On May 30, 2025, Lester Holt signed off as anchor of NBC Nightly News after a decade of delivering the day’s top stories to millions of viewers.
His final broadcast marked the end of an era for the program, as Holt, transitioned to a new chapter in his career.
Here’s a look at why Holt stepped down, who will replace him, how NBC Nightly News stacks up against competitors, and what the future holds for NBC.
Lester Holt’s departure from NBC Nightly News was a personal decision driven by his desire to return to in-depth, long-form journalism.
After 10 years anchoring the nightly broadcast—and 17 years total, including his time on the weekend editions—Holt expressed a yearning to flex “different news muscles.” He announced he would shift his focus to Dateline NBC, where he will serve as the principal anchor, working on stories that unfold over weeks or months rather than the fast-paced nightly news cycle.
In an interview with Variety, Holt explained his reasoning: “It wasn’t like one moment of epiphany. I never saw myself doing this job forever.”
Holt emphasized that he’s not retiring, saying, “People say it’s been a great run. It’s like, well, I’m still running.”
When Did He First Announce His Departure?
Holt first announced his decision to step down on February 24, 2025, via a staff memo and public statements. Posts on X from that day, including one from Variety (@Variety), confirmed the news, noting that Holt would exit in early summer.
He later specified May 30, 2025, as his final broadcast date, giving viewers and colleagues ample time to prepare for the transition.
Who Will Replace Lester Holt?
Tom Llamas, a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience, will succeed Holt as anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News starting this summer.
Llamas, who joined NBC from ABC in 2021, has been Holt’s primary fill-in and hosts Top Story with Tom Llamas on NBC News Now.
In a statement, Llamas praised his predecessor, saying, “Lester Holt is a great man and one of the most trusted broadcasters of our time.
Ratings: How Does NBC Nightly News Compare?
In the competitive landscape of evening news, NBC Nightly News has held a strong but second-place position.
In the first quarter of 2025, ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir led with an average of 8.13 million viewers, while NBC Nightly News drew 6.6 million.
CBS’s CBS Evening News, which transitioned to a two-anchor format with John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois after Norah O’Donnell’s departure, trailed with 4.59 million viewers.
In primetime, cable news outlet Fox News has outperformed broadcast networks, averaging 3.63 million viewers from December 30, 2024, to March 11, 2025, according to Nielsen ratings.
MSNBC, a sister network to NBC, averaged 1.26 million viewers, while CNN lagged with 635,000.
Fox News’ dominance is attributed to programs like The Five, which alone averaged 4.7 million viewers, surpassing some broadcast shows like NBC’s Saturday Night Live.
Holt’s departure could impact NBC Nightly News ratings, especially as ABC’s Muir remains the only major evening news anchor with a long tenure.
Insiders suggest viewers may gravitate toward ABC’s World News Tonight for its stability and high production value, especially if NBC opts for a cost-effective approach under Llamas.
Unlike the departure of Holt’s predecessor, Brian Williams, who left in 2015 amid controversy over false claims about a reporting trip to Iraq, Holt’s exit appears to be a smooth handover with no major scandals.
But some have speculated that NBC’s internal changes, including the exit of high-profile figures like Hoda Kotb and Joy Reid, might indicate network instability or budget cuts.
A Daily Mail report quoted an anonymous NBC executive expressing “real worries” about the network’s direction, though no concrete evidence supports claims of forced exits or hidden motives.
Holt, who began his career at CBS in 1981 and joined NBC in 2000, earned the nickname “Iron Pants” at MSNBC for his ability to anchor breaking news for hours without a break.
His tenure at NBC Nightly News was marked by steady leadership, taking over after Williams’ scandal and restoring trust in the broadcast.
Holt’s move to Dateline allows him to return to his roots as a field reporter, a role he relished early in his career at stations in San Francisco and Sacramento.
The Future of NBC
NBC faces a pivotal moment as it navigates Holt’s departure and broader industry challenges.
The network is betting on Llamas to maintain Nightly News’ credibility while expanding its digital presence. Llamas will continue hosting a streaming program alongside his anchor duties, reflecting a trend where networks expect anchors to multitask across platforms.
Recent changes at NBC, including Kotb’s exit from Today and Reid’s show cancellation at MSNBC, suggest a strategic shift to adapt to changing viewer habits.
However, with CBS Evening News struggling post-O’Donnell and MSNBC trailing Fox News in cable ratings, NBC must innovate to stay competitive.
Insiders warn that if NBC cuts resources for Nightly News, viewers may flock to ABC’s polished World News Tonight.
Still, Holt remains optimistic about journalism’s future, stating, “What I know is that journalism is still a noble profession, but one of tremendous responsibility.”
Lester Holt’s final NBC Nightly News broadcast on May 30, 2025, closed a significant chapter for both the anchor and the network.
His decision to step down, announced in February 2025, stems from a desire to focus on Dateline and long-form reporting, not from scandal or controversy.
Tom Llamas steps into the anchor chair with big shoes to fill, as NBC Nightly News competes in a tough landscape against ABC, CBS, and Fox News.
While theories about NBC’s stability swirl, Holt’s legacy as a trusted journalist endures, and his next chapter promises to keep him in the field, chasing stories that matter.
Visit nielsen.com for program rankings by total minutes and more in insights.
Watch NBC Nightly News last broadcast with Lester Holt
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