Longtime Weekend “Today” and “Nightly News” anchor Lester Holt is adding “Dateline NBC” to his anchor duties. Holt takes over for Ann Curry who has anchored the show since 2005, and who was named co-anchor of “Today” in May.

“Dateline NBC” was Launched in 1992, and in recent years has covered sensational crime stories which draw viewers and are easily re-purposed on MSNBC and other cable nets.

Holt — whose nickname is Iron Pants around the office, a testament to his work ethic — begins anchoring the 20th season of Dateline this Friday. Chris Hansen, Hoda Kotb, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy continue as correspondents.

“One of the hardest working men on television, we are so pleased that Lester has added ‘Dateline’ to his portfolio,” said NBC News president Steve Capus.

As Dateline gets a new anchor, NBC News continues to put significant time and money behind “Rock Center with Brian Williams,” a new weekly, live primetime news program anchored by Brian Williams. A premiere date for “Rock Center” has not yet been announced.