In a changing of the guard, NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt will step aside from the program this summer, moving to a new full-time role at the primetime newsmagazine Dateline.
Holt and NBC News executives announced the move to staff Monday morning.
Holt has been the lead anchor of Nightly News for a decade, succeeding Brian Williams. Before taking over the weekday edition he led the weekend Nightly News and was the primary fill-in anchor when Williams was out. Holt joined NBC News in 2000, and has been contributing to Dateline since 2011.
“A smile comes to my face when I think that with Nightly News, and Dateline, I have now anchored two of the most successful and iconic television news programs in broadcast history,” Holt wrote in a note to staff. “As a 20-year-old radio reporter on the police beat chasing breaking news around San Francisco, I could never have imagined my career path would unfold in the way it has. What an amazing ride.”
At Dateline, Holt told staff he will be “expanding my footprint on the broadcast and crafting Dateline hours on subjects I care deeply about. I am thrilled to be able to work more closely with my enormously talented friends at Dateline as the broadcast continues to grow and attract new viewers in new places.”
Holt has long had a soft spot for Dateline, relishing the long-form journalism opportunities it presents. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2023, he noted that he has used the show to pursue subjects of personal interest to him.
“Crime reporting, so many people have an appetite for that. And Dateline does it really well,” he said. “At the same time, we’re not all true crime. I went to Louisiana State Prison in Angola, Louisiana, and spent a couple of nights there really trying to get inside the idea of mass incarceration. That’s something I appreciate, to take an hour and spend it on a given topic.”
In a memo to staff, NBC News executive VP Janelle Rodriguez called Holt “the beating heart of this news organization.”
“He’s earned deep respect and reverence from our newsroom, industry colleagues and, most importantly, viewers,” she added. “What’s equally remarkable is how Lester has masterfully filled this esteemed role with extraordinary grace and humility. He’s proven time and time again why he stands among the great legends of broadcast news.”
Of course, with Holt’s exit, speculation immediately turns to who will succeed him in the Nightly anchor chair. Rumors of Holt’s retirement have swirled inside the company for years. Tom Llamas, who joined NBC News in 2021 from ABC, is seen as one possible successor. Given Holt’s own move from the weekends to weekdays, Nightly weekend anchors Hallie Jackson and Jose Diaz-Balart could also be seen as in the mix.
Holt is the second high-profile NBC News anchor to step down from a flagship show to take a different role at the company. Last month Hoda Kotb officially stepped aside at NBC’s Today show, passing the torch to Craig Melvin.
You can read Holt’s note to staff, below.
Hello to all my Nightly News and Dateline colleagues. I want to share with you a big decision I have made about my future at NBC News. A future that I’m happy to say will keep me here for years to come and doing what I love.
After 10 years, 17 if you include my years on the weekends, the time has come for me to step away from my role as anchor of 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.
But before we play the walk off music, I have another announcement. I’m excited to report I will be continuing as anchor of Dateline NBC, but for the first time in a fulltime capacity whereby I will be expanding my footprint on the broadcast and crafting Dateline hours on subjects I care deeply about. I am thrilled to be able to work more closely with my enormously talented friends at Dateline as the broadcast continues to grow and attract new viewers in new places.
A smile comes to my face when I think that with Nightly News, and Dateline, I have now anchored two of the most successful and iconic television news programs in broadcast history. As a 20-year-old radio reporter on the police beat chasing breaking news around San Francisco, I could never have imagined my career path would unfold in the way it has. What an amazing ride.
All of you at Dateline and Nightly News are part of a formidable team, and in my opinion are the greatest group of journalists one could hope to work with. It is a true privilege.
Thank you in advance for your kindness and understanding during this transition.
I plan to continue anchoring Nightly through around the start of summer. As we get closer, I’ll of course firm up the date and keep all of you in the loop. In the meantime, to my Nightly friends, I look forward to sharing some banana pudding as is our send-off tradition!
With deep affection and admiration,
Lester
English (US) ·