Location and address
The Today Show plaza is at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, within the RCA Building, now part of the 30 Rockefeller Center complex. The precise address is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, between Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) and Fifth Avenue, at the northwest corner of Rockefeller Plaza. The plaza is directly adjacent to Studio 1A, from which the live morning show broadcasts. For visitors, this places the plaza in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, one block from Fifth Avenue and one block from Sixth Avenue, with nearby subway stops including the 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, N, Q, R, and W lines at Rockefeller Center (underground entrance on Sixth Avenue).
What is the Today Show plaza?
The Today Show plaza is the outdoor public space in front of 30 Rockefeller Plaza where NBC News presents the iconic set for its flagship morning program, Today. It is not an open civic plaza available for general public access, but a controlled broadcast area directly connected to the television studio. The plaza serves as the recognizable streetfront for the program’s live broadcasts and is framed by the 30 Rockefeller Center building, which houses NBC Studios and offices. While the plaza is visible from the street, access beyond the broadcast line is typically restricted during active production.
History and context
30 Rockefeller Plaza and its public-facing plaza space were developed as part of the Rockefeller Center complex in the 1930s, designed to consolidate NBC operations in a single Midtown location. The building opened in 1933, and the plaza has remained the visible face of NBC’s morning programming ever since. Over decades, the set has evolved in design while maintaining its position at the street wall of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The plaza is closely associated with the identity of the program, appearing in countless broadcasts and establishing a consistent, recognizable backdrop for daytime and primetime coverage.
Access and visitor information
- General public access to the Today Show plaza itself is not permitted; it is an active broadcast area.
- Viewing locations nearby include Rockefeller Plaza along the sidewalk on Sixth Avenue and selected retail storefronts that face the plaza.
- Public tours of 30 Rockefeller Center do not enter the broadcast studio, but the building housing the Today set remains an active NBC facility with controlled access.
- The plaza is best observed from the street, with optimal viewing spots along Sixth Avenue (between 48th and 51st Streets) and along Rockefeller Plaza.
Key details at a glance
| Attribute | Verified detail | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| Street address | 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City | Official NBC location and municipal records |
| Cross streets | Sixth Avenue and Fifth Avenue (northwest corner of Rockefeller Plaza) | Building directory and site maps |
| Building name | 30 Rockefeller Center (formerly the RCA Building) | Ownership and property records (1 Rockefeller Plaza complex) |
| Subway lines | 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, N, Q, R, W at Rockefeller Center (underground) | MTA and NBC tour materials |
| Typical set usage | Today show broadcasts from Studio 1A with plaza as street backdrop | NBC on-air graphics and set design documentation |
Nearby landmarks and orientation
To orient yourself around the plaza, note that Rockefeller Center spans multiple blocks between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. The plaza sits at the northern end of the complex, adjacent to the International Building and near the Lower Plaza and Channel Gardens. Within a three-block radius are landmarks such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Museum of Modern Art, and the GE Building (at 570 Lexington Avenue). For navigation, look for signage to 30 Rockefeller Plaza from both Sixth Avenue and Fifth Avenue entrances to the Rockefeller Center complex.
Broadcast and public visibility
Today is broadcast live from Studio 1A, which opens directly onto the plaza, making the space a recurring visual element of the show. Weather segments, interviews, and live remotes often take place on the plaza itself, reinforcing its role as a broadcast location rather than a passageway or public square. During special events or holiday segments, the plaza may be temporarily decorated or cordoned off for production purposes. Because the plaza is part of an active broadcast facility, access is limited and managed by NBC security and production teams.