*As he continues to keep NBC afloat in the ratings, Lester Holt is looking at the future. And it involves wanting that Brian Williams money.
Page Six reports that Holt’s agents are quietly renegotiating his contract with NBC as efforts to resolve the situation with Williams continue. The section noted on Monday (June 8) that Williams will likely lose his “Nightly News” anchor chair after an internal investigation. Negotiations are still ongoing, but if Williams is brought back to NBC News, it would likely be in a different lesser role.
Speaking with insiders, Page Six notes that Holt has the edge in light of NBC News having no plans for a back up anchor
“There’s a lot of drama at NBC News,” a source familiar with the upcoming negotiations told Page Six. “Lester’s team feels that if he gets half of what Williams was making, the message to him and the newsroom is he’s half the anchor Brian was.”
As the “Nightly News” weekend anchor and for other assignments, Holt currently gets about $4 million per year. According to the source, so far NBC has offered Holt less than what Williams was making to take over the newscast.
Although Holt “won’t walk away” from the talks, the source added that “He’s got NBC by the balls — because there is no Plan B for them. This is Lester’s chance to get paid.” With his role at the network changing, it’s safe to say that Holt can renegotiate his deal.
Page Six goes on to mention hearing rumblings that NBC News could offer Holt what Williams was making before he signed a $10 million-a-year, five-year contract in 2014.
“Lester hasn’t ‘been there’ yet,” an insider of Holt’s payday said while pointing out that Williams anchored “NBC Nightly News” for a decade before he inked the $10 million deal last year.
The salary negotiations mark the latest chapter regarding NBC and Holt, who has managed to keep the ratings secure, despite things tightening up with ABC News. Nevertheless, Holt has been keeping things going, despite having no promotion and being billed as a temporary replacement for Williams.
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