NBC News officially announced on Sunday morning that David Gregory, its longtime correspondent, would become the permanent moderator of “Meet the Press,” the network’s Sunday political discussion program. It had been expected that Mr. Gregory would replace Tim Russert, who died of a heart attack in June.

The network used the appearance by President-Elect Barack Obama on Sunday to name Mr. Gregory, who will start next week. The interim moderator, Tom Brokaw, formally introduced the 38-year-old Mr. Gregory at the end of his interview with Mr. Obama.

Image David Gregory Credit... Alex Wong/Getty Images

Mr. Brokaw announced that this Sunday would be his last as what he called “the temporary moderator” filling in for his longtime friend, Mr. Russert, and identified Mr. Gregory as both another great journalist and personal friend.