Thursday, March 28, 2024

Lester Holt on ‘Nightly News’ Takeover: ‘This is An Enormous Honor’

Anchor Lester Holt attends the "Nightcrawler" New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on October 27, 2014 in New York City
Anchor Lester Holt attends the “Nightcrawler” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on October 27, 2014 in New York City

*Following initial reports this morning of Lester Holt being named the permanent anchor of “NBC Nightly News,” the network made it official this afternoon with a statement from Holt himself.

“This is an enormous honor. The respect and admiration I have for the ‘Nightly News’ team has only grown deeper over the last several months that we’ve been together,” said Holt. “Day-in and day-out under an uncomfortable spotlight they have produced world-class journalism. I’m very proud and grateful to be part of such an unflappable and dedicated team of professionals as we move forward together.”

Holt becomes just the fourth solo anchor in the program’s 45-year history, following in the footsteps of John Chancellor, Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams. Williams was benched in February following revelations that he embellished a story during his 2003 coverage of the war in Iraq.

As previously reported, Holt will also become the first African American man to solo anchor a nightly news broadcast. Max Robinson was the first African American evening news anchor, when, from 1978-1983, he co-anchored ABC’s “World News Tonight” in a three-city rotation; Frank Reynolds in New York, Peter Jennings in London and Robinson in Chicago.

Holt’s “Nightly News” takeover comes after nearly 5 months of filling in for the suspended Williams. For the most part, Holt has held the audience but the show continues to lose viewers, a trend which began more than a year ago, reports TV Newser. “World News” with Diane Sawyer won the May 2014 Sweeps among A25-54 viewers for the first time in more than 6 years. When David Muir took over in September “World News Tonight” continued to lead among younger viewers. Then, in late March, ABC overtook NBC among total viewers for the first time in 7 years. It’s been back and forth since.

“Lester has done outstanding work for NBC News over the last ten years, and he’s performed remarkably well over the last few months under very tough circumstances,” said Andy Lack, chairman of NBC News and MSNBC. “He’s an exceptional anchor who goes straight to the heart of every story and is always able to find its most direct connection to the everyday lives of our audience. In many ways, television news stands at a crossroads, and Lester is the perfect person to meet the moment.”

Williams, meanwhile, has given an interview to “Today’s” Matt Lauer. NBC News confirms it was “conducted over the last two days in New York,” and the interview will air Friday morning on “Today,” and on “NBC Nightly News” Friday evening.

According to TV Newser, CNN’s Brian Stelter reports the interview was supposed to air today, but has been held due to the Charleston church shooting.

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