Former NBC Information and MSNBC anchor Brian Williams, whose profession was upended by an embarrassing reporting scandal in 2015, is negotiating his first internet hosting gig in years with a dwell Amazon Prime election night time occasion.
Selection reported Saturday that 5 individuals “accustomed to the matter” have stated Williams and Amazon are in “late-stage discussions” for Williams to host the platform’s first dwell news-related program. The report claimed the intention of the occasion “is to have a non-partisan dialogue of that night’s occasions.”
“Amazon’s Election Evening particular would possible have Williams relying closely on the Related Press to find out how candidates have been faring state by state. The present would stream from a studio within the Los Angeles space, one of many individuals stated, and will begin as early as 5 p.m. japanese,” Selection reported.
The report continued, “Williams could be ready to remain on the desk for as many as seven to eight hours — and probably extra. Within the case of a detailed election through which outcomes are too near name, this particular person says, Williams would broadcast for so long as it may be sustainable.”
BRIAN WILLIAMS ANNOUNCES PLANS TO LEAVE MSNBC, NBC NEWS AFTER 28-YEAR CAREER WITH THE NETWORK
Selection added the deal doesn’t essentially imply the platform will produce extra information programming occasions.
“The present is aimed extra towards explaining the information, this particular person says, quite than breaking particular person items of it. Producers have lined up well-known names, this particular person provides, and was aided by the truth that many conventional TV-news opponents have trimmed the ranks of their contributors as financial pressures have weighed on them. The present, this particular person says, would intention to be massive and accessible and supply numerous well-known friends,” Selection reported.
Fox Information Digital reached out to Amazon for remark.
Along with its foray into politics, Amazon gained unique rights final 12 months to the NFL’s primetime Thursday Evening Soccer broadcast.
Williams has not been on the air since formally leaving NBC in 2021, though he beforehand hinted at becoming a member of different networks.
NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER FAWNS OVER ‘ROLE MODEL’ BRIAN WILLIAMS: ‘YOU ARE AN ICON FOR JOURNALISTS’
Williams anchored “NBC Nightly Information” from 2004 till 2015, when his profession was upended after he was suspended for six months for misrepresenting occasions he claimed occurred whereas protecting the Iraq Battle.
Williams falsely claimed he was aboard a helicopter that was hit with a rocket-propelled grenade whereas in Iraq, nevertheless it turned out his plane was following the one which got here below fireplace. Reviews emerged in 2015 that an NBC Information inner investigation had turned up a number of different cases the place he fabricated or embellished his accounts.
The scandal tarnished his credibility and was a deep embarrassment to NBC Information, which demoted him from the distinguished community anchor job. Lester Holt has held the place ever since.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Williams was reassigned to MSNBC, NBC’s liberal cable arm, as a breaking information anchor, and he started internet hosting the nightly program “The eleventh Hour” in 2016 till his departure in 2021.
Fox Information’ Brian Flood contributed to this report.