NBC’s Brian Williams, who just celebrated 10 years as anchor of “NBC Nightly News” has signed a new long-term deal with the network.
The Los Angeles Times‘ Stephen Battaglio reports the deal will keep Williams in the chair at least another half decade:
[I]nsiders at the network say it will keep him at the helm of the “NBC Nightly News” for at least five more years. He didn’t disclose his financial compensation, but it’s said to be more than $10 million a year.Advertisement
“It’s probably time I admit that I am a one-trick pony,” Williams tells Battaglio. “I am, I think, designed and put on this Earth to do what I’m doing now — and that is to eat, sleep and breathe nonfiction and the news going on in the world. And then at 6:30 every night I get to deliver it, and I get to hear from the audience, and I get to know them.”
NBC News president Deborah Turness calls Williams “one of the most trusted journalists of our time.”
“Under Brian’s leadership, ‘Nightly’ has solidified its position as America’s most watched news broadcast, and is off to its best start of the season in nine years,” Turness writes.
Her full note after the jump…
From: Deborah Turness (NBCUniversal)
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 8:00 AM
To: @NBC Uni NBC News All
Subject: Brian Williams
All,
I’m thrilled to let you know that Brian Williams has renewed his commitment to NBC News, and will continue to lead NBC Nightly News and serve as our Managing Editor for years to come.
Brian is one of the most trusted journalists of our time. He has led this organization through every major news event for the last decade, from Hurricane Katrina in his first year in the anchor chair to his exclusive interview with Edward Snowden this year, through elections, wars, natural disasters, tragedies and triumphs. In all of those cases he’s taken Nightly News’s viewers to the heart of the stories that matter most in a way that’s uniquely his.
That’s why millions of Americans invite him into their homes every night. They know Brian, his values, his continuing recognition of everyday heroes, and they trust him to help them make sense of the world.
Under Brian’s leadership, Nightly has solidified its position as America’s most watched news broadcast, and is off to its best start of the season in nine years. His deep connection with viewers extends beyond the broadcast to his leading of our breaking news events, his primetime specials and the Nightly offerings on digital and social media. In this changing news and media environment, that special trust in Brian is more important than ever, and therefore wherever Brian is, the audience follows.
A few weeks ago we celebrated Brian’s 10 remarkable years in the anchor chair with the theme, “he’s been there, he’ll be there.” You will have seen the promos across our network, but in celebration of this milestone we cut a special, longer edit – I wanted to share it with you: http://bit.ly/12Q9AuS.
Today is another very proud day for all of us at NBC News. Please join me in congratulating Brian and in looking forward to a shared future together.
Deborah