Hoda Kotb, the longtime co-host of the fourth hour of the NBC morning franchise “Today,” will replace Matt Lauer as co-anchor of the program’s opening hours, the network said on Tuesday.
Savannah Guthrie, the show’s other anchor, announced the news of Ms. Kotb’s appointment during Tuesday’s broadcast.
“This has to be the most popular decision NBC News has ever made, and I am so thrilled,” Ms. Guthrie said, after a round of applause from the crew on set.
Ms. Kotb, 53, responded, “I am pinching myself.”
This is the first time that two women will be the main hosts of “Today,” which first went on the air in 1952 and is the network’s most profitable franchise. The show has an overwhelmingly female audience, and the feel-good nature of much of its content and the convivial byplay between its personalities give the impression that the cast is an on-air family. Mr. Lauer had been called “America’s dad” by some before his dismissal.
Ms. Kotb (pronounced COT-bee) had replaced Mr. Lauer on an interim basis since he was fired in November over allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior with a subordinate. Mr. Lauer is among the highest-profile names to have been ousted in a national reckoning over sexual harassment in the workplace, along with Harvey Weinstein, Roger E. Ailes and Bill O’Reilly.
With the move, Ms. Kotb becomes one of the most vital figures at NBC News. In 2016, the first two hours of “Today” brought in more than $500 million of revenue, while the fourth hour had revenue of $68 million, according to Kantar Media. Ms. Kotb will remain co-host of the 10 a.m. hour of “Today” with Kathie Lee Gifford, NBC announced on Tuesday. Megyn Kelly will be the sole host of the 9 a.m. hour.