Anchor Stone Phillips Out At NBC News

(AP)  NBC News is dropping "Dateline NBC" anchor Stone Phillips in a cost-cutting move when his contract expires at the end of June.

Phillips won't formally be replaced. His co-anchor, Ann Curry, will continue and other "Dateline NBC" reporters will serve as on-air hosts when the newsmagazine presents stories they're working on, the network said Tuesday.

"It's been a wonderful 15 years," Phillips said in a statement issued by NBC. "I'm profoundly appreciative of the many friends and colleagues, past and present, who have been a part of the 'Dateline' family. This is a great news division with a bright future. I wish the people of NBC News all the best."

He didn't immediately return a call for further comment.

Phillips was teamed with Jane Pauley, who left NBC is 2003, for much of his time at "Dateline NBC." At its peak, the newsmagazine churned out as many as five episodes a week.

The newsmagazine is probably best known now for reporter Chris Hansen's "To Catch a Predator" series nabbing suspected pedophiles. On NBC's fall schedule, the newsmagazine has only one permanent time slot, on little-watched Saturday night. It will be on three times a week in June.

NBC News has been restructuring to cut costs. Earlier this spring, it didn't renew the contract of "Nightly News" weekend anchor John Seigenthaler.

The Phillips move was similar in that the network is concentrating money on reporting and more versatile personalities. Seigenthaler, for example, was replaced by Lester Holt, who's also host of "Weekend Today." Curry is a newsreader on "Today" and reporter for "Dateline."

NBC News is a division of General Electric Co.

[matthewslarry]

I think it was a big big mistake to cut Stone Phillips. His the best person for the job.

[ralan40]

We are a product of our past and the good things and bad things that happen to us help shape us. I'm sure we have not seen the last of this guy.
Best of luck to him and ALL the people who've lost their jobs thru no fault of their own.

My thoughts go out to all those who are unable to think about anything but politics. I hope they know that when all is said and done, what is really important is that they realize that happiness is a choice and not a result of self validation of their own views.

[dylanxxv]

Next to Tom Brokaw, Stone Phillips is the best person for the job...I refuse to watch CBS because of Couric and ABC's guy doesn't have a clue...

[linfinster]

I enjoyed Stone. Hope he either wanted this or will bounce back and find happiness elsewhere.

[jacksteen1]

NBC lost it when they lost Katie...and that's when I and everyone else stopped watching them.

I don't agree with the ignorant rant on this board about NBC being on a hate kick - they are merely balancing the rest of the Republishit love-fest on the other networks, crowing about how Bush and Cheney are the best thing since sliced pickles. Fox and the rest of the Republicrap tools.

[nohillary08]

NBC just fired its last trusted journalist- Stone Phillips. Tim Russert and others at NBC are no longer journalists. They are biased and hateful opinion shapers who have disqualified themselves from being called trusted journalists.

A journalist reports the news...good and bad. NBC is crazy for firing Stone Phillips. I hope CBS hires him. He can return CBS to its glory days.

[justfacts2]

If NBC truly wanted to save money, then they would have gotten rid of that useless Meredith Viera and put Ann Curry in the co-host slot. She worked hard and had earned the position vacated by Katie Couric. Instead they hire a middle-aged windbag. Now they are getting rid of a wonderful journalist. I don't see their logic in all of this. That is why I stopped watching their network and only watch CBS.

[bobnjersey]

[NBC = Hate Mongers]
[Posted by FARTKNOCKER2 at 05:10 PM : May 22, 2007]

who do they hate?

[talkingham]

It's sad to hear these whining Bushaholics whining about poor, poor baby Bush on every forum on this site. As though he and his policies that have led to the death of thousands and thousands of people for no good reason were not a reason to at least call this smirker to task for his failures since he never claims responsiiblity for his own actions. Considering the horrible mistakes his admin has overseen he's basically gotten a free ride in the press until very recently. Michael Moore was right all the way. It's taken the "mainstream" media 4 years to begin catching up.

Stone Phillips will do well doing the weather on a locl UHF affilaite for the WB or something.

[aaabee-2009]

It is because he is loosing his looks and won't get a face lift.

Rosie O is on the other side, by the way. (pst: she's gay and supports gay rights)