Why is Hoda Kotb’s exit from the “Al-Youm” program considered the real beginning of the TV anchor’s “bloodbath”?

A harsh truth drowned in a river of tears on Thursday today After co-anchor Hoda Kotb announced her departure after six years of co-presenting the main show from 7 to 9 am. Her exit starkly symbolizes the end of the era of the powerful morning TV anchor.

“Next year is going to be a bloodbath,” an Inside 30 Rock news executive told The Daily Beast, referring to the highest salaries news anchors have received in years. “All these big money makers, they’re all gone.”

The mogul signed a $7 million-a-year deal in 2018 when she took over the company today gig, according to Page six (It also offers the 4th hour of todayfirst alongside Kathie Lee Gifford, and now Jenna Bush Hager). Its main show host, Savannah Guthrie, reportedly makes “significantly more than” $8 million a year, according to a 2020 report. Page six a report That defined her deal negotiations at the time.

Kotb’s departure — and the fact that NBC allowed it at all — is the latest and most high-profile example of how men in suits prioritize their balance sheets over revenue-generating talent. It’s a stark turnaround from just three years ago when Cesar Conde was willing to pay $30 million to let Rachel Maddow work one night a week.

The current era of belt-tightening means that such high salaries are a thing of the past, and may later impact the ABC Good morning Americawhich is currently led by its presenters George Stephanopoulos, Robin Roberts and Michael Strahan Millions– Salaries in dollars.

Stephanopoulos signed a $15 million contract in 2019, and in 2021, he received a “significant pay raise” after threatening to leave ABC following a falling out between him and David Muir, according to the British Daily Mail. CNN. Robin Roberts’ salary was reportedly $18 million in 2016, according to Forbes. Michael Strahan is said to be I signed a deal In 2016, after his death He lives!This would make his salary around $20 million, according to the people.

However, Disney, which owns ABC, is facing its own financial crisis. The company just laid off 300 people as part of a “cost-savings initiative,” according to The Verge. Delivery timeand New York Post I mentioned I asked the company Good morning America To reduce its net profit by $19 million.

Kotb said Thursday that her decision was largely influenced by her desire to spend more time with her family, which includes two young children. (Kotb has two young daughters, ages 7 and 4, and took a two-week hiatus from broadcasting last year after one of her children had an undisclosed health emergency.) In recent weeks, Kotb has been speaking in glowing terms about her latest move. To the suburbs and the new life she and her children are living there.

“I feel like we only have a limited amount of time,” Kotb said Thursday. “So, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world.”

Sources indicated that her reasons for leaving, as stated on-screen, are entirely real and real, and — as Kotb and her colleagues have taken great pains to stress — that she plans to stay with the network and contribute to certain projects. But it’s unlikely she’ll get the salary that comes with locking in three hours of NBC’s top brands. As she surveyed her new life, and her plans for her and her family’s future, she may also have realized that her salary would not expand beyond its current limits, giving her personal decision a practical incentive as well.

Michael Tran/Film Magic

The morning television business is experiencing turmoil. In 2016, today It happened More than $500 million in revenue for the Peacock network. 2021 a report (By then-NBC correspondent Dylan Byers) noted that in 2019, the morning show grossed $408 million. In 2021, the first two hours of today I was born Just under $300 million worth of advertising, and the media industry has only gotten worse since then.

today Also finished second To ABC Good morning America in total viewers in the 2023-2024 season (2.73 million vs. ABC’s 2.81 million), though it outperformed the advertiser-centric 25-54 demographic. Although these ratings have remained relatively stable over the past two years, they are a far cry from the averages the networks have seen since before 2020, according to a 2023 Pew poll. analysis From comScore data.

In this deteriorating economic climate, networks are already taking action. CBS was effectively demoted CBS Evening News Broadcaster Norah O’Donnell from 6:30pm and plans to turn her 30-minute Third Place program into a three-man-led show after the election. It is too Maybe you took a discount When it was re-signed CBS Morning Anchor Gayle King – Just a week before that He was eliminated CBS Saturday Morning Co-host Jeff Glor as part of the latest round of layoffs at Paramount. For a company about to be handed over to a billionaire, this is an indication that it can’t keep losing money forever.

NBC is also finding out what the next iteration will be today The race to be Guthrie’s co-anchor appears to be wide open, with no confirmation of the name yet. Vitally, the searching period gives NBC (and other networks facing hesitant moments of change) a chance to replace their old, branded faces — including Stephanopoulos (63), Roberts (63), Kotb, and even NBC’s Lester Holt (65). -With younger and cheaper talent. Someone should be able to help sell their products Driving money “Theft and Deals” segments after all.