Amazon is reportedly in advanced negotiations with former NBC News anchor Brian Williams to host a special presidential election-night program on its Prime Video streaming platform, according to sources familiar with the matter according to a report from Variety.
The proposed special would see Williams leading discussions alongside prominent pundits and news personalities as they analyze the high-stakes race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. An agreement with Williams could be finalized as early as this week.
If this happens, it would mark Amazon’s first venture into original live news content. However, insiders emphasize that the election special should not be interpreted as a shift towards regular news programming for the e-commerce giant, according to multiple reports. Though Amazon, if successful, is reportedly looking at more live news programs similar to this.
For Williams, this opportunity would represent a significant return to the national spotlight. His previous tenure as anchor of NBC’s “Nightly News” spanned over a decade, but he left the network in 2015 after admitting to fabricating a story about being in a helicopter under attack.
Amazon’s interest in live event programming aligns with its strategy to attract new subscribers to its streaming platform, which also supports its retail business. The company has previously secured broadcasting rights for the NFL on Thursdays and recently announced a long-term deal with the NBA to begin streaming games in the 2025-26 season. Live events help drive up ad revenue as advertisers are willing to pay more for ads show on live events as they are more likely to be seen.
Amazon is will face stiff competition on election night if they launch this coverage, as traditional broadcast and cable news outlets typically command larger audiences for live election coverage.