>>> TONIGHT, ISRAEL CALLING THIS THE MOST INTENSE DAY OF FIGHTING SINCE THE GROUND WAR BEGAN AS WE LEARNED OF HORRIFYING NEW ALLEGATIONS OF HAMAS USING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AS A WEAPON. ISRAEL'S MILITARY SAYS IT'S NOW FIGHTING IN THE HEART OF KHAN YUNIS, GAZA'S SECOND LARGEST CITY, AS IT PUSHES FARTHER INTO THE SOUTH. HOSPITALS OVERWHELMED BY THE WOUNDED WHILE IN ISRAEL, THE EMOTIONAL MOMENT THE 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL HELD HOSTAGE 49 DAYS EMBRACED BY CLASSMATES ON HER FIRST DAY BACK TO KINDERGARTEN. PLUS, THE APPALLING ALLEGATIONS. ISRAEL SAYING IT HAS DOCUMENTED HUNDREDS OF RAPES AND SEX CRIMES COMMITTED BY HAMAS DURING THE OCTOBER 7 TERROR ATTACK. THE HARROWING EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, HOMES AND ROADS FLOODING AS POWERFUL STORMS FUELED BY A ATMOSPHERIC RIVER SLAM THE NORTHWEST. WE'RE TRACKING IT. >>> THE MASSIVE HOUSE EXPLOSION IN VIRGINIA AS POLICE ATTEMPTED TO SERVE A SEARCH WARRANT ON A MAN FIRING OFF DOZENS OF FLARES THE SUSPECT INSIDE PRESUMED DEAD. WHAT WE'RE LEARNING. >>> MORE THAN 400 U.S. MILITARY PROMOTIONS APPROVED AFTER THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR BLOCKING THEM DROPPED HIS MONTHS-LONG HOLD >>> NEWS ON THE EIGHT AMERICANS KILLED IN AN OSPREY CRASH OFF JAPAN. ALL OF THEM NOW IDENTIFIED >>> AND THE STREAMING WARS HEATING UP. THE NEW WAY YOU CAN SAVE A BUNDLE. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME, EVERYONE. ONE OF THE LEAST DISCUSSED ATROCITIES IN THE OCTOBER 7th HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL IS COMING INTO HORRIFYING FOCUS TONIGHT. STORIES OF WOMEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND BRUTALLY KILLED. TONIGHT, INVESTIGATORS FROM ISRAEL ARE REVEALING EYEWITNESS AND VICTIM ACCOUNTS, SOME REVIEWED BY NBC NEWS THEY DESCRIBE GANG RAPES, THE BODIES OF DECEASED VICTIMS BEARING SIGNS OF MUTE LAKE AND WHAT MANY ENDURED IN THEIR FINAL HOURS AT THE HANDS OF TERRORISTS TONIGHT, PRESIDENT BIDEN CALLING THE ACCOUNTS APPALLING THE ISRAELI MILITARY, MEANTIME, SAYS IT HAS KILLED SEVERAL HAMAS LEADERS, AS IT STEPS UP ITS GROUND WAR IN THE SOUTH, BUT THAT IS ALSO LEAVING PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS WITH FEWER AND FEWER PLACES TO SHELTER. WE HAVE TO WARN YOU TONIGHT, SOME OF THE IMAGES AND STORIES ARE QUITE GRAPHIC. LET'S START WITH NBC'S HALA GORANI. >> Reporter: ON OCTOBER 7th, HAMAS ATTACKED WITHIN ISRAEL'S BORDERS WITH A WAVE OF TERROR, MURDERING OVER 1,200 PEOPLE, INCLUDING ENTIRE FAMILIES. AND ISRAELI INVESTIGATORS SAY THERE IS GROWING EVIDENCE THAT HAMAS UNLEASHED ANOTHER KIND OF HORROR AGAINST WOMEN. >> SOMETHING SO HORRIFIC HAPPENED, AND THE WORLD SHOULD KNOW. >> Reporter: WE SPOKE TO MARIT BIN MAYER, WHO IS HELPING LEAD THE ALLEGATIONS OF REPEATED RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULTS BY HAMAS. WHERE DOES YOUR INVESTIGATION STAND? >> WE HAVE EYEWITNESSES THAT ARE SLOWLY ARRIVING AND GIVING TESTIMONIES >> Reporter: DISTURBING ACCOUNTS ABOUT OCTOBER 7th, INCLUDING THIS WOMAN DESCRIBING HOW A HAMAS TERRORIST, QUOTE, LAID A WOMAN DOWN HE IS RAPING HER, AND THEN THEY PASS HER ON TO ANOTHER PERSON, TELLING INVESTIGATORS THE WOMAN WAS ALIVE AND BLEEDING ANOTHER CHILLING EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT FROM YONI SAADON TELLING "THE SUNDAY TIMES" HE WAS AT THE MUSIC FESTIVAL WHERE HAMAS SLAUGHTERED HUNDREDS OF ISRAELI CONCERT-GOERS. HE HID UNDER DEAD BOLDS, SAYING HE SAW A, QUOTE, BEAUTIFUL WOMAN WITH THE FACE OF AN ANGEL AND EIGHT OR TEN OF THE FIGHTERS BEATING AND RAPING HER. WHEN THEY FINISHED, THEY WERE LAUGHING AND THE LAST ONE SHOT HER IN THE HEAD, HE SAID HAMAS HAS DENIED COMMITTING SEXUAL CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN ISRAELI OFFICIALS SAY THE INVESTIGATION IS CHALLENGING BECAUSE MOST VICTIMS WERE KILLED BUT AMONG THE EVIDENCE SEEN BY NBC NEWS, GRAPHIC PHOTOS OF WOMEN'S BODIES WITH OBVIOUS SIGNS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, INCLUDING SOME NAKED FROM THE WAIST DOWN. >> SOME OF THE TERRORISTS THAT ARE INTERROGATED, THEY'RE SAYING THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING AND THIS WAS DONE >> Reporter: FIRST RESPONDERS DESCRIBING NAKED FEMALE BODIES TIED TO BEDS NBC NEWS ALSO REVIEWING THIS HAMAS DOCUMENT THAT ISRAELI OFFICIALS SAY WAS CARRIED BY HAMAS MILITANTS ON OCTOBER 7th WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SAY "TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS" IN HEBREW THE U.N. FACING BACKLASH FOR ITS RESPONSE, SOME DEEMED TOO SLOW, INCLUDING THIS PROTEST MONDAY. CRITICS BLASTING THE SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR TAKING SEVEN WEEKS TO PUBLICLY CALL FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF HAMAS AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE. AND THE AGENCY U.N. WOMEN FOR NOT PUTTING OUT A STATEMENT UNTIL LAST FRIDAY. TONIGHT, THE AGENCY TELLING US, IN PART, WITHIN DAYS OF THE HORRIFIC ATTACKS, U.N. WOMEN BEGAN OFFERING CONCRETE SUPPORT TO THE U.N. COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, WHICH IS INVESTIGATING THESE MATTERS. >> I FEEL LIKE THE WORLD HAS TURNED THEIR BACKS. >> Reporter: THIS WOMAN RUNS A RAPE CRISIS CENTER IN TEL AV AVIV, AND SAYS ISRAEL'S CRITICS ARE DOWNPLAYING, EVEN DISMISSING, ALLEGED HAMAS SEXUAL VIOLENCE. YOU SAY PEOPLE CAN BE OPPOSED TO WHAT'S HAPPENING TO PALESTINIANS. >> ABSOLUTELY. YEAH, THERE IS TWO THINGS THAT DON'T HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER. I FEEL FOR THE SUFFERING OF PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THERE CAN NEVER, EVER, EVER BE AN EXCUSE FOR RAPE >> AND HALA, PRESIDENT BIDEN, AS WE MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE NEWSCAST, HAS BEEN SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THIS WHAT IS HE SAYING? >> Reporter: WELL, HE IS SAYING THAT THE SEXUAL VIOLENCE, THE QUOTE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE BY HAMAS, IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND THAT THE WORLD CANNOT LOOK AWAY THE ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, AS WELL, BLASTING WHAT HE CALLS THE SILENCE OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, LESTER >> HALA GORANI, THANK YOU. >>> ISRAEL'S MILITARY PUSHED FARTHER INTO SOUTHERN GAZA TODAY, IN WHAT HE CALLED THE MOST INTENSE DAY OF THE GROUND OPERATION TARGETING HAMAS. BUT MANY PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS SAY THEY HAVE NOWHERE LEFT TO GO RICHARD ENGEL REPORTS. >> Reporter: THE U.N.'S HUMANITARIAN CHIEF SAYS EVERY TIME IT LOOKS LIKE IT CAN'T GET MORE APOCALYPTIC IN GAZA, IT DOES THESE IMAGES ARE FROM DAYR AL BALAH IN CENTRAL GAZA TODAY LANA WAS INJURED BY AN ISRAELI STRIKE AND CARRIED INTO A HOSPITAL BY HER UNCLE. "I WANT MY MOM, I MISS HER," SHE CRIES. SHE IS 6 YEARS OLD GAZANS ARE ESCAPING ISRAEL'S EXPANDING GROUND OFFENSIVE AGAINST HAMAS BY HEADING FURTHER SOUTH. RAFAH, AT THE SOUTHERNMOST PART OF GAZA ON THE EGYPTIAN BORDER, IS THE END OF THE LINE THE TOWN IS NOW SO OVERCROWDED, FAMILIES LIVE ON THE CURBS. GAZANS SAY THEY FEEL ABANDONED, THAT THEIR LIVES DON'T COUNT. A MAN NOTICES OUR CAMERA FILMING AND SAYS, "DON'T BOTHER. NOBODY CARES." THIS MAN JUST SAW HIS NIECE'S BODY UNDER WHAT'S LEFT OF HIS FAMILY HOME. ZAKARIA RETURNED TO DIG UNDER THE HOUSE HIT THIS WEEKEND TO LOOK FOR HIS RELATIVES. "MY LOVE, MY LOVE," HE SAYS HIS MOTHER, FATHER, SISTER, AND BROTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN WERE ALL KILLED. ISRAEL SAYS IT'S WARNING PALESTINIANS WHERE TO GO TO AVOID STRIKES. >> WE'VE BEEN MAKING AGAIN WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE IN OUR CAPABILITIES, EVERY EFFORT WE CAN TO FACILITATE THE MOVEMENT OF CIVILIANS IN THE SOUTH, IN ORDER TO MITIGATE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES >> Reporter: THERE ARE STILL 137 HOSTAGES IN GAZA 5-YEAR-OLD EMILIA WENT BACK TO KINDERGARTEN TODAY. SHE WAS KIDNAPPED BY HAMAS AND FREED DURING LAST WEEK'S CEASEFIRE. AND IN THE UNITED STATES, A WARNING FROM THE FBI DIRECTOR ABOUT THE INCREASED POSSIBILITY OF AN ATTACK IN THE U.S. FOLLOWING THE HAMAS TERROR ATTACKS ON OCTOBER 7th. >> I SEE BLINKING LIGHTS EVERYWHERE I TURN >> RICHARD, THERE IS ALSO A TENSE MEETING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS BETWEEN ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER AND THE FAMILIES OF HOSTAGES WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT >> Reporter: SO, IT WAS A VERY TENSE MEETING, ACCORDING TO SOMEONE WHO WAS INSIDE THEY TOLD US THAT THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE HOSTAGES WERE YELLING AT PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU, IN SOME CASES, USING PROFANITIES. THEY ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF PRIORITIZING THE FIGHT AGAINST HAMAS, THEY WANT TO GO BACK TO NEGOTIATIONS, THEY WANT TO SEE MORE HOSTAGES RELEASED, AND THEN, THEY SAY, THE ISRAELI MILITARY SHOULD GO AFTER HAMAS. LESTER >> ALL RIGHT, RICHARD ENGEL IN JERUSALEM, THANKS >>> HERE AT HOME MILLIONS ARE UNDER FLOOD WATCHES IN THE NORTHWEST WITH STORMS ALREADY SENDING RIVERS ABOVE FLOOD STAGE. MIGUEL ALMAGUER IN WASHINGTON STATE MIGUEL, THE WORST IS YET TO COME? >> Reporter: YEAH, LESTER RIVERS ARE RAGING AND A LANDSLIDE HAS CUT OFF LOCAL AMTRAK SERVICE. AND ONE TOWN IS SURROUNDED BY WATER. AND THE THREAT ISN'T OVER A POWERFUL UNRELENTING TORRENT IS TONIGHT CASCADING ACROSS COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE SEATTLE. DANGEROUS WALLS OF WATER FUELED BY DAYS OF DRENCHING RAIN LEAVING SOME 9 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THE REGION UNDER FLOOD ALERTS WITH FIVE RIVERS THREATENING TO BURST THEIR BANKS, HOMES, CARS, AND ROADS ARE ALREADY PARTIALLY SUBMERGED. >> IF IT'S A COUPLE INCHES OR A FULL FOOT OF WATER, OR ANYTHING IN BETWEEN, IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. >> Reporter: AS THREE MAJOR STORMS BARREL DOWN ON THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, TONIGHT, A PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, A WARM FLOW OF MOISTURE FROM HAWAII, IS ALREADY DOUSING THE REGION THE CONVEYOR BELT OF STEADY RAIN SETTING A RECORD IN SEATTLE MONDAY COULD DUMP UP TO EIGHT INCHES THIS WEEK, WREAKING HAVOC ON THE REGION. >> IF IT'S GOT WATER OVER THE ROAD, LIKE THEY SAY, TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN. >> Reporter: WITH RESCUE CREWS ON HIGH ALERT AND ACCIDENTS PILING UP, TONIGHT, THESE WATER-LOGGED COMMUNITIES ARE BRACING FOR YET ANOTHER ROUND OF RAIN. A REGION ON THE BRINK OF DISASTER AS THE WATER CONTINUES TO RISE MIGUEL ALMAGUER, NBC NEWS, FALL CITY, WASHINGTON >>> LET'S GET TO THAT MASSIVE HOME EXPLOSION IN VIRGINIA THAT HAPPENED AS POLICE TRIED TO TALK A BARRICADED MAN OUT TOM COSTELLO IS IN THE SHAKEN NEIGHBORHOOD TONIGHT. >> Reporter: NEIGHBORS IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, FEARED THIS WAS GOING TO END BADLY. JUST AFTER 8:00 MONDAY NIGHT, IT DID. A MASSIVE EXPLOSION LIFTING AN ENTIRE HOME OFF ITS FOUNDATION IT STARTED IN THE AFTERNOON, WHEN POLICE RESPONDED TO REPORTS OF A MAN INSIDE HAD FIRED A FLARE GUN MORE THAN 30 TIMES. THAT LED TO A STANDOFF WITH A S.W.A.T. TEAM ARMED WITH A SEARCH WARRANT. >> OPEN THE FRONT DOOR WITH YOUR HANDS UP. >> Reporter: THEN THE ENORMOUS EXPLOSION THAT SHOOK HOMES FOR BLOCKS >> WE NEED ALL FIRE. THE HOUSE HAS EXPLODED, I BELIEVE. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS ACTUALLY, LIKE, PROBABLY, LIKE, EITHER A CAR CRASH OR, LIKE, A PLANE CRASH. >> Reporter: THIS AFTERNOON, POLICE IDENTIFIED THE SUSPECT AS 56-YEAR-OLD JAMES YOO, WHO SEVERAL NEIGHBORS SAY ACTED ERRATICALLY, COVERING HIS WINDOWS IN ALUMINUM FOIL. POLICE ALSO CONFIRM HE POSTED ONLINE CONSPIRACY THEORIES. >> THE SUSPECT WAS INSIDE THE RESIDENCE AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION, AND HE IS PRESUMED AT THIS POINT TO BE DECEASED >> Reporter: THOMAS CHOICE LIVED NEXT DOOR AND SAYS HE WASN'T SURPRISED BY THE MASSIVE BLAST. >> HE WAS NOT A STABLE INDIVIDUAL >> Reporter: POLICE SAY YOO HAD NO KNOWN CRIMINAL RECORD, BUT HAD A HISTORY OF FILING UNSUBSTANTIATED COMPLAINTS WITH THE FBI. POLICE STILL SEARCHING FOR A CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION. POLICE AND THE FBI SAY THERE IS NO ONGOING THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS WAS AN ISOLATED CASE TEN HOMES WERE DAMAGED. NO ONE ELSE SERIOUSLY INJURED. LESTER >> ALL RIGHT, TOM COSTELLO, THANKS >>> NOW TO TWO MAJOR BATTLES ON CAPITOL HILL, ONE OF THEM THE LONG DELAY OF HUNDREDS OF MILITARY APPOINTMENTS JUST RESOLVED, WHILE NEW FUNDING FOR THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS STILL HELD UP HERE IS PETER ALEXANDER. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A DRAMATIC REVERSAL AFTER MONTHS OF SINGLE-HANDEDLY BLOCKING MORE THAN 400 MILITARY PROMOTIONS FOR SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S HIGHEST RANKING OFFICERS, ALABAMA REPUBLICAN SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE IS BACKING DOWN, ABRUPTLY LIFTING HIS HOLD >> I'M RELEASING EVERYBODY. I'VE STILL GOT A HOLD ON I THINK 11 FOUR-STAR GENERALS EVERYBODY ELSE IS COMPLETELY RELEASED FROM ME. >> Reporter: TUBERVILLE HAD BEEN FACING BIPARTISAN BACKLASH FOR HOLDING UP THE NOMINATIONS FOR MONTHS IN PROTEST OF THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT'S POLICY THAT ALLOWS SERVICE MEMBERS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR TRAVEL COSTS RELATED TO GETTING AN ABORTION. STILL, THERE'S ANOTHER CLASH IN CONGRESS THAT'S THREATENING ONE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BIGGEST FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES UKRAINE. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY'S TOP AIDE TODAY WARNING WITHOUT MORE U.S. MILITARY AID, UKRAINE FACES A BIG RISK OF LOSING THE WAR. >> ANY MEMBER OF CONGRESS WHO DOES NOT SUPPORT FUNDING FOR UKRAINE IS VOTING FOR AN OUTCOME THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR PUTIN TO PREVAIL. >> Reporter: THERE HAS BEEN A FIERCE DEBATE OVER THAT FUNDING ON CAPITOL HILL, WITH HOUSE REPUBLICANS INSISTING ON ACCOUNTABILITY FOR AMERICAN FUNDS ALREADY SENT TO UKRAINE. AND DEMANDING THAT DEMOCRATS FIRST AGREE TO TOUGHENING RESTRICTIONS AT THE U.S./MEXICO BORDER >> THE BATTLE IS FOR THE BORDER WE DO THAT FIRST AS A TOP PRIORITY >> Reporter: LESTER, LATE TONIGHT, THE SENATE QUICKLY CONFIRMED ABOUT 425 MILITARY PROMOTIONS, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN BLASTED TUBERVILLE'S BLOCKADE AS POINTLESS. LESTER >> PETER ALEXANDER AT THE WHITE HOUSE, THANKS >>> THE AIR FORCE HAS NOW IDENTIFIED ALL EIGHT OF THE AIRMEN WHO DIED IN THE CRASH OF THAT OSPREY AIRCRAFT LAST WEEK OFF THE COAST OF JAPAN THEY WERE ON A TRAINING MISSION THEY RANGE IN AGE FROM 24 TO 36 THE REMAINS OF ALL BUT TWO OF THE AIRMEN HAVE BEEN LOCATED THE CRASH WAS THE LATEST IN THE TROUBLED HISTORY OF THE OSPREY AIRCRAFT >>> IN 60 SECONDS, THE PRESIDENTS OF ELITE COLLEGES ARE QUESTIONED BY CONGRESS AND HOW THEY'RE HANDLING FREE SPEECH AND CLASHES ON CAMPUS. THAT'S NEXT. >>> BACK NOW WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF THREE ELITE UNIVERSITIES FACING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RISE IN HATE ON CAMPUS AS STEPHANIE GOSK REPORTS, MANY LAWMAKERS ACCUSE THEM OF NOT DOING ENOUGH TO STOP IT. >> Reporter: ON CAPITOL HILL, THE PRESIDENTS OF THREE TOP SCHOOLS, M.I.T., UPENN, AND HARVARD, GRILLED OVER A SPIKE IN ANTI-SEMITISM ON THEIR CAMPUSES >> YOUR UNIVERSITY IS A HOTBED OF IT >> Reporter: AT THE CENTER OF THE HEARING, TENSION OVER HOW TO PROTECT BOTH STUDENT SAFETY AND FREE SPEECH WHILE COMBATTING ANTI-SEMITISM AN ISLAMOPHOBIA >> DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST SHOULD NEVER ESCALATE TO THREATS OF VIOLENCE. >> Reporter: HARVARD'S PRESIDENT WAS ASKED ABOUT PRO-PALESTINIAN DEMONSTRATORS CALLING FOR INTIFADA ON HER CAMPUS >> CAN YOU NOT SAY HERE THAT IS AGAINST THE CODE OF CONDUCT AT HARVARD? >> WE EMBRACE A COMMITMENT TO FREE EXPRESSION EVEN OF VIEWS THAT ARE OBJECTIONABLE, OFFENSIVE, HATEFUL IT'S WHEN THAT SPEECH CROSSES INTO CONDUCT THAT VIOLATES OUR POLICIES >> Reporter: IN RECENT WEEKS, A NUMBER OF JEWISH STUDENTS HAVE TOLD NBC NEWS THEY WORRY FOR THEIR SAFETY >> WHY TODAY A JEWISH STUDENT IS AFRAID TO WALK TO THE LIBRARY AT NIGHT? >> CONGRESSMAN, LET ME START BY SAYING I'M DEVASTATED TO HEAR THAT, AND THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR CAMPUS AND OUR STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR IS MY TOP CONCERN. >> Reporter: ALL THREE PRESIDENTS ARE FACING CRITICISM FOR THEIR RESPONSE TO HATE RHETORIC ON CAMPUS EACH WALKED THROUGH NEW PLANS TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM. STAFF HERE AT UPENN SAY THEY RECEIVED ANTI-SEMITIC EMAILS AND HATEFUL SLOGANS WERE PROJECTED ON BUILDINGS. NOW THERE IS ADDITIONAL SECURITY AT RELIGIOUS CENTERS AND A NEW ANTI-SEMITISM TASK FORCE EDITORS OF UPENN'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SPOKE WITH US TODAY ON CAMPUS >> I THINK THE IMPORTANT PART IS TO HAVE RESPECTFUL DISCOURSE. >> PEOPLE DO FEEL ON BOTH SIDES KIND OF FEEL -- FEEL LIKE THE SPACE FOR OPEN DISCUSSION AND DISCOURSE HAS BEEN LOST >> Reporter: THE PRESIDENTS TESTIFYING ON CAPITOL HILL TOLD CONGRESS TODAY THEY'RE FIGHTING HARD TO GET IT BACK. STEPHANIE GOSK, NBC NEWS, PHILADELPHIA >>> AND UP NEXT FOR US TONIGHT, THE RADICAL NEW PROPOSAL T >>> JUST IN, AN IDEA THAT COULD CHANGE COLLEGE SPORTS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NCAA CALLING FOR A NEW DIVISION I TIER THAT WOULD DIRECTLY PAY STUDENT ATHLETES MORGAN CHESKY EXPLAINS >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A BOLD IDEA FROM THE NCAA PRESIDENT, PROPOSING FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER SCHOOLS BE ALLOWED TO PAY STUDENT ATHLETES THE POTENTIAL SHIFT COULD IMPACT A POLICY PASSED TWO YEARS AGO THAT ALLOWED PLAYERS TO EARN MONEY THROUGH ENDORSEMENTS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. NCAA PRESIDENT CHARLIE BAKER NOW WANTS TO ALLOW SCHOOLS TO TAKE PART IN A LETTER TO MORE THAN 350 DIVISION I SCHOOLS, BAKER CALLED FOR AN ENTIRELY NEW ATHLETIC DIVISION TO BE CREATED PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS WOULD INVEST AT LEAST $30,000 FOR EACH QUALIFYING ATHLETE, MALE OR FEMALE ANNUALLY, AND WORK WITH THE NCAA TO CRAFT DIFFERENT RULES FOR THE NEW DIVISION BAKER NOTING 59 SCHOOLS ALREADY SPEND MORE THAN $100 MILLION ANNUALLY ON ATHLETIC PROGRAMS SCHOOLS ALREADY RESPONDING >> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD FOR COLLEGE ATHLETICS, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT >> LET'S FINALLY FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD IN A WAY THAT TAKES CARE OFFER STUDENT ATHLETES VERY WELL AND ALLOWS US TO BE COMPETITIVE ACROSS OUR CONFERENCES. >> Reporter: DO YOU SEE THIS POTENTIALLY LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD? >> NOT PARTICULARLY. COLLEGE SPORTS HAS NEVER HAD A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. IN A SCHOOL WANTS TO SPEND A LOT MORE MONEY ON FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND OFFER THEM A LOT MORE, THEY CAN DO THAT, AS LONG AS THEY SPEND AN EMAIL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR FEMAL ATHLETES ON THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL >> Reporter: A LONG-STANDING PLAYBOOK ON ITS WAY TO CHANGING MORGAN CHESKY, NBC NEWS >>> UP NEXT, WITH PRICES RISING, STREAMERS ARE STARTING TO BUNDLE UP WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU AND YOUR VIEWING >>> FINALLY, HAVE YOU NOTICED ALL THOSE SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR STREAMING TV ARE REALLY STARTING TO ADD UP CHRISTINE ROMANS NOW WITH A NEW WAY TO CUT COSTS AND GET MORE CONTENT. >> Reporter: AMERICANS SPEND ON AVERAGE ALMOST $50 A MONTH TO STREAM THEIR FAVORITE SHOWS, AND PRICE INCREASES HAVE BECOME ROUTINE. BUT THE STREAMING WARS MAY BE ENTERING A NEW PHASE WITH COMPETITORS NOW JOINING FORCES THIS WEEK, VERIZON BEGINS OFFERING ITS MY PLAN CUSTOMERS A $10 A MONTH BUNDLE OF NETFLIX AND WARNER BROTHERS DISCOVERY MAX. IT'S WITH ADS, AT A 40% DISCOUNT VERIZON ALREADY OFFERS A $10 BUNDLE OF DISNEY OWNED CONTENT, BUT IT'S THE BUNDLING OF COMPETING PLATFORMS THAT COULD REDEFINE OUR SUBSCRIPTIONS. APPLE TV AND PARAMOUNT PLUS ARE EXPLORING A BUNDLE OF THEIR OWN. WHY IF THEY'RE COMPETITORS, WHY ARE THEY BUNDLING NOW? >> ALL THE SERVICES ARE RESPONDING TO MORE AND MORE DISGRUNTLED CUSTOMERS WHO DON'T LIKE HOW MUCH IT'S COSTING. IF ENEMIES HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO MAKE CUSTOMERS COME TO BOTH OF THEM MORE EFFICIENTLY, THEN THOSE ENEMIES WILL DO JUST THAT. >> Reporter: IT'S A VALUE CONSCIOUS APPROACH IN A WILD STREAMING WORLD OUT THERE WITH SO MANY SERVICES AND SO MANY PRICE TIERS. THE TYPICAL CONSUMER ON AVERAGE PAYS FOR THREE STREAMING SERVICES A MONTH NEARLY ONE IN TEN PEOPLE HAVE FIVE OR MORE. >> ALL OF A SUDDEN, TO WATCH SIMPLY THE GREATEST STUFF ON TV, IT REQUIRED TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, NOW SEVEN DIFFERENT STREAMING SERVICES >> Reporter: FOR STREAMERS, THE RUNAWAY SUBSCRIBER GROWTH IS OVER PROGRAMING COSTS ARE RISING AND THEY KNOW CONSUMERS CAN'T AFFORD SO MANY DIFFERENT SERVICES BRINGING BACK ADS AND BUNDLING PLATFORMS NOW HARKENING BACK TO THE CABLE MODEL STREAMERS SOUGHT TO DISRUPT. CHRISTINE ROMANS, NBC NEWS, NEW YORK >>> THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS TUESDAY. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER. GOOD NIGHT