Diane Sawyer Passes ABC World News Torch

David Muir takes over September 2.

ABC's Diane Sawyer ended her tenure as anchor of "World News" on Wednesday, marking another milestone in a long and iconic career in TV news. In a warm goodbye, Sawyer thanked her viewers and said she felt privileged about her time sitting in the anchor chair.

"It has been wonderful to be the home port for the brave and brilliant forces of ABC News around the world and to feel every single night you and I were in a conversation about the day together. Sometimes, as we know, there have been tough stories but you always made it clear, like me, you believed that better will come, that the future is one of possibility," she said. "With gratitude for these years, I thank you and I'll see you right back here on ABC News very soon."

She assured viewers they were in "strong and steady hands" with her replacement, David Muir, who will officially take over from her on September 2nd.