Chuck Scarborough retiring as news anchor after 50 years at WNBC

Chuck Scarborough, an institution in New York broadcasting, has been reporting the news for half a century.
On Dec. 12, he’ll say goodnight to viewers for the last time as anchor on WNBC.
Scarborough, 81, is retiring after more than 50 years at NBC.
“I’d like to break some personal news,” he announced on Thursday night’s NBC 4 New York broadcast. “The time has come to pass the torch — 50 years, eight months and 17 days after I walked into the door here at the headquarters of the National Broadcasting Company, I will step away from this anchor desk.”
He offered viewers “a simple, heartfelt thank you” for allowing him in their living rooms and placing their trust in him.
In a statement, NBC said Scarborough is the New York market’s longest-serving local TV news anchor.
The anchor’s goodbye will not be a definitive sign-off but “retirement with an asterisk,” Scarborough said in the statement.
After he steps down as anchor next month, he will contribute to special projects and other programming.
“There is only one word: gratitude,” he said. “Our WNBC viewers welcomed me into their homes for more than 50 years, trusting me to present the news free of any agenda, faithful to the fundamental principles of accuracy, objectivity and fairness — and to bring them vital, timely information during our darkest and brightest hours. That has been an extraordinary honor.”
In 1974, Scarborough started working at NBC, where he anchored the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. news.
He served as the 11 p.m. anchor at WNBC until 2016, after which he continued as co-anchor of the 6 p.m. news.
Sue Simmons was his co-anchor for 32 years before she left in 2012. Scarborough and Simmons reunited this year for a retrospective on his career.
The longtime anchor has won 36 local Emmys, among many other awards.
He shared in national Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award wins as part of NBC 4 New York’s coverage of Hurricane Sandy, and an Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award for coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2014, the anchor was honored with the Governor’s Award from the New York chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
While he is primarily associated with New York, Scarborough’s work with NBC has taken him to South America, Europe, the Middle East, the Philippines and Russia.
In March, Scarborough made an appearance on NBC’s “Today” to mark his 50 years on the air and reflected on what he was most proud of from the long tenure.
“The biggest test that we all faced, including all of you guys, was 9/11,” he told the show’s hosts. “That was an enormous shock to the city, a shock to the country. The world tilted on its axis that day, it hasn’t straightened itself out yet. The way we poured our resources into that, all of us did, and covered that story and all its ramifications, that’s gotta be my proudest moment.”
“Chuck Scarborough is the gold standard in American broadcast journalism,” Eric Lerner, president and general manager of NBC 4 New York, said in a statement. “His skills as an anchor, reporter and newsroom leader are unmatched, and he is a pretty special guy off-camera, too.”
Before Scarborough arrived at NBC, the Pittsburgh native worked as a reporter and anchor in Mississippi, Atlanta and Boston.
Amy Morris, senior vice president of news at NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47, called the anchor “the rock of 30 Rock.”
NBC said Scarborough’s replacement would be announced at a later date.
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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at [email protected] and followed at @AmyKup.