Brian Williams will likely lose his anchor chair

Photo: Virginia Sherwood/NBC

By Emily Smith
A decision about Brian Williams’ fate at NBC could come as early as this week — and it looks like the embattled anchor won’t be returning to “NBC Nightly News.”

Sources tell Page Six that Williams will likely lose his anchor chair following the lengthy internal investigation into his alleged tall tales.

But NBC brass — led by NBCUniversal CEO and president Steve Burke and NBC News chairman Andy Lack — have been looking for a way to keep him at the network in a different, yet-to-be-agreed-upon role. One source told us, “Brian’s six-month suspension is over in early August, and NBC chiefs are under pressure to come up with a solution. The talks are complicated and are ongoing, and there has not yet been a deal. But it is likely he won’t be back in the ‘Nightly’ anchor chair. A decision could be made as early as this week, if all sides can reach an agreement.”

Industry insiders said NBC News staff, led by Lack, have been encouraged to think of alternative roles for Williams.

But we are told the veteran anchor and his hard-charging attorney Robert Barnett have yet to agree and sign off on an alternative role. One insider said, “Many options are still on the table and are still being discussed, including ways to keep Brian at the network, or even for him to leave the network completely.”

The Post previously reported that Williams “would not go without a fight” and would have to be paid a large portion of his contract, which is worth about $10 million a year for five years.

NBC declined to comment.