“NBC Nightly News” executive producer Sam Singal stepped down on Friday after almost three years of serving as the show’s top executive.
NBC News announced Singal’s departure after he addressed the “NBC Nightly News” staff, during which he said he was “incredibly grateful” for the time at the helm of the network’s flagship news program.
{mosads}”I am incredibly grateful for my time here and so incredibly proud of all the terrific journalism that everyone in this room and on the phone does every single day,” Singal said, according to NBC. “It is smart, it is thorough, and, most importantly, it is fair, and it’s something that I am very proud of when I leave here every night.”
The program continues to lead in the key 25-54 demographic, and is expected to win that demographic again this season, but has trailed behind ABC’s “World News Tonight” in total viewership for the last two years.
In an email to The Hill, NBC emphasized that the show “continues to be #1 season-to-date in the key demo” of ages 25-54, and is “expected to win” that demographic for a 22nd consecutive season.
Singal joined “NBC Nightly News” in September of 2015 after the program’s previous anchor, Brian Williams, stepped down over false statements about the Iraq War. Singal followed the program’s new anchor, Lester Holt, from the show’s weekend edition, “Weekend Nightly News.”
“NBC Nightly News” senior broadcast producer Jennifer Suozzo, previously the show’s No. 2, will take over as executive producer on an interim basis, according to the network.
“You fight for this show every day … you have been there for us, you have listened to my wacky ideas sometimes and have given me counsel and direction,” Holt told Singal on Friday. “And I am grateful for that and you do leave us in a strong position.”
— Updated at 8 p.m.