NBC Nightly News' long-time anchor, Lester Holt, is relinquishing his position.
Lester Holt's reign as the heart of NBC News isn't coming to an end anytime soon. He'll keep anchoring "Dateline NBC," the network's prime-time newsmagazine. As per an internal memo, Janelle Rodriguez, NBC News' executive vice president of programming, gushed about Holt, calling him the "beating heart" of the organization. He's gained immense respect and adoration from his colleagues, competitors, and viewers due to his dedication and talent.
When Holt assumed the position in 2015, he became the first African-American solo anchor to helm a weekday network nightly newscast. Despite a general decline in broadcast TV audiences, the nightly newscasts on NBC, ABC, and CBS can still pull in a combined 20 million viewers on a good night.
Now, Holt's concentrating on "Dateline" full-time to dive deep into topics he's passionate about. The shift in focus came after he decided to step down from his role as the anchor of "NBC Nightly News" by the start of summer 2025.
In an internal memo to staff, Holt expressed his excitement, saying, "I'm excited to report I will be continuing as anchor of Dateline NBC, but for the first time in a full-time capacity whereby I will be expanding my footprint on the broadcast and crafting Dateline hours on subjects I care deeply about."
NBC hasn't revealed Holt's successor for "NBC Nightly News" yet, but it seems like Tom Llamas is the front-runner. Llamas currently anchors NBC's nightly streaming newscast, "Top Story," and often fills in for Holt.
Viewership comparisons between Holt's "NBC Nightly News" and other network nightly newscasts indicate that it's consistently ranked first or second in the 25-to-54 age demographic, which is vital for advertisers. However, specific viewership numbers for "Dateline NBC" aren't available. But knowing Holt's past success and the show's strong performance as a true-crime newsmagazine, it's expected to continue thriving.
The promotional shift away from "NBC Nightly News" to "Dateline" reflects changes taking place in the evening news landscape. Holt's departure and Norah O'Donnell's exit from "CBS Evening News" have left gaps that other networks might look to fill. However, comparing "Dateline NBC" to other nightly newscasts isn't straightforward since "Dateline" is more of a true-crime story program than daily news coverage.
- Despite the internal shift from "NBC Nightly News" to "Dateline NBC," Holt's influence in the business world remains significant, with media outlets regularly covering his newscasts and emotional storytelling.
- With Holt's new focus on "Dateline NBC," the show's capacity to draw in viewers and earn high ratings in the media landscape is expected to increase further, cementing its position as a top true-crime newsmagazine.
- The media's ongoing coverage of Holt's role in NBC News and his new focus on "Dateline NBC" has brought attention to the show's potential for growth and its role in shaping the evening news landscape, highlighting its unique ability to engage audiences with captivating stories.
