Brian Williams, Lester Holt Rumors: Is There Any Validity To Lester Holt Taking ‘NBC Nightly News’ Position Permanently?


The Brian Williams and Lester Holt rumors are still going strong when it comes to the anchor position at NBC Nightly News.

CNN Money explores a bit more on the topic and revealed that former runner of MSNBC daytime coverage — Mark Effron — has stayed in touch with Holt since working with him in the early 2000s. Effron says “what I know from Lester is that he’s making the best of a great situation in that he’s anchoring five nights a week a national newscast. And anybody who has worked with Lester feels his leadership, but not in an ‘I’m in charge here’ kind of way.”

As the report notes, no one really knows what’s ahead for Brian Williams and Lester Holt. NBC News Chairman, Andy Lack, and NBC News President, Deborah Turness, said that Williams’ situation will have a resolution soon, according to sources who attended a town hall with correspondents last week.

The author of the article admits part of the objective was finding someone who would say something unfavorable about Holt, but it didn’t happen. The worst thing said about the possible Brian Williams replacement on Nightly News “was that he hasn’t done more to seize the weekday anchoring opportunity and beat his day-to-day rival, David Muir of ABC’s World News Tonight.”

Since Williams was suspended, however, the ratings are closer to ABC’s prime time news numbers. ABC is said to be “regularly winning in the 25- to 54-year-old demographic, and occasionally winning among total viewers.”

Validity to the Brian Williams and Lester Holt rumors seem valid. The NBC network and Williams’ attorney say there are two paths being focused on as far as his position goes: “A new role for Williams, or an exit from the network.”

One source tells Page Six in an article published June 7: “Brian’s six-month suspension is over in early August, and NBC chiefs are under pressure to come up with a solution. The talks are complicated and are ongoing, and there has not yet been a deal. But it is likely he won’t be back in the Nightly anchor chair. A decision could be made as early as this week, if all sides can reach an agreement.”

The Inquisitr is keeping up with this story as more updates emerge in headlines. At this point, it’s just speculation surrounding Brian Williams and Lester Holt, but Williams is unlikely to be back in the anchor chair.

[Photo by Jason Kempin / Getty Images]

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