Katie Couric can’t grab ratings crown from NBC’s ‘Today’
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Katie Couric couldn’t quite conquer her old employer Monday.
The former ‘Today’ co-host has turned up this week in a temporary headliner spot on her old archrival, ABC’s ‘Good Morning America.’ But at least so far, ‘Today’ is staying in its No. 1 position in the ratings.
For Monday, NBC’s morning show averaged 5.1 million total viewers, compared with ‘GMA’s’ 4.8 million, according to Nielsen.
Couric’s stint on ‘GMA’ is part of a big network warm-up for her daily talk show coming later this year. But it’s also part of the latest escalation in the endless morning TV wars.
‘GMA’ has toiled as No. 2 to ‘Today’ for nearly 17 years, but lately it’s been closing the ratings gap. ‘Today,’ meanwhile, is on the verge of reshuffling its talent deck, with co-host Ann Curry rumored to be headed for the exits and a possible role -- to be announced as early as Wednesday -- for ‘American Idol’s’ Ryan Seacrest, with whom NBC is wrapping up a major deal.
But the biggest news of course was ‘Today’s’ guest-hosting job on Tuesday for Sarah Palin, a stunt that earned massive PR and also some derision. Those ratings will be available Wednesday.
What did you think of Couric’s ‘GMA’ hosting gig?
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-- Scott Collins
