Entertainment Tonight, citing an unnamed source, is reporting that Matt Lauer will be leaving NBC's Today Show when his contract expires in 2012. The speculation comes on the heels of reports that Lauer's co-host, Meredith Vieira, will leave the show later this year, and on the same week that brought news of Katie Couric stepping down as CBS Evening News anchor and Glenn Beck quitting his Fox News show. Entertainment Tonight wonders whether Lauer might join his former Today boss Jeff Zucker and former Today co-host Couric on a syndicated talk show.

The Today Show has neither confirmed nor denied Entertainment Tonight's report. In a statement the show said that "there seems to be an awful lot of speculation around news anchors these days, and it's not our practice to comment on any of it. Matt Lauer has a long term contract with NBC News and Today."

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Uri Friedman