Anchor Brian Williams is leaving MSNBC and NBC News

“This is the end of a chapter and the beginning of a further,” Williams said in a assertion. “There are many factors I want to do, and I am going to pop up all over again someplace.”

Williams expressed deep gratitude to NBC, saying the community “is a part of me and often will be.”

He is about to come to be a absolutely free agent for the first time in many years.

For the earlier 5 decades, Williams has anchored “The 11th Hour,” an end-of-the-working day newscast and political talk plan. CNN Company noted in August that his agreement was expiring in the upcoming 6 months and that he required to move off the late-night time hour.

Now he is doing it. But he additional in Tuesday’s assertion, “I check with all those people who are a section of our loyal viewing viewers to remain faithful. The 11th Hour will keep on being in great fingers, developed by the very best crew in cable information.”

Williams’ exit from NBC has an finish-of-an-era sense. He was a critical player in the launch of the MSNBC information channel in 1996, manning breaking news protection and a prime time recap of the day. Then he grew to become one particular of America’s very best-identified newsmen all through his ten years at the helm of the “NBC Nightly News,” one of the most-viewed information applications in the US.

His “Nightly” tenure was reduce short in 2015 when he was uncovered to have exaggerated some tales in interviews. He was suspended for six months and was changed by Lester Holt on the “Nightly Information.” But he embraced his new assignment on MSNBC and was capable to primarily reinvent himself.
Brian Williams, anchor of "The 11th Hour with Brian Williams" and Rachel Maddow, host of "The Rachel Maddow Show" on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 in New York.
“Most broadcasters would have been cooked if they experienced been through the kind of scandal that Williams confronted in 2015,” Vanity Good explained in 2017. “But a sluggish-and-constant revival — a combination of dutiful penance, intelligent arranging, and a remarkable transform in the media — has Williams turning 11 p.m. into the new primetime.”

On cable, Williams was cost-free to share additional of his identity and viewpoint. He was also at the desk for most of the greatest times of the Trump presidency.

In his assertion, Williams boiled down his time at NBC this way: “28 decades, 38 countries, 8 Olympic games, 7 Presidential elections, 50 percent a dozen Presidents, a handful of wars, and just one SNL.”

His impending departure will come soon after a period of time of government turnover at NBC News. His longtime ally Andy Absence exited last year.

“Superior buddies ended up in terrific supply at NBC,” Williams said Tuesday. “I was fortunate that every person I labored with manufactured me improved at my position. I have had the best colleagues possible. That incorporates terrific bosses.”

A resource close to Williams stated NBC did make Williams a new deal supply and declined to share the factors why he handed on it. Williams framed the condition this way: “Pursuing considerably reflection, and right after 28 many years with the enterprise, I have resolved to leave NBC upon the completion of my present-day deal in December.”

The supply said there will be no imminent announcement about a new purpose at a different media company. (News reviews this slide have speculated about him leaping to a new community.)

Williams has not held any formal discussions about a new posture however, the supply additional.

Soon after declaring he’ll “pop up once again somewhere,” Williams indicated that he will be savoring some downtime 1st: “For the up coming couple of months, I’ll be with my relatives, the individuals I appreciate most and the persons who enabled my vocation to occur,” he mentioned. “I will mirror on the kindness persons have revealed me, and I will pay it ahead.”