Bill Ritter, a longtime anchor for WABC-TV New York’s “Eyewitness News,” steps away from his on-air role after disclosing that he has early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Multiple outlets report that Ritter made the announcement during a recent broadcast, telling viewers that it would be his final newscast. Sources also describe his extended tenure at the station, noting that he has anchored WABC’s nightly news program for more than two decades, including long stretches behind the anchor desk at the 6 p.m. time slot (with some reporting citing start dates around the early 2000s).
In the reporting, Ritter’s diagnosis follows medical testing, and he frames the decision as part of his health-related departure. Some outlets also reference that he has stepped back from certain broadcasts in the past, including leaving the 11 p.m. program in 2025, but the latest reports focus on Friday’s sign-off as his last appearance in the anchor chair. The overall accounts agree that he is retiring from the role he has held for years, citing Alzheimer’s as the reason.
