Willie Geist long-time NBC News anchor known for Sunday Today plans to transform his interview skills into a new event format with a special presentation on January 22. Geist who has conducted 539 Sunday Sit-Down interviews with public figures during his tenure seeks to experiment by holding a ticketed in-person session with comedian Nate Bargatze at City Winery in New York demonstrating new avenues for generating revenue through his long established interview series .
Willie Geist's Sunday Sit-Down Moves to Live Stage with New York Event in January
Willie Geist who normally interviews high-profile figures like Billy Joel and Billy Crystal will move into a live format with an approximate 500 person crowd as he interviews Nate Bargatze who is scheduled to appear at New York’s City Winery for a live in-person sit down session. Willie Geist mentioned that performing in-front of an in person crowd requires completely new techniques while highlighting interaction is an important component to engage live audiences. This experience should provide audiences a chance to engage in ways traditional broadcasts fail to meet because of traditional broadcasting constraints.
NBC News Explores Monetization Opportunities by Engaging Live Audiences with 'Today' Personalities
NBC News hopes to achieve added revenue opportunities by using talent from Today Show at City Winery with ticket sales expected to contribute towards a larger scale initiative to diversify from regular programming formats. The live Bargatze interview event on January 22 at City Winery offers audiences the ability to participate during a Q&A segment with Willie Geist before the taping for television airing scheduled on the February 2nd episode of “Sunday Today.” Ticket options for event begin at $99 with VIP passes including pre event interactions which begin at $150 adding opportunities to increase interest for various different attendees.
Libby Leist the executive vice president who manages “Today” stated the event is an attempt to engage live with the talent while possibly incorporating recordings and possible podcasts showing multi dimensional potential of various productions to generate revenue. Willie Geist shared that the team may consider scheduling a similar interview series once a quarter based on the reception received from the live session showing growth for possible events to extend long term. NBC has seen success by extending live show experiences into additional forms of live media that help the parent corporation generate more revenue streams.
"Today" Show Explores Live Events: Following BravoCon and Other Live TV Events
“Today” team is carefully monitoring the viability of live events associated with the popular AM television franchise with multiple different broadcast talent after prior experimentation showing audience response in those different format experiences. There have been prior experimental events featuring talent such as Hoda Kotb focusing on topics like wellness and other special live programing segments that may lead to additional shows. Such opportunities could combine live events recording for traditional media as well as offering podcasts expanding the scope and capabilities of broadcast content.
NBCUniversal is working to expand television shows by adding experiential features. Bravo is producing popular "BravoCon" that links popular TV talent with network fan base as examples of a method that expands outreach with live in person audience connections and also new revenue models. MSNBC also trialed an event with its main broadcast talent speaking with live audiences totaling approximately 4000 showing interest in the new live segment style from network programming staff. Various talent such as Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager previously used in studio audience format to create opportunities with live segment recording and broadcasts while Chris Hayes an MSNBC anchor performed Friday shows using an in-studio audience during various broadcasts.
Changing Broadcast Landscape: "Today" Show Adapts to Digital Media Formats to Maximize Content
In previous times segments created for television would be entirely finished when broadcast finished yet the shift into online spaces demands that content also engages many smaller and targeted viewing markets through digital media and internet. In times of concern with TV audiences moving towards alternate content like youtube and social media the traditional broadcast format needs to maintain presence within emerging streaming and mobile phone applications. “Today” show has started to collect all live segments by uploading materials on a custom streaming outlet demonstrating their desire to reach all fans through a multitude of digital media experiences. Interviews get repackaged into podcasts for wider audiences to further engage content.
Willie Geist often extends his interviews to 45 minutes even an hour which then he must edit down to just over 7 and a half minutes however they offer the whole interview through podcasts so all content can be viewed by interested fans and audience members. “Sunday Today” broadcasts directly competing with CBS show “Sunday Morning” which is an extremely popular show that Willie Geist recognizes has very high market share and following however he says he and his “small team” are very happy for “getting recognition and viewers” in the saturated market with such large competition . Bill Geist Wille’s father worked as journalist with CBS “Sunday Morning” program for many years beginning in 1987.
Nate Bargatze Provides Unique Dynamic For New Live Format Event with Willie Geist on January 22nd
Willie Geist hopes Nate Bargatze provides audience a better chance to comprehend the structure and framework used to generate the comic's laughs in an up-close and personal environment where both creator and fan can create a mutual bond. Willie thinks Bargatze also has a very interesting story that most average fans are less familiar with. Nate Bargatze responded to these plans with saying “It’s an honor to be a guest for Willie’s live event” before also adding humorous remarks to compliment Willie as well adding value through a lighthearted remark about his alma mater Vanderbilt and all of it's fans which is very specific reference to Willie's specific background at the University in Nashville.
Willie Geist claims audience members show a great willingness to be involved as seen by “Sunday Today” fans displaying coffee mugs as a direct representation of show fandom adding a sense of authenticity. His unique signature interview “Sit-Down” is a popular content experience making Willie believe fans will be enthusiastic to engage that experience live with many often requesting information about the week's upcoming guests and interviews by using the simple phrase "who do you got" demonstrating the brand recognition Willie Geist enjoys across his audiences. Willie Geist stated this will also showcase what kind of guests they normally cover through the format adding a sense of awareness of talent which is what a brand seeks in an age with social and digital media.