NBC booted the chief executive behind the “Today” show Tuesday, with the network’s trademark in a ratings slump and ABC’s “Good Morning America” quckly gaining ground.
The network said it would name a replacement for Tom Touchet on Wednesday. Touchet has had the job since November 2002.
“Today” hasn’t spent a week out of first place in the ratings, but NBC’s position of authority in the morning hours is slipping. Its lead over second-place “Good Morning America” is 662,000 viewers this year, roughly half what it was last year.
NBC’s morning crew of Katie Couric, Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Ann Curry, which the network advertises as “America’s First Family,” remains intact.
Touchet was not immediately available for comment, according to an assistant who answered his phone on Tuesday.
In addition to its news report, “Today” has launched many unique aspects to its program that are popular with viewers, such as an outdoor concert series, annual weddings planned by viewers and Lauer’s road trips around the world.
The architect of the show’s current format, former executive producer Jeff Zucker, has since been promoted to chief of the NBC Universal Television Group.
NBC’s expansion of “Today” to three hours in the morning has also been a financial success, but has not been as well received by viewers.
There have been recent rumours about unrest backstage. One gossip column reported a few weeks ago that Touchet slamming and shattering a glass door on set.
