Hoda Kotb Says Goodbye to ‘Today’ Show After NBC Reportedly Sought to Cut to Her $20M Salary

In a surprising announcement, Hoda Kotb revealed that she will be stepping down as anchor of NBC’s “Today” show, a move influenced partly by the network’s proposal to cut her substantial salary. Reports indicate that Kotb, who reportedly earned over $20 million annually, faced pressure from NBC executives who deemed her contract unsustainable amid the changing landscape of broadcast news. Hoda Kotb on “Today.” NBC Negotiations Bust NBC executives communicated to her agents that her high salary was no longer justifiable, particularly in light of the show’s declining ratings, Puck News reports. The “Today” show, which averaged nearly 4.7 million viewers in September 2014, has seen its numbers plummet to approximately 2.5 million this month, despite still leading in ratings over competitors like “Good Morning America.” In her announcement during Thursday’s broadcast, Kotb expressed her desire to turn the page at 60 and pursue new opportunities. She shared that her decision, made in August, was painful but felt right. “As I write this, my heart is all over the map,” Kotb said. “I know I’m making the right decision, but it’s a painful one. And you all are the reason why. They say two things can be right at the...