Lester Holt, former Chicago anchor, stepping down at ‘NBC Nightly News’
Posted by Media Reader on February 24, 2025, 1:12 pm
He's the former Jury Duty Video King - and the father of NBC Chicago's Stefan Holt.
"Lester Holt, former Chicago anchor, stepping down at NBC Nightly News"
Lester Holt is ending his run as anchor of “NBC Nightly News” this summer, making him the latest high-profile news personality to exit a role.
Holt, 65, told staff Monday of his plans to depart the signature broadcast of NBC News. He will remain in the division as anchor of its true crime newsmagazine “Dateline,” where he will have an expanded role.
It seems hard to believe that Lester Holt anchored "NBC Nightly News" for a decade and 7 years before that on the weekends.
I would have to think that whoever takes the job is already on NBC News' payroll. I have a few names that could be on the radar for this position.
Jose Diaz-Balart, who is also an anchor on NBC's Telemundo network in Spanish, is currently the Saturday anchor of the dinnertime newscast from New York. Diaz-Balart is also a weekday anchor at MSNBC. Those newscasts originate from Miami, which is also the home of Telemundo.
Hallie Jackson, who took over as Sunday anchor last year, is NBC News' Senior Washington Correspondent. Jackson took over for Kate Snow, who signed off as Sunday anchor 1 year ago tomorrow.
Another possibility is Tom Llamas, who was weekend anchor of ABC News' own dinnertime newscast "World News Tonight". Llamas was behind the desk there from 2014-21 before joining NBC News as Senior National Correspondent.
Diaz-Balart, Jackson & Llamas are all names that could be in play for the "Nightly News" position this summer. However, of the possible candidates, Diaz-Balart is the oldest of them at age 64. Llamas is 45 & Jackson is only 40 years old based on their Wikipedia pages.
Holt's decision to step down is the latest in a series of moves at NBC News in recent months. Hoda Kotb just signed off as host of NBC's morning news/talk franchise "Today" the last 8 years in January. Former "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd also left the network in January. Finally, Andrea Mitchell just signed after 17 years as an MSNBC anchor, but is still with NBC News as Chief Washington Correspondent & Foreign Affairs Correspondent.
Re: Lester Holt, former Chicago anchor, stepping down at ‘NBC Nightly News’
The short answer is Lester Holt has been making too much money and NBC like other networks, are making massive cuts. Lester will stay with NBC News in another role.
MSNBC and CNN have been slashing salaries. Joy Reid has been dismissed from MSNBC.
ABC has been demanding The View clean up its act by becoming more to the center.
Ratings and revenue have been dropping at some networks. CBS News is in free-fall. The average age of viewers is over 65. Advertisers tend to shun older viewers, but this is another discussion.
Those who read the reliable broadcasting trades already know this.
Re: Lester Holt, former Chicago anchor, stepping down at ‘NBC Nightly News’
Lester Holt will stick with "Dateline", once he signs off as "NBC Nightly News" anchor. They haven't announced a final date as of yet for his final broadcast.
I mentioned in an earlier comment that the likely successor is already on NBC News' payroll. I also mentioned the name Tom Llamas. He's 45 years old and has frequently subbed for Holt on many occasions.
The frontrunner for the "Nightly News" job? Stay tuned.
on February 24, 2025, 1:12 pm