NBC’s attempt to push “Today” back into first place ahead of ABC rival “GMA” by hiring top ESPN programmer Jamie Horowitz has ended in turmoil after he was fired Monday night amid a climate of “instability and insecurity,” sources tell Page Six.
Horowitz, who was hired last year following a negotiation with ABC to allow him out of his ESPN contract early to take the reins as SVP of “Today,” was fired by NBC News President Deborah Turness. She had said at the time of his hiring, “Jamie has the skills, the talent and the experience to lead the ‘Today’ brand into the future. He is first and foremost a great producer … [and] he comes at things from unexpected angles and has a popular touch combined with real intellectual creativity.”
Horowitz, who has recently been on a “listening tour” taking in the opinions of “Today” staff, was released from his job even before his official Dec. 1 start date, when he was due to oversee all four hours of the show.
An NBC source said, “There was a lot of insecurity and instability created when he walked in the door. He would pit anchors against anchors and producers against producers and it created a lot of internal problems. He would ask the staff who they wanted to be their seniors and who were the weakest links in the organization. While a fresh eye was welcomed to help beat ‘GMA,’ everybody felt their jobs were on the line. Jamie is a smart guy, but this approach didn’t work on such a big, tight-knit show. The show has been through a very tough time in the last few weeks.”
While Page Six reported that Natalie Morales and Tamron Hall had recently been feuding over their positions at “Today,” other sources suggested that Horowitz’s longtime friendship with Josh Elliott, who is now in a sports role at NBC and will appear on “Today” regularly, was also seen as a problem. A second source said, “Josh is a talented and welcome part of the ‘Today’ team, but the idea that he would get Matt [Lauer]’s job in the immediate future is just wrong. Matt has just signed a new long-term contract.”
But other sources point to larger issues at play within the NBC News division. One TV insider said, “This is just another example of personality clashes and witch hunts in an organization which is on the back foot.” It is believed that NBC will have to pay Horowitz around $3 million for the remainder of his contract.
Turness said in an NBC memo Monday night:
Dear All:
I want to let you know that, effective today, Jamie Horowitz will be leaving NBC News.
Jamie joined us in September as General Manager of the TODAY brand. He’s a talented producer and executive, but, together, he and I have come to the conclusion that this is not the right fit.
Because of the hard work of so many of you, and an anchor team that is hitting on all cylinders, the show has great momentum and is closing the ratings gap. The exclusives keep coming and there is a great energy both on- and off-air, and in digital and social. My focus — as always — is to support this special brand and its amazing and dedicated staff, and to position it for continued success.
The role of General Manager remains an important one, and will be filled in due course. In the interim, I will work closely with both Don Nash and Jen Brown to oversee TODAY.
Please join me in thanking Jamie and wishing him the best.
Deborah
NBC did not immediately comment and Horowitz could not be reached Monday night.