Good riddance! Today show ratings soar after Matt Lauer's firing over claims of sexual misconduct
- For back-to-back weeks, the Today show has been the morning show leader in both total viewers and viewers ages 25-54
- Good Morning America is typically the total ratings leader, while Today reigns supreme in the 25-54 viewership - the one most important for advertisers
- After Matt Lauer's firing from Today was announced on November 29, viewers have been flocking back to the NBC property
- CBS This Morning did not see a similar bump when Charlie Rose was fired from the show a week earlier
Matt Lauer's firing from the Today show hasn't hurt the show's ratings - in fact, it's helped.
For the past two weeks, the Today show has been the leader in both total viewers and viewers ages 25-54.
Rival Good Morning America has pretty much had total viewers on lock down, while Today typically steals the 25-54 viewership - which is more important to advertisers.
The Today show has seen a bump in ratings ever since Matt Lauer was fired over claims of sexual misconduct. Hoda Kotb (right) has been filling in as Savannah Guthrie's (left) co-anchor (the two pictured above on the December 11 broadcast)
Lauer has retreated to his home on Long Island in the wake of the scandal. He's pictured above on December 6
On November 29, Savannah Guthrie announced Lauer's firing live on air, with the help of co-anchor Hoda Kotb.
Since then, viewers have been flocking back to the NBC property, making Today the total viewers leader as well.
It was the first time that Today has beaten GMA in total viewers for back-to-back weeks since December 2016.
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The fact that the show seems to be doing just fine without Lauer may have an impact on whether the network decides to fill his vacated position.
Since his firing, Kotb has been filling in as Guthrie's co-anchor, but there have been rumors that Craig Melvin or Willie Geist may be tapped to fill that role on a permanent basis.
The cast of Today pictured in a moment of laughter on December 11. From left to right: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, Megyn Kelly, and Dylan Dreyer
There's also reason to believe that the Lauer-departure bump might not last for long.
Total viewership for Today went down from 4.901m to 4.578m while GMA grew its viewership marginally from 4.360m to 4.376m.
Also, coverage of the wildfires in California cut into GMA's broadcast in Los Angeles which would have affected viewer counts last week.
Just a week before Lauer's firing, CBS This Morning experienced a similar scandal when co-host Charlie Rose was fired for his own sexual harassment scandal.
However, that show did not experience a bump in viewership like Today.
| December 4-8 | NBC | ABC | CBS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total viewers | 4.578m | 4.376m | 3.572m |
| Viewers 25-54 | 1.635m | 1.379m | 916,000 |
| November 27-December 1* | |||
| Total viewers | 4.901m | 4.360m | 3.525m |
| Viewers 25-54 | 1.723m | 1.406m | 933,000 |
| November 20-24** | |||
| Total viewers | 4.306m | 4.362m | 3.863m |
| Viewers 25-54 | 1.496m | 1.355m | 1.000m |
| November 13-17 | |||
| Total viewers | 4.231m | 4.332m | 3.696m |
| Viewers 25-54 | 1.463m | 1.360m | 1.015m |
| November 6-10 | |||
| Total viewers | 4.349m | 4.513m | 3.816m |
| Viewers 25-54 | 1.494m | 1.395m | 1.006m |
| October 30-November 3 | |||
| Total viewers | 4.184m | 4.206m | 3.515m |
| Viewers 25-54 | 1.555m | 1.341m | 938,000 |
| October 23-28 | |||
| Total viewers | 4.121m | 4.325m | 3.437m |
| Viewers 25-54 | 1.646m | 1.372m | 885,000 |
| October 16-20 | |||
| Total viewers | 4.150m | 4.269m | 3.502m |
| Viewers 25-54 | 1.456m | 1.368m | 963,000 |
| October 9-13 | |||
| Total viewers | 4.130m | 4.211m | 3.491m |
| Viewers 25-54 | 1.473m | 1.384m | 919,000 |
| October 2-6 | |||
| Total viewers | 4.119m | 4.446m | 3.710m |
| Viewers 25-54 | 1.501m | 1.477m | 994,000 |
| September 25-29 | |||
| Total viewers | 4.146m | 4.194m | 3.546m |
| Viewers 25-54 | 1.526m | 1.344m | 940,000 |
| * Matt Lauer's last day is November 28. His firing is announced on air the following day **Charlie Rose's last day at CBS This Morning is November 20 | |||
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