Lester Holt’s exit from his fundamental NBC gig is filled with indicators that it wasn’t a parting that each events needed.

Holt is the most recent NBC anchor to depart from his most outstanding function with the community. For a decade, he served because the host of “NBC Nightly Information,” after inheriting the function from anchor Brian Williams when he left the community after 28 years in 2021. Holt additionally contributed to “Dateline,” however now, he’ll be headlining the latter on a full-time foundation as he departs fully from “Nightly Information,” in response to AP.

Although Holt has but to formally touch upon his profession pivot, an e mail to his workers has surfaced on-line. “A smile involves my face after I assume that with Nightly Information, and Dateline, I’ve now anchored two of probably the most profitable and iconic tv information applications in broadcast historical past,” wrote the anchor, per NBC Information. “As a 20-year-old radio reporter on the police beat chasing breaking information round San Francisco, I may by no means have imagined my profession path would unfold in the way in which it has. What an incredible trip.” He continued, “It has really been the consideration of a lifetime to work with every of you every single day, protecting journalism as our true north and our viewers on the heart of all the pieces we do” (by way of AP Information). Although gracious in his e mail, there are a few pink flags surrounding his departure suggesting Holt’s exit from “Nightly Information” wasn’t voluntary.

Years earlier than Lester Holt’s departure from “NBC Nightly Information,” there was scuttlebutt that the execs on the community have been within the course of of buying a brand new face to take over his function. A November 2024 report by the New York Submit gave some perception into what could have been happening with Holt and anchor Tom Llamas — as in, what has been the supply of their obvious rigidity. In response to the publication, Llamas was secretly, and impatiently, biding his time till Holt retired in order that he may take over “Nightly Information.” This report got here three years after Llamas obtained a senior title at NBC as a nationwide correspondent for the community. 

With that mentioned, Llamas has but to be topped as the brand new host of “Nightly Information.” Nor has he commented on Holt’s departure, leaving social media free to hold the dialog. Since information of Holt’s profession shift was introduced, viewers on social media have expressed their opinions about his “Nightly Information” exit. “Glad he isn’t leaving the community fully. He is an outstanding journalist and a voice of sophistication, integrity, and perspective in a rustic that desperately wants it,” tweeted one fan on X, previously referred to as Twitter. “He can be so missed,” commented a second consumer, including, “I am unhappy to listen to this. He is been a fixture in my family for fairly someday. His footwear is not going to be straightforward to fill. He is an outstanding journalist.” After all, Holt has additionally obtained stinging responses from his detractors as nicely. “Lester Holt is stepping down from NBC ‘Nightly Information’. GOOD RIDDANCE,” wrote one consumer, who has amassed a number of thousand views and likes.

The substitute rumor is not the one curious element surrounding Holt’s departure.

Lester Holt commanded a hefty wage for “Nightly Information” and “Dateline,” and his eight-figure price ticket may’ve contributed to him leaving “Nightly Information,” which seemingly made up the majority of his earnings. The anchor reportedly made $10 million a 12 months for his work at NBC, in response to Celeb Internet Value. Given the latest variety of high-profile pay cuts occurring throughout the media panorama, it is doable that the NBC bosses needed an excuse to pay Holt much less. Citing The Ankler publication, the New York Submit revealed that Tom Llamas’ wage was considerably lower than that of Holt, who’s price $35 million. Llamas makes $2.5 million yearly, which might be a 75% discount in prices for the community.

With that mentioned, it is seemingly that Holt’s new full-time capability with “Dateline NBC” in all probability would yield a better wage demand than his earlier part-time contributions. Although, if cash was the catalyst that drove Holt out of his “Nightly Information” function, it in all probability will not be wherever close to the ballpark of what he was beforehand making. In response to The Ankler (by way of the Impartial), even Rachel Maddow, a well-liked anchor for MSNBC, was pressured to just accept a a lot decrease wage for her program, “The Rachel Maddow Present,” in November 2024. Whereas she was beforehand assured to make $30 million yearly over the following 5 years, her new contract solely assured $25 million because of declining rankings.

Pleasure Reid, who hosted MSNBC’s “The Reid Out,” can also be departing her function on the community. The long-time anchor’s ousting was confirmed by Rebecca Kutler, MSNBC’s president. “Pleasure Reid is leaving the community and we thank her for her numerous contributions through the years,” she wrote, as reported by Folks. Kutler additionally laid out a few of Reid’s profession accomplishments. “Her work has been acknowledged with a number of esteemed honors, together with most just lately, the 2025 NAACP Picture Award for Excellent Information Sequence,” she continued. 

Reid additionally issued a proper assertion about her present’s finish, writing on Instagram, “I simply wish to say thanks to everybody who has reached out with kindness and encouragement, each personally and in these social media streets. So very pleased with The Reidout @pleasure.msnbc.com crew, who’re really household, and all of our supporters & associates.”

The timing of the announcement means that Lester Holt’s “Nightly Information” exit could have been a part of a coordinated try to change the expertise pool at NBC and its associates. In spite of everything, Holt and Reid have joined Katie Phang, Ayman Mohyeldin, and Jonathan Capehart as anchors whose exhibits have been unexpectedly axed. Plus Hoda Kotb, a longtime anchor for “In the present day,” introduced in September 2024 that she’d be stepping down. “My time at NBC has been the longest skilled love affair of my life ….” she mentioned in a assertion. “As a result of I will be working via the start of 2025, there’s loads of time to speak about what’s forward for all of us. However one factor I do know for positive proper now’s this: all the pieces’s going to be simply fantastic.” With that mentioned, nobody with authority has confirmed that Holt was really fired from “Nightly Information” — though the obvious pink flags actually recommend that it’s a risk.