Brian Williams Renews Contract With NBC News for 5 Years: Read Deborah Turness’ Memo

“NBC Nightly News” anchor to stay with the Peacock Network for another half-decade; Williams has won in total viewers ratings for 273 consecutive weeks

Brian Williams re-signed with NBC News for five more years, an insider familiar with deal negotiations told TheWrap on Monday.

Williams, who took over as “Nightly News” anchor in 2004 from Tom Brokaw, has been the evening news ratings king in total viewers for 273 consecutive weeks.

TheWrap has obtained a memo written to staff by NBC News President Deborah Turness Monday.

“Brian is one of the most trusted journalists of our time,” Turness wrote. “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.”

Read Turness’ internal memo below:

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

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