In this July 8, 2014 photo, actors and extras work during filming of the "The Walking Dead," in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
ATLANTA (AP) --
The network behind a show that's become synonymous with Georgia says it will "reevaluate" its activity in the state if a new abortion law goes into effect.
"The Walking Dead" is an economic powerhouse and brings streams of tourists to the Georgia towns where it has been filmed.
A statement from AMC Networks calls the abortion legislation "highly restrictive" and says it will be closely watching what's likely to be "a long and complicated fight" over the law. Georgia's ban on virtually all abortions will take effect next year if it's not blocked in the courts.
AMC is joining several other TV and film companies expressing concerns over the legislation, though no major studio has actually pulled out of the state. Georgia has become known as the "Hollywood of the South" due to its tax incentives for filming.
Tom Llamas appears on NBC's Today show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York on Sept. 3, 2021. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
NBC News appointed Tom Llamas on Wednesday to replace Lester Holt as anchor of "Nightly News" starting this summer, but he's not abandoning his streaming newscast.
The elevation of Llamas, 45, was widely anticipated. He has been Holt's chief substitute on the broadcast news summary since switching from ABC to NBC in 2021. He's also essentially the lead anchor for the NBC News Now streaming service, hosting the one-hour "Top Story" show.
Holt said last week that he was stepping down from "Nightly News" after a decade. He plans to stay at the network to work at "Dateline NBC."
"Tom has the winning combination of journalistic excellence, passionate storytelling and unyielding integrity — all characteristics that have long been trademarks of NBC `Nightly News,' said Janelle Rodriguez, NBC News' executive vice president of programming.
That leaves ABC's David Muir as the longest-serving evening news anchor at "World News Tonight," as well as the ratings leader. CBS News earlier this year replaced Norah O'Donnell with the team of John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois.
While news is a far different environment from the days Walter Cronkite was beamed into millions of homes at dinnertime, the ABC, CBS and NBC newscasts collectively reach more than 10 million viewers a night. The anchors are generally considered the face of the broadcast news divisions.
Llamas will be the first to take that role while retaining his job on the streaming service. His "Top Story" newscasts will begin each weeknight after "Nightly News" ends.
