The co-anchor of Dateline NBC, Stone Stockton Phillips, was booted from the show as NBC did not renew his contract. The move is thought to be part of the NBC 2.0 cost cutting initiative. Earlier this spring, the network didn't renew the contract of "Nightly News" weekend anchor John Seigenthaler.

"It's been a wonderful 15 years," Phillips said, in a statement. "I'm profoundly appreciative of the many friends and colleagues, past and present, who have been a part of the 'Dateline' family."

His colleague, co-anchor Ann Curry will serve as the main anchor of the news magazine, because the network has no intention to hire a replacement for Phillips.

Stone Phillips has also worked as a substitute anchor for NBC Nightly News and Today and as a substitute moderator on Meet the Press. In 1986, the Yale graduate landed his first major on-air role as a correspondent for 20/20. That year, he also acted as substitute host on Good Morning America and as sports anchor on ABC’s World News Sunday. On October 17, 2005, Phillips was a guest on the premiere episode of The Colbert Report.

"On behalf of 'Dateline,' and all of us at NBC News, I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to Stone for all he has contributed to NBC News during his tenure here," NBC News President Steve Capus said. "His work on 'Dateline' over the past 15 years has been remarkable, as evidenced by the unprecedented awards Stone and the program have won, including 39 Emmys and four Peabodys. He is a first-rate journalist and a dedicated professional whose legacy here will live on with the program he established and cares so much about."