NEW YORK (AP) — NBC News opened the new year by appointing Hoda Kotb as co-anchor of the “Today” show’s first two hours with Savannah Guthrie, replacing Matt Lauer following his firing on sexual misconduct charges in late November.
Kotb will continue to co-host the show’s fourth hour with Kathie Lee Gifford.
She has subbed for Lauer beginning on the day he was fired. Despite the turmoil, “Today” won four straight weeks in the ratings over ABC’s “Good Morning America,” after it has spent much of the past few years in second place.
Her appointment bucks the trend of morning news shows to have male and female co-hosts. But with sexual misconduct charges are a regular occurrence, the timing could be right for NBC.
NBC News released the following statement Tuesday about the announcement:
“Hoda Kotb has been named co-anchor of NBC News’ TODAY joining Savannah Guthrie. The announcement was made by Andy Lack, Chairman, NBC News Group. The new anchor team debuted this morning: http://on.today.com/2CFbCBk
Guthrie and Kotb will co-anchor the 7-9 a.m. hours of TODAY, along with weather anchor Al Roker and Orange Room host Carson Daly. Kotb will also continue co-hosting the 10 a.m. hour of TODAY with Kathie Lee Gifford.
Kotb joined NBC News in 1998 as a correspondent for “Dateline.” She has been co-hosting the fourth hour of TODAY with Gifford since 2008. While at NBC News, Kotb has been honored with Emmy awards, a Gracie award and an Edward R. Murrow award. She is also the host of “The Hoda Show on SiriusXM.” Kotb started her broadcast career in local news, anchoring and reporting for stations in New Orleans and Fort Myers.
Guthrie joined NBC News as a correspondent in 2007 and has been the co-anchor of TODAY since 2012. She also serves as the network’s chief legal correspondent. Prior to joining TODAY, Guthrie was the NBC News White House correspondent for three years. She has received Emmy awards, a Gracie award and a Matrix award for her work at NBC News. Guthrie graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center and began her career in journalism at local stations in Tucson and Washington, DC.”