Entertainment

Lester Holt Draws More Viewers to NBC’s ‘Nightly News’

Published

9 years ago

July 1, 2015

This Sept. 16, 2012 photo released by NBC shows Lester Holt on the set of “Today” in New York. (Charles Sykes/AP Photo)

(New York Times) – So far, so good for Lester Holt and NBC.

Mr. Holt won in total viewers in his first week as the official anchor of NBC’s “Nightly News.” Mr. Holt brought in eight million viewers compared to 7.7. million for ABC’s “World News Tonight.” Mr. Holt also bested David Muir’s ABC broadcast in the demographics important to advertisers. “Nightly News” had 1.97 million viewers compared to ABC’s 1.93 million viewers in the 25-to-54-year-old category, and Mr. Holt drew 1.43 million viewers among 18-to-49-year-olds, compared to Mr. Muir’s 1.32 million, according to data from Nielsen.

It was NBC’s biggest audience since April and its biggest lead in total viewers since March.

On June 18, NBC formally announced that Mr. Holt would replace Brian Williams as the chief anchor for NBC’s evening newscast, with Mr. Williams sliding over to MSNBC. Since the announcement, NBC, for the first time in earnest, has been promoting Mr. Holt as the face of its evening news broadcast. The network held off any such promotions during the four months it took to decide what to do with Mr. Williams, who was suspended for fabricating a story about his experience during a helicopter attack in Iraq.

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A’s Last Game in Oakland Ends Baseball Team’s 57-Year Tenure Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s Efforts to Save Team Blocked by GOP-Controlled House

After 57 years, the Athletics have left Oakland following a home series this week. Though Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced legislation to keep the team in Oakland, she could not get the backing she needed from other legislators in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 1, 2024

Oakland Post

Wikimedia image.

By Post Staff

After 57 years, the Athletics have left Oakland following a home series this week.

Though Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced legislation to keep the team in Oakland, she could not get the backing she needed from other legislators in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

Lee tried 15 months ago, the day before Nevada politicians approved $380 million in public funds to build a Las Vegas ballpark. Lee proposed a bill that would have stopped the A’s move by requiring a hefty exit fee that would have made them reconsider a move.

“That’s only fair,” Lee said in an interview in the Los Times by sportswriter Bill Shaikin. “That’s the only fair way to do it,” she said. “You’ve got to compensate the community, because the community has invested a heck of a lot.”

However, Lee’s bill could not go forward without the backing it needed. First, it went to the House Judiciary Committee chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan, the Ohio Republican. Jordan did not co-sponsor Lee’s bill or permit the committee hearing required for the bill to move forward.

“We put up a good fight. The city put up a good fight, the county, everyone,” said Lee.

“Unfortunately, we are losing a team that really, in the day, exemplified Black excellence in Oakland. It’s more than just the team leaving. It’s a part of Oakland’s history, and our culture,” she said.