Tom Llamas, a familiar face in the world of broadcast journalism, is set to take over the anchor chair for NBC Nightly News after Lester Holt steps down later this summer. The announcement solidifies Llamas’ ascent to one of the most coveted positions in evening television news.
Llamas, who joined NBC News in 2021 after leaving ABC News, will become the permanent anchor of the network’s flagship evening newscast. This move marks the next step in his career, following a stint hosting Top Story on NBC News Now, the network’s live-streaming service. Llamas is expected to continue hosting his evening program, Top Story, immediately after wrapping his duties with NBC Nightly News. The transition will see him anchor Nightly News from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET, then immediately continue with Top Story, offering viewers a consistent, authoritative presence on the network’s news lineup.
Llamas expressed his excitement for the role in a statement: “Anchoring NBC Nightly News is a profound honor and one that carries tremendous responsibility. I look forward to working with the world-class journalists at Nightly News and Top Story to bring viewers the most important stories every night,” he said. He also acknowledged the legacy of Holt, who will continue his work at NBC News in a full-time role on Dateline. “Lester Holt is a great man and one of the most trusted broadcasters of our time,” Llamas added. “Just like Lester, I promise to be devoted to our viewers and dedicated to the truth.”
Llamas’ move to NBC Nightly News had long been speculated by insiders, making it one of the least surprising announcements in the television news world. When Llamas joined NBC News in 2021, it was widely believed that he had been brought in with the understanding that he would eventually take the helm of Nightly News once Holt decided to step back. Prior to his departure from ABC, Llamas had been the weekend anchor for World News Tonight. His exit from ABC was driven, in part, by his belief that he would not have the opportunity to anchor the weekday editions of the program, with David Muir firmly in place as the anchor of the network’s most-watched evening newscast.
Holt, who has anchored NBC Nightly News for nearly a decade, will leave big shoes to fill. Under his leadership, the program maintained a steady audience in the competitive world of evening news. The ratings for the week of February 24, 2025, showed World News Tonight with an average viewership of 7.92 million, compared to 6.37 million for NBC Nightly News and 4.28 million for CBS Evening News, according to Nielsen data. While the numbers are lower than those seen during the peak years of former anchors like Walter Cronkite or Tom Brokaw, evening news broadcasts still draw millions of viewers each night.
Llamas’ ascension signals a shift in how network news anchors juggle their roles in an evolving media landscape. In recent years, television news programs have increasingly blended traditional broadcasts with digital streaming content to reach broader audiences. Llamas will follow in the footsteps of other prominent anchors who have embraced the dual role of anchoring both linear and digital programming. For instance, John Dickerson, who co-anchors CBS Evening News, also hosts CBS Evening News Plus, a streaming companion to the broadcast program.
Llamas himself acknowledged the shift in how viewers consume news. In a 2021 interview with Variety, he noted, “Before, television viewers used to have to find you. Now, we have to sort of find the viewer.” This approach reflects broader trends in how Americans access news. According to a 2024 survey by the Pew Research Center, 86% of U.S. adults report accessing news on a smartphone, tablet, or computer at least occasionally, while 63% still get news from television, with about a third of them doing so regularly.
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Llamas’ career trajectory has uniquely prepared him for this new role. Before joining NBC News, he worked in various capacities at NBC’s Miami station, WTVJ, and later at WNBC in New York. He made the transition to ABC News in 2014, where he quickly rose to prominence as the weekend anchor for World News Tonight. After returning to NBC News, Llamas made regular appearances on Today and other NBC programs, cementing his reputation as a versatile and seasoned journalist.
NBC News Executive Vice President Janelle Rodriguez praised Llamas for his experience and ability to lead the broadcast. “His seasoned background — both in the field and at the desk — uniquely positions him to carry forward the legacy of Nightly News,” Rodriguez said.
As Llamas prepares to take the reins of NBC Nightly News, he faces the task of continuing to deliver trusted, high-quality journalism while adapting to an ever-changing media landscape. His role will be critical in maintaining the program’s relevance and appeal as it faces new challenges in an era of digital transformation.
Llamas’ leadership is sure to shape the future of NBC’s evening news offering, as he follows in the footsteps of giants like Holt, Brokaw, and Cronkite while forging his own path in a new era of news broadcasting.
