After broadcasting the news for more than 30 years, Lloyd Robertson will be stepping down from CTV National News in 2011.

The anchor announced his retirement on Thursday night’s broadcast but will continue in this role until the middle of next year, which will mark his 35th year as the show’s host.

But it won’t be the last that Canada will see of Robertson. His replacement will be announced later Friday, and the pair will share anchor duties until mid-2011 when Robertson will step down. After that, he’ll move on to other roles within the network, including co-hosting current affairs series W5.

As chief anchor and senior editor since 1983, Robertson is North America’s longest-serving network news anchor with 50 years of experience to his name. He joined the CTV family in 1976 after anchoring CBC’s national news from 1970 to 1976. Prior to his TV career, Robertson spent his early broadcasting years in radio in his hometown of Stratford, ON and in Guelph.

CTV National News consistently ranks in the top 20 TV programs in English Canada, according to BBM. This week it placed 14th with 1.2 million Canucks (2+) tuning in Monday to Sunday.