For NBC’s embattled “Today,” tomorrow arrived on Wednesday.
The network confirmed it has hired ESPN’s rising star, Jamie Horowitz, to be the general manager of the hugely profitable but stumbling show.
Horowitz, who was in charge of original programming at the cable-sports giant, arrives at the Peacock network with one major objective: to regain the ratings crown from ABC’s “Good Morning America,” which typically beats its older rival in the coveted 25-to-54-year-old demographic.
Horowitz, under contract at Disney’s ESPN, won’t start at NBC until Dec. 1. He was part of a corporate tug-of-war, according to sources, that had NBCUniversal giving up some assets in order to get him out of a contract that still had two years on it.
Horowitz, 38, is the third member of the Disney family to join NBCU in the past six months, after former “GMA” mainstay Sam Champion, who jumped to The Weather Channel, and “GMA” anchor Josh Elliott, who was hired by NBC Sports.
With Horowitz, NBC adds a new management layer for “Today.” Currently Don Nash is an executive producer and Dee Dee Thomas is an executive producer for “Weekend Today.”
Meanwhile, former host Katie Couric is widely expected to return to “Today” to co-host during Savannah Guthrie’s maternity leave.
Not everyone is looking forward to greeting the former longtime host. “Today” co-host Natalie Morales is said to be upset at the prospect and some talks have been held to discuss moving her to “Weekend Today,” sources said.