Jamie Horowitz, who joined NBC News from ESPN as head of the Today Show, is leaving NBC. Horowitz has been on the job less than three months. His official start date was December 1, but TVNewser reported that he has been holding meetings since September. Horowitz’s official title was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Today. The Today Show was the only NBC News property with its own senior vice president. Restoring the Today Show to its former ratings glory has been one of the top tasks for relatively new NBC News President Deborah Turness. However, Turness has also had to deal with falling ratings and a new host at Meet the Press and renewed competition for Nightly News found in David Muir and ABC World News Tonight. Recent reports have indicated that Turness’s job may be on the line, and interestingly, Horowitz has been weighed as a potential successor. Reports also indicated that Horowitz had clashed with Turness, although numerous reports have spoken of Turness clashing with NBC News employees and personalities. When Norowitz was hired, the press release quoted Turness as saying, “He is first and foremost a great producer behind several hit formats at ESPN. He comes at things from unexpected angles and has a popular touch combined with real intellectual creativity. Jamie is the perfect person for this crucial role — he is a visionary leader, a creative thinker and a seasoned expert in developing and driving brands that truly connect.”
Don Nash continues to be the executive producer of the Today Show, as he has been since the Ann Curry controversy.
Read Turness’s memo:
Dear All:
I want to let you know that, effective today, Jamie Horowitz will be leaving NBC News.
Jamie joined us in September as General Manager of the TODAY brand. He’s a talented producer and executive, but, together, he and I have come to the conclusion that this is not the right fit.
Because of the hard work of so many of you, and an anchor team that is hitting on all cylinders, the show has great momentum and is closing the ratings gap. The exclusives keep coming and there is a great energy both on- and off-air, and in digital and social. My focus – as always – is to support this special brand and its amazing and dedicated staff, and to position it for continued success
.
The role of General Manager remains an important one, and will be filled in due course. In the interim, I will work closely with both Don Nash and Jen Brown to oversee TODAY.
Please join me in thanking Jamie and wishing him the best.
Deborah