Rana Novini Biography: Emmy-Winning NBC New York Anchor

Rana Novini is an American broadcast journalist best known as the weekend anchor of NBC New York (WNBC), where she anchors the 6 PM and 11 PM newscasts. A two-time New York Emmy Award winner, Novini has built her career on hard-hitting reporting and a warm on-air presence. Born and raised in Ohio to an Iranian family, she is proud of her Persian heritage and is fluent in Farsi.

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full Name	Rana Novini
Birthplace	Bath, Ohio, USA
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Persian (Iranian heritage)
Profession	Broadcast Journalist, News Anchor
Known For	Weekend Anchor at WNBC (NBC New York)
Education	American University — B.A. Broadcast Journalism & Music (Vocal Performance)
Awards	Two New York Emmy Awards
Marital Status	Married to Sebastian Escotet (since 2017)
Children	Two (son Kian, daughter Roya)

Early Life and Education

Rana Novini was born and raised in Bath, Ohio, though her family roots trace back to Iran. She has spoken proudly of her Persian heritage and is fluent in Farsi, a skill that has enriched both her personal identity and her reporting — notably her Emmy-winning coverage of the pandemic’s impact on the Bronx Muslim community.

She has one sister, Leyla, who studied at the Parsons School of Design in Paris. From a young age, Rana loved writing stories, a passion that pointed her toward journalism.

Novini attended American University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a double major: a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a focus on Vocal Performance. During college, she worked as a news anchor for the university’s “District Wire News,” gaining early on-air experience.

Career Journey

Rana Novini’s professional career began at News 12 The Bronx, where she worked as a reporter and helped develop the pilot that would later become News 12 en Español.

She then spent five years at KRDO in Colorado Springs, rising through the ranks from digital content director to news anchor — a trajectory that showcased both her editorial judgment and her on-camera talent.

In 2016, Novini joined NBCUniversal as a general assignment reporter at WNBC, New York’s flagship NBC station — a move announced by TVNewsCheck alongside her eventual promotion to weekend anchor. Her standout reporting quickly earned recognition:

• 2016 Hoboken train crash coverage — earned her a New York Emmy Award
• Pandemic coverage of the Bronx Muslim community — earned her a second New York Emmy
• St. Patrick’s Day Parade coverage — she helped lead WNBC’s coverage for consecutive years, including the 264th parade in March 2025

Her consistent excellence led to a significant promotion: weekend anchor of NBC New York’s 6 PM and 11 PM newscasts, a role she continues to hold.

Major Achievements

• Two-time New York Emmy Award winner
• Weekend anchor, WNBC (NBC New York), 6 PM and 11 PM newscasts
• Led WNBC’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade broadcast coverage
• Rose from digital content director to anchor at KRDO in five years
• Bilingual reporting background (English/Spanish early career; fluent Farsi)

Personal Life

In June 2017, Rana got engaged to her longtime boyfriend Sebastian Escotet (full name Manuel Sebastian Escotet-Espinoza). The couple married on November 24, 2017, at the Office of the City Clerk Marriage Bureau in New York, followed by a grander ceremony at the Maria Cristina Hotel in San Sebastian, Spain. They honeymooned in the Balearic Islands and live in New York City.

On May 16, 2021, the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Kian Sebastian. Their second child, a daughter named Roya Teresa, was born on February 13, 2024 — delivered at home by Sebastian himself in what the family described as a dramatic birth.

Interesting Facts

• Fluent in Farsi and proud of her Persian heritage
• Holds a dual degree in broadcast journalism and vocal performance
• Her sister studied design in Paris at Parsons
• Anchored WNBC’s coverage of one of the world’s most-watched parades
• Started her career helping launch a Spanish-language news pilot

FAQs

Who is Rana Novini? Rana Novini is an American broadcast journalist and the weekend anchor at WNBC, NBC New York, anchoring the 6 PM and 11 PM newscasts. She is a two-time New York Emmy Award winner.

Where is Rana Novini from? She was born and raised in Bath, Ohio. Her family is originally from Iran, and she is of Persian heritage.

What is Rana Novini’s ethnicity? She is Persian-American, of Iranian descent, and speaks fluent Farsi.

Where did Rana Novini go to college? American University in Washington, D.C., where she double-majored in Broadcast Journalism and Music (Vocal Performance).

Is Rana Novini married? Yes. She married Sebastian Escotet in November 2017.

Does Rana Novini have children? Yes, two: a son, Kian Sebastian (born May 2021), and a daughter, Roya Teresa (born February 2024).

What awards has Rana Novini won? Two New York Emmy Awards — one for coverage of the 2016 Hoboken train crash and one for reporting on the pandemic’s impact on the Bronx Muslim community.

What does Rana Novini do at NBC New York? She is the weekend anchor for the 6 PM and 11 PM newscasts and has led special coverage such as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Where did Rana Novini work before NBC? News 12 The Bronx and KRDO in Colorado Springs, where she rose from digital content director to anchor over five years.

Is Rana Novini still at WNBC? As of 2026, she remains the weekend anchor at WNBC (NBC New York).

For more profiles of television journalists and media personalities, see our celebrity biography collection. Readers interested in fellow broadcasters may also enjoy our profiles of Hannah Stocking and Faith Abubey.

Sources & Verification

Career details verified against industry publications as of 2026, including the WNBC anchor announcement (TVNewsCheck) and parade coverage reports (NewscastStudio). Personal details are drawn from publicly reported interviews and profiles.