After more than five decades in television, WNBC-TV’s lead news anchor Chuck Scarborough is ready to retire.
On Thursday, WNBC (Channel 4) in New York said its news anchor of 50 years will be stepping away from the news desk next month, though he intends to make occasional contributions to news specials and other local programming.
“There is only one word: gratitude,” said Scarborough. “Our WNBC viewers welcomed me into their homes for more than 50 years, trusting me to present the news free of any agenda, faithful to the fundamental principles of accuracy, objectivity and fairness—and to bring them vital, timely information during our darkest and brightest hours. That has been an extraordinary honor.”
Scarborough began his TV career at Boston’s now-defunct WNAC in 1972. He joined WNBC in early 1974, serving as the 5 p.m. anchor of “NewsCenter 4” and moving into the role of lead anchor for the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts a short time later.
In 2016, he resigned from the 11 p.m. newscast after more than four decades, but stayed on with the station to continue anchoring its 6 p.m. newscast. His last regular appearance with the station will take place on Thursday, December 12 at 6 p.m., after which he intends to “retire, with an asterisk.”
“Chuck Scarborough is the gold standard in American broadcast journalism. His skills as an anchor, reporter and newsroom leader are unmatched, and he is a pretty special guy off-camera too,” said Eric Lerner, the President and General Manager of WNBC-TV. “We are fortunate that after Chuck’s last newscast next month, he will return to his News 4 New York family from time to time and report on special projects.”
“In a city and business that are constantly changing, Chuck has been the rock of 30 Rock, guiding viewers and news teams for half a century,” said Amy Morris, Senior Vice President of News for WNBC-TV, referencing the station’s studio and NBC’s headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York. “As he starts a new chapter, we honor Chuck by building on his legacy to make WNBC a force for the next 50 years.”
WNBC said it will announce Scarborough’s successor at a later date.
WNBC is owned by NBC Universal, a division of Comcast.
