Keith Russell has been hired at WRC in Washington, DC, the NBC O&O announced today. He will anchor the midday newscast and contribute to the station’s evening newscasts.

The move is a transition from sports to news for Russell, who has been sports anchor at WPVI in Philadelphia since 2005. Prior to that, he spent more than five years as an anchor at ESPN.

“Keith is a smooth anchor and a solid storyteller, as he has shown through his many years working in television,” WRC vice president of news Camille Edwards said in a statement.  “I know his talents will easily transfer to news, and our viewers will enjoy his energy and his passion.”

Russell begins at the 11 a.m. anchor desk alongside Barbara Harrison on August 1.