Brian Williams Moves To MSNBC

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Suspended NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams will return to the air in August on MSNBC, with Lester Holt officially taking over Williams' anchor duties at Nightly News, NBC News announced.

Williams, who was suspended earlier this year for inaccurately recalling a story from the Iraq war in which he claimed he was on a helicopter that was shot at by ground fire, will head up the cable news network’s breaking news coverage, according to NBC.

“Brian now has the chance to earn back everyone’s trust. His excellent work over twenty-two years at NBC News has earned him that opportunity,” said Andy Lack, chairman of NBC News and MSNBC.

Lester Holt, who had been filling in for Williams since his suspension, has officially been named the new anchor of NBC Nightly News.

Willams joins a network struggling from the ratings front. MSNBC in May posted a 14% decline in its primetime audience with 470,000 viewers, well behind competitors CNN (587,000 viewers) and Fox News (1.6 million viewers), according to Nielsen. 

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.