NBC's 'Today' Show Continues To Win Ratings Race 3 Weeks After Matt Lauer’s Firing
Americans continue to wake up to Savannah, Hoda, and Al. The Today show experienced a rating increase following Matt Lauer's departure.
NBC 'Today' Show Wins Ratings Race
Three weeks following Matt Lauer's controversial termination from the NBC News morning show, Today continues to regain control of the morning news race steadily. The broadcast news icon averaged 4.59 million viewers from last week.
The show also captured several vital demographics including the ever-valuable 18 to 49-year-old age bracket where it received over 1.29 million viewers.
Despite having an exclusive conversation that escalated quickly with outgoing White House Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison Omarosa Manigault Newman, Good Morning America placed second for the week of Dec. 11.
The ABC morning news show received 4.51 million general viewers and earned 1.01 million viewers from 18 to 49-year-old age bracket.
CBS This Morning, which lost Charlie Rose in the ongoing sexual harassment scandal, placed third in the morning news race. The Gayle King and Norah O'Donnell anchored program received 3.7 million general viewers but it only convinced 722,000 members of the 18 to 49-year-old age bracket to tune into the newscast.
Matt Lauer's Fall From Grace
Today was changed forever when Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb delivered the breaking news that NBC News terminated Lauer from the network. Lauer's departure focused heavily on a sexual harassment allegation that dated back to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
NBC News executives also believed that the only instance that the television news veteran violated the network's standards. Lauer has publicly apologized for his actions but stated that he questioned several of the allegations
"Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed. I regret that my shame is now shared by the people I cherish dearly..." Lauer wrote.
Lauer continued to state that he will rebuild his brand and go through a "soul searching" process.
Today Show's Future
NBC officials have not announced who will permanently replace Lauer at the anchor desk. Since Lauer's firing, fan favorite television personality Hoda Kotb has been sitting next to Savannah Guthrie.
The audience seems to enjoy the combination of Guthrie and Kotb at the anchor desk. The show's stalwart weather anchor Al Roker and Orange Room host Carson Daly interact with Guthrie and Kotb during the morning news cast's first two hours.
