NBC News executives Liz Cole and Paul Ryan discussed on Variety's "Daily Variety" podcast how "Dateline" has grown from a traditional broadcast newsmagazine into a wide-reaching content operation spanning linear TV, digital platforms, free streaming, syndication, podcasts, social media and live events. Cole, senior executive producer of "Dateline" and president of NBC News Studios, and Ryan, a 14-year NBC News veteran, credit the brand's journalistic credibility and storytelling talent, including correspondents such as Keith Morris, Josh Mankiewicz, Andrea Canning, Blayne Alexander, Dennis Murphy and now Lester Holt, for sustaining its appeal across formats.

The pair explained that stories are tailored differently for each platform, with podcasts allowing for longer, more reflective narration and digital content often shortened for different audiences, all while building a cross-platform community of followers. They cited striking figures to illustrate the show's reach: more than 92 million viewers across linear TV and syndication in the second quarter of this year, plus over 28 billion minutes consumed when digital activity is included. Ryan also highlighted the show's long-serving journalists and its reputation for trustworthy, victim-focused reporting as key differentiators from competitors.