NBC Chooses Chuck Todd to Replace David Gregory on ‘Meet the Press’

Confirming one of the longest-running and most tortuous rumors in the television business, NBC News announced on Thursday that David Gregory was being removed from his post as anchor of the network’s Sunday morning discussion program “Meet the Press” and would be replaced by Chuck Todd, NBC’s White House correspondent.

News of the impending switch has been reported on an unofficial basis for several weeks, and the timing of the move was confirmed in a report on the website of CNN on Thursday. But NBC delayed in making the confirmation official until it had finally worked out the terms of Mr. Gregory’s departure.

He will leave the network after a two-decade career, the president of NBC News, Deborah Turness, said in an interview on Thursday. “The time had come for this to happen,” Ms. Turness said. She said she had decided on the change after trying to reshape the show under Mr. Gregory. “The numbers just didn’t move,” Ms. Turness said, referring to ratings for the program.

Ms. Turness also praised Mr. Todd, calling him “massively respected as one of the best, if not the best political analysts in the business.”

Mr. Todd, who has made little secret of his desire to win the job (he pursued it aggressively in 2008 when NBC made the decision to appoint Mr. Gregory), is known as a devotee of every aspect of the political maneuverings of Washington. He previously served for six years as the editor in chief of the inside-politics newsletter, “The Hotline.” Mr. Todd, who is 42, will give up his post as the network’s chief White House correspondent, Ms. Turness said, as well as his daily morning program for NBC’s news channel, MSNBC.

Andrea Mitchell will fill in as the anchor on the program this Sunday. Mr. Todd will take over the program on Sept. 7.