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#25 – Jorge Ramos
For nearly four decades, Jorge Ramos was the face many Spanish-speaking families expected to see every evening. So when he stepped down from Noticiero Univision after 38 years, it felt less like a job change and more like a landmark going dark.
His final broadcast aired in December 2024, following a mutual decision with Univision not to renew his contract. The names ahead on this countdown left for very different reasons, and the stories get more personal as you go.
Ramos had built a massive following across the Americas, with decades of coverage centered on immigration and Latin American politics. He said he wanted to amplify voices that rarely reach mainstream platforms, and he planned to keep doing independent work outside the daily anchor chair.
Next up is a double-duty star who finally ran out of hours in the week.
#24 – Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper spent years splitting his week between two of the biggest brands in news. In February 2026, he announced he would step away from 60 Minutes after nearly two decades as a correspondent.
The reason was not a feud or a scandal. It was family. Cooper had balanced the Sunday-night show with his weekday CNN duties for years, and something finally had to give.
His exit closed a long run that included high-profile international reporting. Viewers had grown used to his measured delivery on major stories, whether he was behind a desk or standing in the middle of a crisis.
Cooper stressed he was not leaving journalism, only reducing his schedule, and the network praised his contributions while confirming the change.
Next comes a morning-TV favorite whose goodbye felt like a parade.
#23 – Hoda Kotb
Hoda Kotb’s last day on Today felt less like a sign-off and more like a family reunion. She left the show in January 2025 after 17 years on the morning program and 26 years at NBC overall.
Kotb described her final day as an emotional parade of colleagues and viewers. She had co-hosted through network transitions and personal milestones, and by the end she was sitting beside Savannah Guthrie as a central figure in the show’s evolution.
NBC executives highlighted her role in maintaining high ratings in one of television’s most competitive time slots. Her segments often blended news with personal storytelling, which is why so many viewers felt they knew her. The exit freed her to focus on other projects outside the daily grind.
Up next is a business anchor who made one thing very clear on his way out.
#22 – Neil Cavuto
Neil Cavuto walked away from Fox News in December 2024 after 28 years at the network. He had anchored multiple business and news programs, including Your World, and he was a steady presence on weekday afternoons.
During his final broadcast, Cavuto made it clear he was leaving the company but not journalism itself. That distinction mattered to viewers who had trusted him for so long.
At a Glance
- Exit date: December 2024
- Time at Fox News: 28 years
- Best-known show: Your World
- His message: leaving the network, not journalism
The veteran host had covered financial markets through several economic cycles, explaining booms and busts in plain language. His exit came amid broader schedule adjustments at the network.
Cavuto expressed gratitude for the opportunities he had been given and signaled plans to pursue other work.
The next name spent three decades in syndication, and she walked away on her own terms.
#21 – Deborah Norville
Deborah Norville said goodbye to Inside Edition in May 2025 after three decades with the program. She described the move as time to move on after a long run in syndicated television.
Norville had anchored the show through changes in format and shifts in audience habits. Her tenure made her one of the longest-serving hosts in its history.
Long before that, she had worked at CBS and NBC, including a high-profile stretch in morning television. Viewers remembered her consistent delivery on consumer and human-interest stories.
Leaving allowed her to step back from the daily demands of production, a pace few people sustain for thirty years.
Next is a weekend host who decided it was time for something new.
#20 – Peter Alexander
Peter Alexander announced in March 2026 that he would leave NBC after 22 years at the network. The Saturday Today host said he wanted to challenge himself with something new and spend more time with family.
His exit followed a period of steady weekend anchoring. Before that, Alexander had covered major political events and White House developments, the kind of beat that rarely leaves room for a normal schedule.
The network confirmed the departure while noting his contributions to multiple programs. Colleagues highlighted his reporting on breaking national stories.
His decision reflected a broader trend of anchors reevaluating long-term commitments.
The next exit was an evening-news anchor who had held one of television’s most watched desks.
#19 – Lester Holt
When Lester Holt confirmed he would exit as anchor of NBC Nightly News, it closed a decade-long chapter at one of the most recognizable desks in American television. He had taken over in 2015, after Brian Williams stepped away from the chair.
The move came amid network changes and followed similar announcements from other evening anchors. Holt kept a steady presence through turbulent news cycles, and viewers came to rely on that calm.
NBC praised his professionalism and his coverage of major events. Holt indicated the decision involved personal considerations alongside professional ones.
The anchor desk saw further adjustments after his departure.
Next, a prime-time voice whose show disappeared in a network shake-up.
#18 – Joy Reid
Joy Reid’s MSNBC exit did not come with a long farewell tour. Her evening commentary show, The ReidOut, was canceled as part of programming shifts at the network.
Reid had built a loyal following over the years. She anchored through several election cycles and cultural debates, and her distinctive voice stood out in prime-time discussion.
Before landing the evening slot, she had hosted other programs at the network. Her departure arrived during a period of multiple changes at MSNBC.
The cancellation reflected broader adjustments in cable news scheduling, a reminder that even a loyal audience does not guarantee a permanent slot.
Up next is a network evening anchor whose exit lined up with a larger shake-up.
#17 – Norah O’Donnell
Norah O’Donnell signed off as anchor of CBS Evening News after several years in the role. Her exit aligned with other high-profile changes at the network.
O’Donnell had brought a distinct style to the evening broadcast. She had covered international stories before moving to the anchor desk, and that reporting background shaped how she approached the job.
The departure followed a period of steady ratings competition among the major networks. CBS confirmed the move while highlighting her reporting experience.
The change opened the position for new talent, and the evening news race kept going without her.
The next goodbye came with an apology, live on the air.
#16 – Chris Matthews
Chris Matthews retired from MSNBC’s Hardball in 2020 after 20 years as host. His exit followed public accusations about his behavior toward women, and it did not come quietly.
Matthews apologized on air during his final broadcast. It was a stark ending for a host who had built a reputation for sharp questioning on Capitol Hill topics.
His long run had included memorable interviews with political figures from both parties. The departure came at a time when the network was evaluating its lineup.
The show ended with his retirement.
The next anchor held one local desk for more than half a century.
#15 – Chuck Scarborough
Few people in television can say they spent more than 50 years in front of the same city’s cameras. Chuck Scarborough retired from WNBC in New York after exactly that kind of run, and his final broadcast aired in December 2024 following an announcement earlier that fall.
Scarborough had anchored the 6 p.m. newscast for decades. The milestone made him one of the longest-tenured local anchors in the country.
He described the decision as passing the torch and expressed gratitude to viewers. The station celebrated his run with on-air tributes.
Scarborough planned limited contributions after stepping away from the daily desk, so this goodbye was softer than most.
Next is a legend of the nightly news whose retirement was shaped by health.
#14 – Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw officially left NBC News in 2021, closing a career that stretched across decades of American history. He had anchored NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004 before moving into special reports and contributor work.
His retirement came after health challenges. His career spanned from the 1970s through major historical events, and he had become a voice viewers turned to in moments of crisis.
Fast Facts
- Nightly News anchor years: 1982 to 2004
- Time in the chair: 22 years
- After the desk: special reports and contributor work
- Official NBC News exit: 2021
The network acknowledged his influence on broadcast journalism standards. Colleagues often cited his steady delivery when the news was at its most uncertain.
Brokaw also wrote books and stayed visible in limited capacities before the full exit.
Next, a morning-show icon who went from early alarms to a very different kind of TV.
#13 – Bryant Gumbel
Bryant Gumbel spent years waking America up on Today, then reinvented himself in sports journalism. He retired fully in 2023 after hosting Real Sports on HBO, a show that debuted back in 1995.
Gumbel described the end as the right time after a long career. The move closed a chapter that included both morning news and investigative sports coverage.
He expressed no regrets about leaving television behind. Gumbel had balanced high-profile roles across networks, and he had been on air for more than four decades.
The retirement allowed more personal time after years of punishing early mornings.
The next goodbye started with viewers asking where the anchor had gone.
#12 – Mark Zinni
Sometimes the first sign an anchor is leaving is an empty chair. Mark Zinni left WFSB in Connecticut in August 2026 after 12 years as evening anchor, and his sudden absence prompted viewer questions before he confirmed the departure on social media.
Zinni described the exit as peaceful after many late nights and breaking news. The move ended a run that included anchoring multiple daily broadcasts.
He thanked colleagues and viewers for the memories. He had even celebrated an anniversary at the station shortly before leaving.
The station adjusted its lineup following the change.
Next, a weekend voice who racked up more hours than anyone before her.
#11 – Alex Witt
Alex Witt concluded nearly three decades at MS NOW later in 2026 as the network adjusted its weekend schedule. She had anchored more hours than any other host in the network’s history.
Her long tenure made her a familiar voice on weekend afternoons. She had covered major stories across multiple decades, and viewers counted on her for steady, unflashy anchoring.
The departure aligned with a shift toward podcasts and taped programming. The programming overhaul accelerated her planned exit, and the network praised her contributions while filling the slot with new talent.
The next anchor’s farewell was tied to a deeply personal announcement.
#10 – Bill Ritter
Bill Ritter stepped away from WABC-TV’s anchor desk in June 2026 after revealing an early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The longtime New York anchor had covered local news for decades.
The announcement came after years of consistent evening broadcasts. Ritter had built trust with viewers through straightforward reporting, which made the news land even harder.
His departure drew attention to the health considerations that can shape long careers. The station supported his decision while noting his contributions.
The exit highlighted personal factors that sit behind many anchor retirements, ones viewers rarely see.
Next is a forecaster who became a familiar face for nearly a quarter century.
#9 – Janice Dean
Janice Dean left Fox News in 2026 after 22 years as a senior meteorologist. She appeared regularly on morning and afternoon programs, and her forecasts had become a staple for viewers tracking weather across regions.
Her exit came during a period of personnel changes at the network. Colleagues noted her engaging style during severe weather coverage, when viewers lean on a forecaster the most.
The departure allowed her to pursue other interests outside daily television. Dean had balanced her on-air duties with personal advocacy work.
She is a reminder that the faces who say goodbye are not only the ones behind the anchor desk.
Next, a Phoenix legend with a record that may never be matched.
#8 – John Hook
John Hook retired from Fox 10 in Phoenix after 33 years, the longest tenure in the station’s history. His final broadcast aired in September 2026.
Hook had anchored through decades of local news developments. Phoenix viewers had watched him for generations, so the exit marked the end of an era.
The station acknowledged his role in building the news operation. Hook described the decision as bittersweet after such a long run.
Local coverage shifted with new anchors taking over, but the hole he left was hard to miss.
Phoenix is not done yet, because the next exit happened the very same month.
#7 – Simone Cuccurullo
September 2026 was a heavy month for Arizona viewers. Simone Cuccurullo left Arizona’s Family after anchoring Good Morning Arizona, a show she had been part of for years.
Her departure was part of several changes at the station that month. Cuccurullo cited personal reasons for stepping away from the daily format.
Quick Compare
- John Hook, Fox 10: 33 years, the longest tenure in station history
- Simone Cuccurullo, Arizona’s Family: Good Morning Arizona anchor, citing personal reasons
- Whitney Clark, Arizona’s Family: almost 16 years as weekend anchor and reporter
- Lindsay Riley, 12 News: meteorologist retiring to spend time with family
Viewers had grown familiar with her presence on early broadcasts, the kind of company people keep while pouring coffee. The station filled the role amid broader newsroom adjustments.
Her exit also coincided with other veteran departures in the market.
One of those departures is next.
#6 – Whitney Clark
Whitney Clark announced in September 2026 that she was leaving TV news after almost 16 years at Arizona’s Family. She had worked as a weekend anchor and reporter on Good Morning Arizona.
Clark described the decision as emotional because the job had become a major part of her identity. That is the hidden cost of long broadcasting careers: the work and the person can blur together.
The move reflected a personal choice to step back from broadcast demands. Colleagues noted her dedication to local storytelling.
The station saw multiple departures around the same period, and Clark’s exit showed how a long career can lead to reevaluation.
Next, a weather forecaster who chose retirement and family.
#5 – Lindsay Riley
Lindsay Riley left 12 News in Phoenix in September 2026 to enter retirement and spend more time with family. The longtime meteorologist had delivered forecasts for years before her announcement.
Riley posted on social media about stepping away from the mic. Her departure was one of several in the Arizona market that month.
Viewers had relied on her updates during monsoon and heat seasons, when a forecast is not small talk but a plan for the day. The station adjusted its weather team following the exit.
Riley emphasized the personal benefits of the timing.
The next anchor left for a new job, but not before getting noticed.
#4 – Stephania Jimenez
Stephania Jimenez left KSAT in San Antonio in January 2026 for a role at a sister station in Houston. She had anchored Nightbeat for about five years.
Along the way, she gained attention for on-air comments about local issues. By the time she announced the move, she had built a following in the market.
Jimenez had covered major stories, including flooding events, before departing. Viewers noted her direct style on community topics.
The station wished her well while filling the anchor position. Her exit reflected a common career path among local talent.
Next, another KSAT name whose goodbye lasted a lot longer than a month.
#3 – Steve Spriester
Steve Spriester signed off from KSAT after 30 years on air in August 2025. The veteran anchor had delivered evening news in San Antonio for decades.
His retirement closed a long career at the station. Spriester had become a familiar face to multiple generations of local viewers, some of whom had grown up with him in the background of family dinners.
The station celebrated his contributions with on-air recognition. He had covered countless breaking stories and community events.
The exit opened opportunities for newer anchors, the way every big retirement does.
Next, a Washington anchor who said goodbye in a very public way.
#2 – Joseph Olmo
Joseph Olmo announced his departure from NBC4 Washington during a Sunday broadcast in 2026, after nearly a decade in the market. Telling viewers live is a different kind of goodbye.
He said he wanted to pursue other ambitions after covering the region. Olmo had anchored multiple newscasts during his time at the station.
The exit ended a steady run focused on local and regional developments. He had built relationships with sources across the Washington area.
The station adjusted its lineup following the announcement. His decision aligned with personal career goals.
The last name is the one many viewers knew long before they knew any local anchor.
#1 – Katie Couric
Katie Couric’s exit from television did not come with one dramatic final broadcast. She transitioned out of daily news anchoring years earlier, then continued selective projects before fully stepping back from regular television roles.
She had hosted Today and the CBS Evening News before exploring other formats. Couric later took on guest hosting and advocacy work, and she turned toward writing and special projects.
Her career arc showed how prominent anchors can evolve beyond traditional desks. Colleagues often referenced her trailblazing presence in both morning and evening news.
Her later choices reflected a deliberate shift away from full-time broadcasting. Some anchors leave with a tearful last show. Others simply walk off the set and keep going.
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