Legendary New York television anchor Chuck Scarborough announced Thursday that he will be leaving WNBC after a historic five-decade run.
The Emmy Award-winning newscaster — a fixture in the house for 50 years, 32 of them with co-anchor Sue Simmons on the 11 p.m. broadcast — broke the news to viewers at the end of the 6 p.m. edition of NBC News 4 New York.
“Well, guys, tonight, finally, I’d like to give some personal news. The time has come to pass the torch,” Scarborough said, his usually steady voice breaking.
“50 years, eight months and 17 days after I walked in the door here at the headquarters of the National Broadcasting Company. I’m going to leave this anchor desk.”
The 81-year-old presenter, who has reduced his duties to four days a week, said his last broadcast will be on December 12.
“I’ll have more to say to you and my incredible colleagues at NBC then. But for now, I’ll thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me into your living rooms and trusting us to bring you the news,” he concluded.
The longest-serving anchor in New York history had informed his colleagues of his decision during a 3:15 p.m. meeting at network headquarters earlier in the day, a source at the station told The Post, which first reported the story.
“Call retirement with a star,” the memo read.
He also praised his co-workers for their dedication.
“In this age of algorithms and cable channels herding citizens into like-minded silos, of artificial intelligence and social media fiction drowning out the truth, it’s never been more important to do what you do so well: respect the basics of accuracy, objectivity. and justice,” according to the memo.
No replacement has been named.
A Pittsburgh native and Air Force veteran, Scarborough began his television career in Mississippi at WLOX-TV before moving to WAGA-TV in Atlanta, then WNAC-TV in Boston.
He joined WNBC-TV in March 1974 as a lead anchor for what was, at the time, the new NewsCenter 4 broadcast at 5 p.m.
Over the decades that followed, his co-sponsors included Jim Hartz, Jack Cafferty, John Hambrick, Pat Harper, Dawn Fratangelo, Sibila Vargas, Lynda Baquero, Natalie Pasquarella and, most famously, Simmons.
Their 32 years together made them the longest-tenured anchor team in New York television news history.
Scarborough covered major New York stories such as the 1977 “Night of Terror” blackout, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
The reporter has also led breaking news coverage at home and abroad, reporting from Europe, Russia, the Middle East, the Philippines, Mexico and South America.
Earlier this year, Scarbrough was honored for his amazing run of WNBC in true New York style. On March 25, the Empire State Building was lit up in blue and gold to honor his 50th anniversary at the station.
“It was an amazing run,” an NBC source said.
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Image Source : nypost.com