News Anchor Denise Nakano EXITS NBC10 In Philadelphia

Denise Nakano

Veteran WCAU NBC10 news anchor Denise Nakano has left the station after 17 years, The Philadelphia Business Journal reports.

In a Twitter post Monday morning, Nakano seemed to indicate the move was not her doing, saying “I accept there is no playbook in 2020” before thanking her longtime viewers.

While it is not clear whether Nakano’s departure is the result of a buyout, layoff, or expiring contract, Crossing Broad reported that NBC10 had “begun the process of offering buyouts to employees who were interested.”

Asked about Nakano’s departure, an NBC10 spokeswoman confirmed her last day with the station was Sunday and “we wish her the best in all her future endeavors.” As for the report about offering buyouts, she said the station doesn’t comment on internal employee matters.

I accept there is no playbook in 2020.

Thank you Philadelphia for the love you’ve shown me all these years. Saturday night’s newscast was my last.
Thankful for my 17 years at NBC10.

— Denise Nakano (@DeniseNakanoTV) June 1, 2020

The departure of Nakano comes less than a week after CBS3 cut 14 employees as part of a broader, nationwide workforce reduction by parent company ViacomCBS.

Nakano has been NBC10’s weekend evening anchor for many years and has won six Emmy awards and an Edward R. Murrow award for her work. On Facebook, she said she would be spending the summer down the Jersey Shore and “I’m not sure what’s next for me, but I will embrace whatever it may be and continue to move forward with gratitude.”