“Daybreak” anchor Marc Istook.
WFAA
Fort Worth
After more than six years, Marc Istook signed off from WFAA on Friday.
The “Daybreak” anchor got the final word in Friday morning’s broadcast as he was surrounded by his family and co-workers. As the camera pushed him into frame, Istook choked backed tears as he spoke one final time from the Dallas-based station.
“I’m a big believer in the chapters of life,” Istook said. “I’m thrilled for the next chapter, but I am sad and heartbroken to say goodbye to this one.”
Wearing a purple tie as a nod to his alma mater, the 1998 TCU graduate said he’s filled with gratitude to have worked at his hometown station.
Istook shared thanks to his many colleagues, both on-air and behind-the-scenes. He also thanked the viewers for welcoming him into their home every morning.
As for what’s next, Istook said the day was all about WFAA, and he would share that announcement sometime soon on social media.
“In the meantime, I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude and beyond blessed this morning,” Istook said. “Again, thank you.”
Marc Istook’s North Texas ties
A native Texan, Istook has been in the media business for more than 25 years.
Istook cites on his website that his first big “get” was for the Star-Telegram back in 1991, when he interviewed Billy Joel. Istook, who was 14 at the time, served as one of the newspaper’s “Class Act” correspondents and chatted with a then 41-year-old Joel about his life and career, according to the Star-Telegram archives.
“A lot of my friends ended up in jail,” Joel said. “I was kind of with a wild crowd. If it weren’t for music, I don’t know where I would have been. It (music) probably saved my life.”
After graduating from Fort Worth’s Southwest High School, Istook traveled a few miles north to TCU. His career began behind-the-scenes at ESPN, where he produced graphics for various sports broadcasts.
His first on-camera job came at KTEN, the NBC affiliate in Denison, as a weekend sportscaster and eventual evening news anchor.
In 2001, Istook ventured west to Los Angeles, where he lived for several years.
During his time in the Golden State, he worked for ABC, CNN, BBC, Yahoo, NFL Network, the Food Network, the SPEED Channel and the TV Guide Network. Istook also covered the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Golden Globes.
In 2019, Istook came back home to join WFAA.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join the ‘Daybreak team,’” Istook said at the time. “I’ve dreamed of working on a dynamic, informative, energetic morning show for years and this show, in my hometown, is a perfect fit.”
🔥 In case you missed it…
New ‘Daybreak’ team
When one door closes at WFAA, another door opens up.
On Feb. 23, Matt Howerton and Dia Wall will join the “Daybreak” team as full-time morning anchors. Before the new gig, Howerton served as a general assignment reporter and Wall worked as an anchor and reporter.
In addition, anchor Kara Sewell went on maternity leave earlier this month for several months. The “Daybreak” team also recently hired Erica Lopez as its new traffic anchor.
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Brayden Garcia is a service journalism reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Brayden mainly writes about weather and all things Taylor Sheridan-related.