History
Dateline is historically notable for its longevity on the network. The show started in 1992 with Stone Phillips and Jane Pauley as co-anchors. Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric joined the program when Now with Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric was converted to Dateline Wednesday. Gradually the program expanded with a third night in 1994 and a fourth night in 1997 until it aired for five nights a week in mid-1999 and 2000. The program started to lose its luster as reality television shows became more popular, with nights being eliminated beginning in spring 2001, and the historic Tuesday night slot eliminated in 2003.
Dateline was the first "multi-night" franchise that "established brand power by 'stripping' editions", an entertainment division strategy that placed a program in the same time slot every week." The program was considered one program rather than multiple weekly programs and included many teasers and multiple installment interviews. In its prime, from 1995 to 1999, Dateline provided significant breaking news coverage. Dateline sensationalized news stories and drew viewers in with multiple-installment stories. By 1999, an hour of Dateline was in the top 10 among all viewers most weeks. NBC capitalized on its relationship with CNBC and MSNBC through repackaged stories on Headliners and Legends and Time and Again. NBC later tried a similar strategy of "stripping" with The Jay Leno Show in 2009.
The program first originated from NBC Studio 3K, using the same set the NBC Nightly News was using at the time. When The Today Show moved to its current location NBC Studio 1A in 1994, Dateline took over Studio 3B with a brand-new set.
Past contributing anchors were Bryant Gumbel, who left NBC in 1997; Maria Shriver, who left NBC in 2004; and Katie Couric, who left NBC in 2006. On June 24, 2005 Ann Curry co-anchored "Dateline" for the first time and became permanent host shortly thereafter.
Dateline was broadcast in high definition for the first time on Monday, July 21, 2008, with an episode titled "Tower Dogs". Two-hour feature-length editions sometimes air on any given scheduled evening. Dateline is currently sharing the multi level "Studio 1A" with the Today Show.
Lester Holt replaced Ann Curry as host of Dateline with the start of the 20th season on September 23, shortly after Curry became permanent co-host of the Today Show.
Read more about this topic: Dateline NBC
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