NBC news announcer retires at 84
Through the eras of John Chancellor, Tom Brokaw and now Brian Williams, Howard Reig’s voice also was heard when viewers turned on the news.
“This is NBC Nightly News,” the clear baritone would say, ushering in headlines from Watergate to terrorism. Now 84, with a career that spans the life of television itself, Reig retired Friday as NBC’s last staff announcer. He’d been working for NBC and its parent, General Electric, for nearly 62 years.
Former “Nightly News” anchorman Brokaw recalled Reig’s nightly opening having a settling effect.
“It would be chaos around here, with things happening all over the place and big news breaking, and I’d hear Howard’s voice and know it was time to settle down and go to work,” Brokaw said.
At one time NBC had several announcers on staff, with duties that ranged from reading commercials to reading the news. Reig’s voice will continue to be heard on tape for awhile.
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