NBC news anchor Lester Holt speaks at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton, April 27, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo via The Canadian Press)
Lester Holt, the long-time anchor of NBC Nightly News, is preparing to step down in the coming months. Holt, who has led the flagship news program for nearly a decade, announced his decision in a memo to staff on Monday.
However, this isn’t a farewell to NBC. Instead, Holt will be shifting his focus to Dateline, where he will take on a full-time role. The transition is expected to take place by early summer, though NBC has not yet announced his official departure date or named a successor.
Holt’s Legacy at NBC
Reflecting on his journey, Holt expressed gratitude for his time at Nightly News. “It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to work with each of you every day, keeping journalism as our true north and our viewers at the center of everything we do,” he wrote. He also acknowledged his role in shaping two of the most successful news programs in television history—Nightly News and Dateline.
NBC News Programming Executive Vice President Janelle Rodriguez praised Holt’s contributions. “Quite simply, Lester is the beating heart of this news organization,” she stated, assuring that he will remain with NBC for years to come.
A Storied Career
Lester Holt, 65, has been with NBC since 2000. He took over as the permanent anchor of NBC Nightly News in 2015 after Brian Williams stepped down. Prior to that, he anchored the weekend editions for eight years. He has also been the principal anchor of Dateline since 2011.
Under Holt’s leadership, Nightly News has maintained strong viewership, currently averaging around 7 million viewers weekly. The program traces its roots back to 1948 and officially adopted the NBC Nightly News name in 1970.
Meanwhile, Dateline, now in its 33rd season, has gained prominence in true crime reporting. Over the years, it has expanded into top-rated podcasts and even inspired scripted TV projects, including The Thing About Pam.
Changes Across the News Industry
Holt’s departure from Nightly News comes amid broader shifts in the television news landscape. Just weeks ago, Norah O’Donnell bid farewell to CBS Evening News after serving as lead anchor since 2019. Similarly, Today saw a major transition when Hoda Kotb stepped down as a lead anchor on January 10.
Meanwhile, MSNBC is also undergoing significant changes. The network, which is set to sever its corporate ties with NBC News later this year, recently announced that Joy Reid would be leaving her show, The ReidOut, as part of a programming reshuffle.
As NBC prepares for this major transition, audiences will soon see Holt in a new capacity—continuing his legacy of in-depth journalism with Dateline.
