Former NBC News star Brian Williams is finalizing a deal to anchor live coverage of the presidential election results for Amazon's Prime Video, in the streamer's first attempt at live news coverage, according to two people familiar with the plan.
Williams, 65, has been off of television since leaving his professional home of 28 years in 2021. He has spoken with a number of networks and streaming services about projects, but this is the first to come to fruition. He would be in his comfort zone at Prime Video, as he led NBC's presidential election night programs in 2008 and 2012 and its cable network MSNBC's coverage in 2016 and 2020.
A representative for Prime Video declined comment. But those briefed on the matter said a deal is imminent.
Deep-pocketed Amazon's entry into live news coverage will not be a welcome development for the legacy TV networks, which are struggling to maintain their financial footing as audiences shift to streaming. Nearly every news operation is looking to cut costs after the 2024 election.
In recent years, Prime Video has become a powerhouse in live sports by carrying the NFL's Thursday night games. It will also be the streaming platform for the NBA starting in the 2025–26 season. Live news could be the streamer's next frontier.
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