Andrew Lack is associated with some of the most successful years in NBC’s history. Known for his steady leadership and focus on journalistic excellence, he helped shape NBC News into one of the most respected news organizations in the world. His two separate tenures at NBC reflected both innovation and expansion in the world of broadcast journalism.
NBC News 1993-2001
Andrew Lack first joined NBC News as president in 1993, at a time when the network needed renewed energy and direction. As he explained, “When I joined NBC, NBC News was embroiled in a scandal around a new, prime-time Dateline magazine story in which its journalism was being questioned. The Today Show was a distant second to ABC’s Good Morning America in audience. The NBC Nightly News was a distant 3rd to ABC’s World News Tonight.”
His top priority was restoring credibility. “My first obligation was to restore our reputation and confidence. I knew we had the reporters and the talent. And I knew it would take some time. It took three years, at the end of which we were #1 across the board.”
One of the biggest steps forward came in 1996, when he co-founded MSNBC, an ambitious partnership between NBC and Microsoft. Lack described the vision behind the decision: “Both organizations wanted to get into the 24-hour, 7-day-a-week news business and create a new generation of content that worked across new platforms. Creating a new cable news channel and a dynamic digital website with Microsoft—along with our existing broadcast network—would give us a unique position in media around the world. It was a dream come true for me, an extraordinary opportunity.”
During Lack’s leadership, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw became the most-watched evening news program in America, known for its credibility and thoughtful coverage. Dateline NBC expanded into one of the most successful primetime newsmagazines on television, known for its compelling storytelling.
Lack also helped reinvent NBC’s morning show, Today. He built a new $15 million studio and brought the show back outside to Rockefeller Plaza with its now-iconic “window on the world.” This shift created daily audience events, star-studded concerts, and a more engaging, viewer-friendly atmosphere. He also added a third hour, helping Today rise to the top of morning television.
By the time he was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer in 2001, Lack had guided NBC through nearly a decade of growth and success. His work helped establish NBC News as the most-watched and trusted news division in the country. Andrew Lack left NBC in 2003 to lead Sony Music Entertainment and later Bloomberg Media. After his departure, Neal Shapiro was promoted to the president role.
Andy Lack’s Return to NBC 2015-2020
After leading Sony Music Entertainment and the Bloomberg Media Group as both Chairman and CEO, Andrew Lack returned to NBC News in 2015 as Chairman. The news division was once again navigating a difficult moment. He explained his motivation clearly: “Ironically, NBC News was facing an unfortunate personnel drama that involved its flagship NBC Nightly News Anchor, Brian Williams. I had a long relationship with Brian, who is extraordinarily talented, at NBC News. NBC had new owners in Comcast. They thought because of my successful history with NBC I had the right experience to manage that issue and move the company forward.”
As part of that effort, he helped create The 11th Hour, the program Williams would eventually anchor. “We created a new program for Brian called The 11th Hour, which he named, and it proved to be a tremendous success.”
During his second tenure, Lack also focused heavily on digital transformation. He expanded NBC News Digital and launched NBC News Now, helping the network reach audiences across television, streaming, and social platforms. He also oversaw the creation of a new multimillion-dollar Washington bureau located near the White House on North Capitol Street.
Throughout a rapidly changing media environment, he championed fact-based reporting and the importance of journalistic integrity.
Andrew Lack Across Two Eras of NBC
Across both eras at NBC, Andrew Lack’s leadership left a deep and lasting mark. He was known for his belief in great storytelling, his respect for journalists, and his ability to guide the network through both challenges and opportunities.
From revitalizing NBC Nightly News and Today in the 1990s to expanding NBC’s digital reach in the 2010s, Lack helped NBC evolve with the times while staying true to its core mission: delivering trusted, high-quality journalism.