Diane Sawyer signs off as anchor of ABC's World News and thanks her viewers for 'the deep privilege' after five years in top spot

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The 68-year-old announced that she was leaving a day earlier than expected
Left with little fuss and thanked her team at World News and her viewers
Earlier tweeted ‘See you tonight for my last anchoring. Great adventures ahead!’
It is the fourth time that ABC has swapped anchors since the death of ABC News veteran Peter Jennings in 2005
Sawyer will still head up an investigative unit for ABC News
But she will no longer receive her reported $20million salary after her departure

By MailOnline Reporter and Belinda Robinson

Published: 19:32 EST, 27 August 2014 | Updated: 21:37 EST, 27 August 2014

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Diane Sawyer signed off as anchor of ABC's 'World News' on Wednesday, telling viewers that it has been wonderful to be the 'home port' of the network's news team each weeknight.

She will be replaced next week by David Muir. The 68-year-old Sawyer, one of television news' best-known personalities, has anchored ABC's flagship newscast since December 2009.

While it's been known for months that this was Sawyer's last week as anchor, it wasn't until she tweeted earlier Wednesday that it became clear she wasn't anchoring on Thursday and Friday.

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Deep privilege: Diane Sawyer left her position as anchor of ABC's World News on Wednesday night with little fuss and thanked her team and her viewers for the 'deep privilege' after five years at the helm

On Wednesday's newscast, she chatted briefly on the set with Muir and took viewers on a behind-the-scenes tour pointing out people who worked at 'World News.'

'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 that you and I were in a conversation about the day together,' she said.

'With gratitude for these years, I thank you, and I’ll see you right back here on ABC News very soon.'

Even when the night's news is bad, Sawyer said she felt she shared a conviction with viewers that things will get better.

She said of Muir, 'he is my friend and you are in strong and steady hands.'

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Diane Sawyer says goodbye to ABC World News

Sawyer isn't retiring. She said Wednesday that she will move 'down the hall and up the stairs' to a reporting job.

She will be expected to compete for big newsmaking interviews at the network, with more room to maneuver now that Barbara Walters isn't working regularly anymore.

'World News' has been a steady No. 2 in the ratings to NBC's 'Nightly News,' anchored by Brian Williams, for most of Sawyer's tenure, although in recent months it has made inroads among some younger viewers.

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CBS, with Scott Pelley as anchor, is the third-place network.

The 68-year-old announced her departure a day earlier than most were expecting and tweeted: ‘See you tonight for my last anchoring - great adventures ahead!'

It is the fourth time that ABC has swapped anchors since the death of ABC veteran Peter Jennings in 2005.

Departure: Diane Sawyer sits on the set of 'World News With Diane Sawyer' she will say her final goodbye on August 27 2014

Tweet: Ms Sawyer tweeted 'See you tonight for my last anchoring - great adventures ahead!'

Anchors: Peter Jennings, left, Diane Sawyer and Tom Brokaw sit together during The Coro Foundation's 3rd Annual Commitment To Leadership Dinner at Tavern on the Green in New York City, New York

Earlier this year, ABC announced that her replacement will be David Muir, who often sits in the anchor chair when Ms Sawyer is off.

He will officially take over the hot seat on September 2.

According to sources, Ms Sawyer felt that the time was right to make her exit and has done so on her own terms.

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She confided in just a handful of close friends about her plan to leave and is leaving with little fuss or fanfare.

Replacement: Her replacement will be David Muir, left, who often sits in the anchor chair when Ms Sawyer is off

But she has already signed up for a new 'adventure.'

She will be heading up an investigative unit for ABC News but will not receive the bumper $20million salary that she reportedly got when she was the face of World News.

Nevertheless she will remain at the heart of the news operation, working alongside reporters and editors who have been carefully chosen for the job.

Many of her new colleagues are said to be already working for Nightline and Good Morning America.

During her long career, Ms Sawyer has had several high profile roles.

In 1984, she became the first female correspondent on 60 Minutes, a CBS News investigative-television news magazine.

60 MINUTES: In 1984, she became the first female correspondent on 60 Minutes (clockwise from far left) Ed Bradley, Mike Wallace, Harry Reasoner, Morley Safer and Diane Sawyer pictured here in 1986

During her five years with 60 Minutes, the program regularly ranked among the top-five most-watched in the country

She moved to ABC in 1989 anchored the news magazines Primetime and 20/20 and later co-anchored Good Morning America.

The well-loved anchor has had many career highs including interviews with past and present world leaders including President Obama, Saddam Hussein and Fidel Castro.

She has also landed scoops which include the first interview with Jaycee Dugard about her years of captivity and abuse at the hands of Phillip Garrido.

And the reporter and anchor managed to land an exclusive interviews with Amanda Knox.

Scoop: After being held captive for 18 years, Jaycee Dugard talks to Diane Sawyer in her first interview since being discovered and freed

Interview: Diane Sawyer interviewed First Lady Michelle Obama for ABC Television Network

Exclusives: Amanda Knox spoke to Diane Sawyer during an exclusive interview

And in the ongoing ratings battle among news broadcasters ABC World News has been scoring well against NBC's Nightly News.

In fact, according to Nielson, the network's ratings are at a five-year high.

Ms Saywer managed to attract an average audience of about 7.36 million viewers to World News last week.

In the coveted ‘news demo’ spot which is of concern to advertisers, ABC's World News led the pack.

It had 1.918 million viewers of adults 25-54, followed by NBC's Nightly News With Brian Williams with 1.860 million and CBS Evening News With Scott Pelley with 1.635 million.

Ms Sawyer is expected to jump back into the anchor chair for prime-time specials and big interviews.

And ABC is said to be quietly hoping that her exit will draw viewers to watch tonight’s broadcast, as she says her final goodbye.