Brian Williams, the former anchor of NBC News, is reportedly set to host a special election night program on Prime Video, signaling Amazon’s inaugural foray into news broadcasting.
While the details of the deal remain under wraps, The L.A. Times has indicated that this coverage will take a different approach than standard election reporting. Instead of relying on an internal decision desk to analyze data for results, the special will use state-by-state calls provided by the Associated Press. The production is expected to be overseen by veteran television producer Jonathan Wald, a former collaborator with Williams at NBC. Amazon has yet to provide an official comment on the matter.
This upcoming special marks Williams’ return to the spotlight following his departure as host of MSNBC’s The 11th Hour in December 2021. He has been a fixture at NBC News since 1993, having held prestigious positions such as chief anchor and managing editor of NBC’s Nightly News after taking over from the esteemed Tom Brokaw in 2004.
Williams’ career has not been without its challenges. In February 2015, he faced significant scrutiny when it was revealed that he had misrepresented his experience covering the Iraq War, claiming that his helicopter had been shot at. This led to a six-month suspension from Nightly News. Following this incident, Lester Holt took over as anchor, and Williams transitioned to roles at MSNBC, eventually leading to his position on The 11th Hour in 2016.