14 DAY TRIAL // Contrary to reports from yesterday, Matt Lauer is not really thinking about leaving The Today Show on NBC – but he does want a significant pay raise, which means it could come to this, to him leaving, if he doesn’t get it.
As we also informed you yesterday, Lauer’s contract is up at the end of next year and there’s some talk online that he’s thinking of leaving the show to move on to bigger and better things.
That’s only partly true, TMZ reports: while Lauer’s contract does end in 2012, he may not leave if he gets the kind of money he’s asking for.
Which could be somewhat difficult.
“Matt Lauer is not seriously interested in leaving NBC – unlike his co-host Meredith Vieira – but he is bucking for a massive raise to $25 million dollars per year,” TMZ reports.
“Sources connected with NBC tell us all the talk about Matt leaving NBC’s Today is nothing more than a well-timed negotiating ploy. Remember, the Matt buzz started right after reports surfaced Meredith will leave in September,” the e-zine further says.
In other words, Matt’s camp could have put the rumor out there, to use it to put pressure on NBC to give in to his demands.
“Today has been the #1 morning news show for 15 years – a virtual cash register for the Peacock – and we’re told Matt wants his slice of the pie... in other words... $25 mil,” TMZ writes.
Since Matt’s salary is now of “just” $17 million a year, he probably needs all the help he can get to get the raise.
Contacted for comment, NBC has refused to discuss the issue, but it did say that, as of now, there are no negotiations taking place with Lauer.
“A rep for NBC says they are ‘NOT in any negotiations with Matt... as he is under contract for a long time’,” says TMZ.