With Megyn Kelly's "Today" show ratings off to a slow start, reports say she's affecting NBC's morning viewership and execs may consider making changes to stop the bleeding.
Ratings of Kelly’s 9 a.m. hour of “Today” have dropped 32 percent over last year’s numbers since she started as host Sept. 25, a source told New York Posts's Page Six, adding that viewership of "Kathie Lee & Hoda" in the 10 a.m. hour has dropped 26 percent as viewers tune out during Kelly's segment and don’t tune back in.
“Too many people are tuning out NBC. Hoda and Kathie Lee had been a bright spot in the mornings. People are alarmed,” the person told Page Six.
Another source agreed, telling the outlet, “The format for Megyn’s show doesn’t make sense. Her show detracts from the ‘Today’ franchise.”
Some of Kelly's interviews on "Today" have not gone over well with viewers, including ones with Debra Messing and Jane Fonda.
According to Radar Online, NBC producers are considering switching “Kathie Lee & Hoda” to the 9 a.m. hour to keep viewers from tuning out too early. Another possible change may be to take the “Today” name off Kelly’s hour to avoid further damage to the brand.
“They don’t want her to tarnish the 'Today' show brand anymore,” an insider told Radar Online.
“The staff is miserable and know it’s only a matter of time before they are fired,” the source continued. “It’s easier to blame them, but the real problem is Kelly herself.”
According to Page Six, however, the other “Today” hosts continue to support Kelly.
“They have each taken her out to lunch — Kathie Lee just took her to lunch today,” an NBC Insider said.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.