Lights! Camera! Action! Step behind the scenes of iconic TV shows and series on the NBC Studios Tour at Rockefeller Center (30 Rockefeller Plaza). Here, you’ll get a look inside the NBC Sharp Globe Theater, the main broadcast operations center, and the backstage makeup rooms. You can even create your own news broadcast and weather report in an HD studio with a mini control board!
NBC: The Story of America’s Oldest TV Network
NBC (National Broadcasting Company) is the first and oldest broadcasting network in the United States. It was founded in 1926 by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), which at the time was owned by a consortium of General Electric (GE), Westinghouse, AT&T, and the United Fruit Company.
In 1932, the U.S. government required GE to sell RCA and NBC as part of antitrust regulations. However, in 1986, General Electric regained control of RCA by buying it back for $6.4 billion.
What to Expect on the NBC Studio Tour
This tour gives you a rare chance to walk through real working NBC studios, where shows watched by millions are created every day.
You’ll see studios where shows like:
- Saturday Night Live
- The Tonight Show (with Jimmy Fallon)
- The TODAY Show
- Nightly News
and other NBC and MSNBC productions are filmed.
Behind the Scenes
The Sharp Globe Theater is where shows rehearse on NBC’s sound stages. Originally opened in 1933 as a sound theater, it’s now where the tour begins: you’ll dive into the history of television, watch a video about NBC’s evolution and Rockefeller Center, and then walk through the theater itself.
Broadcast control rooms and operations centers — here, you’ll see how content is transmitted. The tour lets you peek at the equipment and technology that bring shows and news to millions of viewers.
Makeup rooms — get a real backstage experience of where the on-screen looks come together.
HD Mini Control Studio — try your hand at being a news or weather anchor. You won’t just watch — you’ll participate! Guided by NBC staff, you’ll help create a short broadcast — an experience that’s fun for both adults and kids.
Visitor’s Information
Website: thetouratnbcstudios.com
📍 Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Tickets start at: $42
