NBC News Names Hoda Kotb as Lauer's Replacement on `Today' Show

(Bloomberg) -- NBC News named Hoda Kotb as the permanent co-anchor of the “Today” show, ending speculation over Matt Lauer's replacement after he was fired for sexual misconduct.

Kotb had been filling in alongside Savannah Guthrie, creating a two-woman anchor team on the morning show since Lauer was fired in November after NBC said it was informed about his inappropriate sexual behavior.

The decision on Lauer's successor was seen as delicate because viewers consider morning show co-hosts as a family of sorts, making on-air chemistry important. While ratings for “Today” have slipped in recent years, the morning program is still a major profit driver for Comcast Corp.'s NBCUniversal. The show generated about $508 million in advertising revenue in 2016, according to the research firm Kantar Media.

Guthrie and Kotb will be paired from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. New York time. Kotb, who joined NBC News in 1998 as a correspondent for “Dateline,” will continue to co-host the 10 a.m. hour with Kathie Lee Gifford. The two women are known for sipping wine during their hour together.

To contact the reporter on this story: Gerry Smith in New York at gsmith233@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Crayton Harrison at tharrison5@bloomberg.net, Bruce Rule, Tom Lavell

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.