Hoda Kotb Takes Over as Co-Anchor of NBC's 'Today' Show -- Update
January 02 2018 - 1:26PM
Dow Jones News
By Joe Flint
NBC has tapped veteran "Today" show personality Hoda Kotb as
permanent co-anchor of the morning program's 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
block, following the firing of Matt Lauer for sexual
misconduct.
Ms. Kotb has been filling in as co-anchor with Savannah Guthrie
since Mr. Lauer was removed from the show on Nov. 29. She will
continue to co-host the 10 a.m. hour of "Today" with Kathie Lee
Gifford.
In a memo to staff, NBC News Chairman Andy Lack said, "Over the
past several weeks, Hoda has seamlessly stepped into the co-anchor
role alongside Savannah, and the two have quickly hit the ground
running. They have an undeniable connection with each other and
most importantly, with viewers, a hallmark of `Today.' "
Since Ms. Kotb joined the 7 a.m. block of "Today," ratings for
the show have risen, according to Nielsen data. The program has
overtaken its arch rival, "Good Morning America," which airs on
Walt Disney Co.'s ABC, in total viewers and continues to win among
viewers aged 25-54.
An Oklahoma native, Ms. Kotb, 53, started her journalism career
in local television in Mississippi after graduating from Virginia
Tech University. She spent six years at WWL-TV in New Orleans
before joining NBC News in 1998 as a correspondent for its
newsmagazine show, "Dateline."
Since 2008, she has co-hosted the light and breezy fourth hour
of "Today" with Ms. Gifford. Ms. Kotb also hosts a radio show on
SiriusXM and is the author of the 2010 book, "Hoda: How I Survived
War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee."
"Today" is one of the most important programs for Comcast
Corp.'s NBC, generating annual revenue north of $500 million,
according to people close to the show. While ratings for the show
have declined in recent years, it remains a key revenue source for
NBC News.
Mr. Lauer's abrupt departure after an investigation into a
complaint from a network staffer stunned "Today" colleagues. A
co-anchor for more than 20 years, he was seen as a vital cog for
the show and a face of morning television who would be hard to
replace.
Mr. Lauer apologized after his firing, but contested some of the
accounts of his behavior. He said there were "no words" to express
the sorrow and regret for the pain he caused.
Ratings for the show haven't collapsed without him. While some
of the initial ratings spike following his departure could be
attributed to viewer curiosity, the show continues to outperform
what it was doing with Mr. Lauer.
"Today" now becomes the only morning show with two women
anchors. However, it isn't the first morning show to try that
strategy; "Good Morning America" was once co-anchored by Diane
Sawyer and Robin Roberts. The primary audience for morning shows is
women.
NBC isn't the only network with a morning show in transition due
to a sexual-harassment scandal. Charlie Rose was dropped as
longtime co-anchor of "CBS This Morning" after reports of
inappropriate behavior spanning many years related to his work on
the "Charlie Rose" show, which was produced by Charlie Rose Inc.
and aired on PBS member stations and Bloomberg Television. Mr. Rose
expressed remorse for his actions, but questioned the accuracy of
some allegations. CBS hasn't named his permanent replacement.
When Ms. Guthrie announced Mr. Lauer's departure on the air in
November, she was joined behind the desk by Ms. Kotb, and the two
were largely praised for their handling of the surprise
announcement.
"This has to be the most popular decision NBC News has ever
made, and I am so thrilled," Ms. Guthrie said during Tuesday's
show. "Hoda, you are a partner and a friend and a sister, and I am
so happy to be doing this."
"I'm pinching myself," Ms. Kotb said during the show.
--
Allison Prang contributed to this article.
Write to Joe Flint at joe.flint@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 02, 2018 14:11 ET (19:11 GMT)
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