Today’s Third Hour Tops ‘Live with Regis & Kelly’

By Chris Ariens 

The third hour of the “Today” show topped “Live With Regis & Kelly” for the 2009-10 season. That’s the first time that’s happened since the 9am hour premiered 10 years ago. In today’s New York Post, Michael Starr has the ratings: “Today” averaged 3.348 million Total Viewers to “Live’s” 3.248 million.

Matt Lauer appears at the start of the 9am hour, but the rest of the show is co-anchored by Al Roker, Ann Curry and Natalie Morales.

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“With an unprecedented four-hour live broadcast every day, we’re very fortunate to have the best team in television,” an excited “Today” show EP Jim Bell tells TVNewser. “The first two hours, led by Matt and Meredith, continue to excel, Kathie Lee and Hoda are breaking new ground at 10 a.m. and now this great achievement for the 9 a.m. hour and Ann, Natalie and Al.”

The third hour of “Today” and “Live” go head-to-head at 9am in many parts of the country, including the top six markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas and San Francisco. Interestingly, in the nation’s 7th largest market, Boston, “Live” airs at 9am on NBC affiliate WHDH, pushing the third hour of “Today” to 10am and the fourth hour to 11am.

The 2009-10 season also marked the 16th consecutive win for the 7-9am edition of “Today.”

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