Entertainment

Brian Williams Relegated To MSNBC, Lester Holt Takes Over ‘Nightly News’ Permanently

Al Weaver Reporter
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Brian Williams is coming back to the airwaves, but viewers will need to tune into a different channel to find him now.

NBC News and MSNBC chairman Andrew Lack announced Thursday that Williams will be returning to the NBC News umbrella, but this time around as MSNBC’s “anchor of breaking news and special reports.”

Meanwhile, Lester Holt, Williams’ replacement, will ditch the interim tag and become the full-time anchor of the NBC Nightly News four months after Williams began his suspension.”

“I’m sorry. I said things that weren’t true,” Williams said in a statement. “I let down my NBC colleagues and our viewers and I’m determined to earn back their trust. I will greatly miss working with the team on Nightly News, but I know the broadcast will be in excellent hands with Lester Holt as anchor. I will support him 100% as he has always supported me.

“I am grateful for the chance to return to covering the news,” he added. “My new role will allow me to focus on important issues and events in our country and around the world, and I look forward to it.”

“Brian now has the chance to earn back everyone’s trust,” Lack said. “His excellent work over 22 years at NBC News has earned him that opportunity.”

“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,” Lack said about the new host. “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 will make his first television appearance Friday in an interview with “Today” show host Matt Lauer. The sit-down will air both on “Today” along with Friday evening’s “Nightly News” broadcast.

According to CNN’s Brian Stelter, Williams’ new role at MSNBC will be part of the network’s effort to “strengthen MSNBC’s daytime coverage.”