# "But First, this is a Non-sublimineal message on NBC" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 3, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-first-this-is-a-non-sublimineal-message-on-nbc/329284 "2005-11-03T13:34:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-first-this-is-a-non-sublimineal-message-on-nbc/329284/1 "2005-11-03T13:34:39Z")
Basic Question: Why Do Katie and Matt (Al and Ann…) constantly remind the viewer with the following; “But first, this is today on NBC” ? The obligatory second part is “Don’t we already know that we are watching?” I admit that it is not for the regular viewers of TODAY as I am. But it is real annoying… one can’t Tivo it. The TODAY show is STILL number one right? Is Today threatened that much by its rivals? That we need a “Verbal” brand mark ? Ulitmately what is the point of the message… arent the watermark / stickers / onscreen ‘bugs’ enough?! ---
**Author:** ![muttrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a8b319/32.png) [@muttrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muttrox)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-first-this-is-a-non-sublimineal-message-on-nbc/329284/2 "2005-11-03T13:38:55Z")
I would imagine that it is brand building. If viewers like this show on NBC, perhaps they will be more inclined to watch other shows on NBC. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-first-this-is-a-non-sublimineal-message-on-nbc/329284/3 "2005-11-03T17:02:56Z")
Or, like many people, they find Katie Couric to be a frightening, smarmy, holier-than-thou bitch, and the don’t watch it anymore. But seriously, folks, are they required to by the FCC? Maybe something alone the same lines as radio stations mentioning their call signs? ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-first-this-is-a-non-sublimineal-message-on-nbc/329284/4 "2005-11-03T17:21:16Z")
Given the huge number of channels on cable systems today and the ease of flipping channels I can quite easily see people not know they are watching the NBC morning show vs the ABC morning show. The channel number is not visible on my TV unless I command it to be. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-first-this-is-a-non-sublimineal-message-on-nbc/329284/5 "2005-11-03T17:25:35Z")
Why pick on the Today Show? This is standard procedure on many TV and radio broadcasts, and has been for decades. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-first-this-is-a-non-sublimineal-message-on-nbc/329284/6 "2006-01-17T13:37:56Z")
Well There we go. Al Roker just told all. Thankfully I was watching! Al said that a lot of the comments that occur on a daily basis cue certain people for certain events. His “Neck of the woods” spiel is for local weather men. AND But first this is Today… Is for local commercials to be run instead of NBC commercials. ((Which airs after the promt “There is more today…”)) So there we have it. Glad Al posted to my question. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-first-this-is-a-non-sublimineal-message-on-nbc/329284/7 "2006-01-17T14:17:44Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > Well There we go. Al Roker just told all. Thankfully I was watching! > > Al said that a lot of the comments that occur on a daily basis cue certain people for certain events. > > His “Neck of the woods” spiel is for local weather men. > > AND > > But first this is Today… > Is for local commercials to be run instead of NBC commercials. Yes folks, would Mr. Roker lie to us? They’re cues. NBC in fact invented the idea of network cues – back when it was the first network. That’s why they used [chimes](http://www.nbcchimes.info/). They’re now mostly an attention signal for the home viewer (sports score crawl; coming up next; tonight’s forecast on local affils). Brand building…I dunno. NBC has been a brand for 80 years, and _Today_ for well over 50. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-first-this-is-a-non-sublimineal-message-on-nbc/329284/8 "2006-01-17T17:45:34Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > But seriously, folks, are they required to by the FCC? Maybe something alone the same lines as radio stations mentioning their call signs? FCC regulations are (or were, back when I worked Master Control for a TV station in the mid-90’s) a station ID at the top and bottom of each hour. If a program was running during that time, it was permissible to simply superimpose an ID into the corner of the screen instead of running an actual “You’re watching PBS” clip. Given that most stations seem to run translucent IDs permanently in the corner these days, I can’t imagine that Katie’s constant mention of NBC is anything other than brand building.