in the media space.

2006 – 2009

Today Show Logo 2006

With the program’s transition to HD broadcasting, the studio underwent a major renovation, opening a new chapter in its history. The updated emblem became a symbol of connection to the program’s roots, preserving the memory of its long journey and significant stages of development. The new logo refers to the 1999 design, but instead of black letters, blue is used, creating the effect of a clear sky for the rising sun.

This transformation emphasizes the program’s commitment to preserving traditions while moving forward, reflecting new standards and a high level of quality. The blue sky on the emblem symbolizes clarity, freshness, and a new stage where the program continues to develop, maintaining its unique legacy and giving the broadcast a modern tone.

2009 – 2013

Today Show Logo 2009

The colored bands of the solar spectrum, separated by thin white lines, give the emblem a sense of dynamism and brightness. The letters of the name have become narrower, emphasizing the elegance and modernity of the design. The black color of the symbols is slightly softened by a translucent veil emanating from the halo of the rising sun, creating the effect of morning light that permeates everything around.

The four distinct arcs on the emblem symbolize the four daily hours of broadcasting, highlighting the program’s structure and reliability. The broadcast is periodically interrupted for local news segments, visually marked by a white outline that creates a sense of separation between the segments. This element subtly hints at the balance between global and local events presented to the viewers.

2012 – 2013

Today Show Logo 2012

The previous emblem was set against a snow-white mirrored background, giving the design a sense of freshness and elegance. The letters of the title reflect on the smooth surface, creating an impression of depth and visual harmony. Soft rays of light gently descend onto the emblem, adding brilliance and highlighting the morning atmosphere of the show.

This logo transformation was timed to mark the program’s 17-year leadership among morning shows in America. The new design reflects the program’s uniqueness, making it a true standard in its genre. Every detail of the image embodies the show’s long history of success and significance to its viewers.

2013 – 2015

Today Show Logo 2013

The familiar program emblem was slightly updated to match the new studio decorations. Instead of four multicolored arcs, there are now three monochrome ones, adding simplicity and elegance to the design. Rays of light and a halo now penetrate the image from the left side, giving it dynamism and depth.

These elements appear brilliant, as if made from radiant amber, creating an impression of preciousness and refinement. The black letters of the title harmonize with the updated design, and their size is now closer to the main elements of the emblem, creating visual balance and unity.

2015 – 2018

Today Show Logo 2015

The program’s logo is now placed in the center of a lens focused on the tops of New York City’s skyscrapers, adding depth and dynamism to the image. The inner ring has transformed into a bright solar disk, symbolizing the show’s role in covering key global and local events, including the city. This visual approach brings the program closer to real life, highlighting its connection to current issues and topics.

The emblem’s details also point to the studio’s location in Manhattan, creating a visual link to the heart of business and cultural activity. The rebranding was part of the set design update, emphasizing the program’s fresh perspective and dynamic development in modern media.

2018 – 2019

Today Show Logo 2018

2018, the logo adopted a more schematic look while retaining its recognizable style. It now consists of three red semicircles and a black inscription, making the design simple yet expressive. These changes followed a minor studio redesign, highlighting the program’s refreshed appearance.

The logo’s color scheme contrasts sharply, drawing attention to breaking news and emphasizing a serious, businesslike approach to delivering information. The red semicircles symbolize current events constantly in focus, while the black inscription adds professionalism and underscores the importance of the content in each broadcast.

2019 – 2021

Today Show Logo 2019

The emblem is again overlaid on a window view, connecting it to the metropolis’s real life. The red arcs were replaced with orange, emphasizing the warm and friendly atmosphere in the studio. This soft color transition makes the logo more welcoming and approachable.

The black-and-white background featuring skyscrapers is framed with orange stripes at the top and bottom, adding dynamism and serving as a backdrop for captions related to the show’s topics. These lines highlight the structure and informativeness of the program. The entire design reflects the close relationship between the show and the city, conveying a sense of proximity to events and the people for whom the show is part of everyday life.

2021 – 2023

Today Show Logo 2021

A real photo of the city is overlaid with a blue filter, creating the impression that the viewer is looking at events through the lens of expert opinions and perspectives presented by the studio guests. Bright multicolored stripes run across the screen’s top left and bottom right corners, visually cropping the image as if it were a frame from a camera. A diagonal strip of film across the image adds dynamism to the composition, emphasizing the constant flow of frames and events.

The sun arcs, rendered in an orange-yellow gradient, are complemented by a white title inscription placed in the center of the composition, drawing attention to the fact that Today is always at the heart of events. This design conveys energy and motion, highlighting the show’s relevance and ability to keep pace with the fast rhythm of life.

2023 – today

Today Show Logo

The modern Today logo has remained a symbol of the morning broadcast for millions of viewers. This emblem visually conveys the freshness of the start of the day and fills you with energy from the very first moments. At the center of the image is a bright orange-yellow semicircle reminiscent of a rising sun. It symbolizes the start of the day, the morning, and a new beginning, perfectly aligning with the concept of a morning show that helps viewers “get into” the rhythm of the day ahead.

The semicircle consists of several stripes, each of which can be interpreted as different stages covering various life aspects: news to weather, sports to culture. The color palette—from vibrant yellow to deep orange—is associated with warmth and light, creating a sense of comfort and positivity, which is the show’s primary goal.

The word “TODAY” is written in large white letters, giving the emblem a sense of clarity and simplicity. The font is strict and concise, emphasizing the professionalism and informational nature of the program. The logo is not overloaded with details yet looks modern and stylish.

The background with various shades of blue complements the idea of the sky, which is associated with openness and the start of a new day. These colors contrast with the orange-yellow sun, making the composition bright and energetic. Additionally, the circles in the background resemble a camera lens, symbolizing the process of capturing and broadcasting information live. The show has always been at the forefront of news, covering global events, and this visual element highlights the program’s global significance.

The camera symbolism also refers to the media influence that the Today show has had for decades. Every morning, millions of viewers receive their portion of news, forecasts, and interviews, and this visual marker reminds us of the show’s importance in documenting world events.

The Today Show emblem embodies the freshness of the morning and conveys the idea of a reliable source of information that enlightens and inspires from the very start of the day.