Report: Amazon Courts Brian Williams For Election Coverage

Amazon is in advanced talks with former NBC News anchor Brian Williams to host a presidential election-night program on its Prime Video streaming platform, reports The Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the matter.

The special would be led by Williams and would feature prominent pundits and news personalities analyzing the race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. An agreement with Williams could be reached as early as next week, one of the people said. 

Brian Williams

This would mark Amazon’s first foray into original live-news content. A person familiar with the e-commerce giant’s thinking said the election special shouldn’t be seen as a sign that the company is now looking to have a regular presence in news.

For Williams, an Amazon special would be a return to the national stage. Known for his dry wit and for having the ability to be both serious and sardonic, Williams left his MSNBC late night “The 11th Hour” show at the end of 2021. Before his stint at the cable news channel, Williams anchored NBC’s “Nightly News” for more than a decade. He resigned in 2015 after acknowledging a story he had told about being on a helicopter that came under attack was false.

A live news special is in keeping with Amazon’s belief that big event programs won’t only bring new subscribers to its streaming platform but also its retail business. Amazon already carries the National Football League on Thursdays and recently signed a long-term deal with the National Basketball Association to start streaming games in the 2025-26 season.