‘Today Show’ Ratings Increase After Matt Lauer Firing
Last Tuesday, many shocked viewers watched Today Show co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb announce that NBC terminated Matt Lauer at the top of the 7:00 a.m. hour.
Many insiders thought that the popular NBC morning newscast's ratings would shrink without Lauer leading the charge. Surprisingly, the ratings have increased since Lauer was terminated.
The Ratings Report
The Today Show beat its longtime archrival, ABC's Good Morning America, with 4.9 million viewers and increased its viewership regarding the highly sought after 25 to 54-year-old category.
5.7 million viewers tuned into the morning news program on Wed., Nov. 30 when Guthrie read Lauer's apology statement.
"There are no words to express my sorrow and regret the pain I have caused others by words and actions," Lauer wrote. "To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry. " Lauer also stated that he realized that the damage that the former anchor caused to his colleagues and organization.
The Wed., Nov. 30 telecast was Today's biggest audience since Nov. 2, 2016, when President Trump was elected to become the 45th President of the United States.
While The Today Show dusted itself off and gained more viewers, Good Morning America received 4.4 million viewers and CBS This Morning averaged 3.6 million viewers. Taking the entire week into account, the NBC morning news program received 4.9 million viewers, while the ABC newscast convinced 4.4 million viewers to wake up to them. CBS This Morning came in third place averaging over 3.5 million weekly viewers.
Losing Matt Lauer
Since NBC terminated Matt Lauer from the network, several more women have anonymously came forward and accused Lauer of sexual harassment. One woman stated that Lauer exposed himself to her. Another former co-worker also reported that Lauer gave her inappropriate objects such as sex toys.
Also, a 2009 interview with Sandra Bullock resurfaced where Lauer told the Oscar-winning actress that he saved her naked photo as a screensaver on his phone. The shocked actress failed to get an explanation from the former morning show host on why he was looking at her nude photo during their live interview.
NBC News has not announced who would be the person that would permanently join Guthrie, Kotb, stalwart weatherman Al Roker, and Orange Room host Carson Daly helming the 7 to 9 a.m. hours. Currently, some of the network's talented reporters and on-air personalities are rotating in and out of the anchor chair.
