Chuck Todd will replace David Gregory as new host of “Meet the Press,” NBC announced Thursday.
The move comes after widespread speculation that Gregory, 43, who moderated the show for the past six years, will be replaced by Todd, 42, after struggling ratings.
Gregory confirmed his departure via Twitter on Thursday afternoon.
Soon after, an internal memo from NBC News president Deborah Turness announced the change.
“After an exceptional 20 years with NBC News, David Gregory is leaving the network,” she wrote. “I want to express my sincerest thanks to David, who, after the death of Tim Russert, led ‘Meet the Press’ for almost 6 years. Under his leadership the show has had a string of exclusives, and David has shown a remarkable gift for holding leaders to account and getting answers on issues that matter to our audience. He is an outstanding journalist whose sharp intellect and quick sense of humor have made him a pleasure to work with. I know you all join me in expressing our deepest gratitude and in wishing him the very best.”
“I am very pleased to announce that Chuck Todd will take the helm on September 7. There is no one with a bigger passion for politics than Chuck. His unique ability to deliver that passion with razor sharp analysis and infectious enthusiasm makes him the perfect next generation moderator of this beloved broadcast. Chuck will ensure that Meet the Press is the beating heart of politics, the place where newsmakers come to make news, where the agenda is set. We have some exciting plans to evolve and update the broadcast under Chuck’s leadership that we will be sharing with you shortly,” she continued.
CNN’s Brian Stelter reported that “the transition will be swift — so swift that Gregory will not even host ‘Meet the Press’ this weekend” and Turness confirmed, adding that Andrea Mitchell will serve as moderator of “Meet the Press” this weekend.
“Mitchell … will continue to be a central figure of the broadcast, along with some new names that we will announce in the coming days,” she wrote.
In July, Page Six exclusively revealed Gregory’s time at the nation’s longest-running TV show was almost up after the show slipped behind CBS’s “Face the Nation” and ABC’s “This Week” in the second quarter of 2014.
Following Page Six’s report about Gregory, Politico on Monday followed up with a similar story saying Todd was the “likely successor” to Gregory and that the change was “expected to be announced in coming weeks.”