NBC to expand Today Show to 4 hours

[atlnewsfan03]

NBC to expand The Today Show to 4 hours? As of recently, NBC has expressed a desire to expand the top-rated morning news program to 4 hours. This week, NBC made it official. Meanwhile, rumors are still circulating, surrounding ABC's desire to expand Good Morning America to 3 hours.

According to this article from variety.com, NBC is looking within NBC news outlets on who'll contribute to and/or co-host the 10am hour. Candidates include favorites, like White House Correspondent David Gregory, Access Hollywood personalities Billy Bush and Maria Menounos, and Weekend Today co-hosts Lester Holt and Campbell Brown, among others. Source... www.variety.com/article/VR1117957330.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

On a side note, the daytime TV fallout continues...

Bob Barker, who has hosted The Price Is Right for 35 years recently made it official that he'll be retiring in June, 2007. The 83-year-old said, "I wish to retire while I'm still young," when he announced he was retiring. His farewell episode is scheduled to air sometime in June.

NBC has decided to cancel the low-rated Passions after 8 years. There's speculation that 3 more soaps could be in danger of being cancelled. Those shows include All My Children (ABC), The Guiding Light (CBS), and One Life To Live (ABC).

Any thoughts?

[newsdudeatl]

I can hear Ann Curry now:

Welcome to Today on a Monday afternoon - it's 1 pm and we have an exclusive with the Dateline Predator guys and Beauty queen Tara Conner and other crap you can use to wipe your butts with...

The end of an era is nearing, and Today will be losing its powerhouse status within a year of expanding to 4 hours - mark my words...

[gartv]

They could always change the name of the show from "Today" to "ALLDay"

I read that some affiliates are being given the option to replace the hour lost for local programing by removing the low rated "Passions" from their lineup. Also NBC has plans to cancel the soap opera anyway.

[atlnewsfan03]

The syndicated/network talk shows and game/reality shows are more so cheaper to produce, compared to the scripted dramas and comedies.

For the past several years, the soaps have been plagued with bad script writing. 1 such storyline that has resulted in a lot of older viewers losing interst in the show... the younger characters getting more attention, more so than the older characters. Another such storyline that has rapidly become popular with the soap these days... the love triangles. A lot of viewers losing intersest in the shows has resulted in a steep decline in viewership.

With NBC expanding The Today Show to 4 hours... NBC has decided not to renew Passions. The final NBC episode is scheduled to air on Sept. 7. If I'm not mistake, The CW and SoapNet are rumored to be potential candidates in carrying the show... if NBC does decide to continue the show after the Sept. 7 episode.

ABC is still considering expanding Good Morning America to 3 hours. If ABC decides to expand its morning program to 3 hours... this move could seal the fate of All My Children or One Life To Live.

Rumor has it that NBC is wanting out of the soap opera biz, and that NBC doesn't plan on renewing Days Of Our Lives after 2009.

[atlnewsfan03]

According to this recent Broadcasting & Cable article, it appears that Gannett will have the new 4th hour of The Today Show airing in the Passions time-slot. Which would be 2 p.m. for Atlanta. Unless, 11Alive plans to move Martha to 2 p.m., in order to carry the new 4th hour at 10 a.m.

B&C article... www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6413223.html

Also in the B&C article... Roger Ogden, President/Gannett Broadcasting has confirmed that the local lifestyle shows, like Atlanta and Company, which can be seen weekdays at 11 a.m. will not be cancelled. KUSA will be keeping its Colorado and Company program, and KPNX will be keeping its Arizona Midday program as well.

Other NBC affiliates. Most/all of the NBC-owned stations carry shows, like The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Martha, and iVillage Live. Other than NBC's decision to cancel The George Michael Sports Machine and The Megan Mullally Show, there is speculation that iVillage could be next.

Most of the Hearst-owned NBC affiliates, and the Sunbeam-owned WHDH carry the popular morning program Live with Regis and Kelly. This could be leaving some to speculate a possibile affilate changes for the show. If Regis and Kelly are to leave NBC affiliates, like KCRA, WESH, WBAL, and WHDH... it's possible that viewers could be seeing it on Gannett's KXTV or CBS's KOVR in Sacramento, Cox's WFTV in Orlando, Scripps-Howard's WMAR in Baltimore, or Hearst's WCVB (ABC) in Boston.