Celebrity News

Brian’s not solid on ‘Rock’

Brian Williams is about to start distancing himself from his struggling NBC news magazine show “Rock Center With Brian Williams,” sources tell Page Six

The program’s failed to perform well, attracting an average of about 3.5 million viewers, but dipping to as low as 2.6 million at one point.

It was recently announced that the show’s being moved from the prestigious Thursday 10 p.m. slot to 10 p.m. on Friday, starting Feb. 8, with “Dateline” moving to the 9 p.m. time slot.

But a source tells us: “Now Brian will start distancing himself from the show. It may even no longer be called ‘. . . With Brian Williams’ and other people will start anchoring the show.”

NBC made a three-year commitment to “Rock Center” when it debuted in October 2011, and correspondents have included Chelsea Clinton. The show has changed its nightly slot four times. Initially airing on Monday at 10 p.m, it was shifted temporarily to Wednesday at 9 p.m., then returned to its original time.

It was then moved back to Wednesdays, then Thursday nights at 10 p.m., following NBC’s revamped Thursday evening comedy lineup.

A TV insider told us, “NBC has tried a number of time slots, but none seem to have worked out. It makes sense that Brian will distance himself from the show. He already has a very heavy workload, and it’s a nice way to develop new talent.”

The insider adds: “The next few weeks are crucial. They have to establish themselves as a competent ratings draw, because if they don’t [NBC parent] Comcast won’t have any use for them.”

Despite a reputation for solid reporting and for Bob Costas’ exclusive interview with Jerry Sandusky last year, ratings struggled and dipped to a low in March, with 2.6 million viewers.

A source close to the show said, “Brian is and remains the anchor. His name stays in the title — [there are] no other anchors. ‘Rock Center’ isn’t being scheduled ‘around’ ‘Dateline.’ In fact, by moving ‘Rock Center’ to Fridays at 10, NBC’s creating a two-hour news magazine block in prime time.” An NBC rep didn’t get back to us.