Billy Bush will make his official debut as a member of NBC’s “Today” team when the A.M. mainstay begins covering the Rio Olympics between August 8 and August 19- and gears up to take advantage of a potential ratings surge that could bring it closer to trumping rival “Good Morning America.’
Bush’s formal duties with the franchise will be with its 9 a.m. hour, which is expected to look different in weeks to come. But his introduction to the program’s viewership will come via the Olympics coverage. “Today” frequently benefits from the large audiences that tune in to the massive event, and it’s possible that the show may enjoy a spike in ratings as NBC broadcasts more than 260 hours related to the event between August 5 and August 21.
“Good Morning America” has a counter of its own: The popular Michael Strahan, who had been appearing on the show a few times a week, is expected to join it full-time. The two programs have been locked in a duel for months. While “GMA” remains America’s most-watched morning program, the NBC program has dominated it among viewers between 25 and 54 – the audience which is preferred by advertisers in news programming.
Matt Lauer, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, Natalie Morales and Bush will anchor “Today” from Rio starting August 8, while Savannah Guthrie will anchor from New York.The show will broadcast from a portable “Olympic Pavilion” set that was also used during past NBCUniversal Olympics efforts from Athens, Torino, Beijing, London, and Sochi. The show is expected to profile key athletes and also feature a performance from The Band Perry on August 11.
The Olympics are likely to solidify other changes to the franchise’s 9 a.m. hour. Already, NBC News has said Natalie Morales, the “Today” newsreader who has had an integral role in both its 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. editions will anchor”Access Hollywood” while remaining with the morning show as its West Coast correspondent. Her role on the primary “Today” program is not expected to be filled.
Separately, NBC News said “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” will originate live from Rio starting August 4 and then through August 19. The program will feature reporting from correspondents including Peter Alexander, Miguel Almaguer, Stephanie Gosk, Ron Mott and Chris Jansing, with contributions from “Today” staff.
