Lester Holt to Step Down from NBC Nightly News, Focus on Dateline

Veteran broadcaster Lester Holt has announced he will step down as anchor of "NBC Nightly News" in summer 2025, concluding a decade-long tenure at the helm of one of television's most prominent news programs. Holt will not be leaving NBC but will instead transition to a full-time role as the principal anchor of "Dateline."

"I'm not retiring but moving to a different role within NBC," Holt clarified in his announcement.

NBC has named Tom Llamas as Holt's successor for the "Nightly News" anchor position. The transition marks a significant change in leadership for one of NBC's flagship news programs, with Holt having served as the face of the network's evening broadcast for ten years.

The announcement comes as Holt seeks to focus his journalistic efforts on "Dateline," where he has maintained a presence throughout his time with NBC. The specific date for Holt's final broadcast has been reported as February 24, 2025, though NBC has officially described the transition as occurring in "summer 2025."

Janelle Rodriguez of NBC News characterized the move as a strategic transition rather than a retirement, emphasizing Holt's continuing role within the network's news division.