Ann Curry, Savannah Guthrie on 'Today,' "We made a big change that we didn't take lightly," Execs Say

Ann Curry leaving the "Today" Show created a great slump in ratings for the morning talk show. Savannah Guthrie became the new co-anchor on "Today," and viewers are proving that the transition is not welcomed. 

Ann Curry's former talk show on NBC was beat by ABC's "Good Morning America," by 357,000 viewers last week, according to Nielson Co. 

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"GMA" drew an average of 4.57 million viewers, compared with 4.21 million for "Today," according to preliminary Nielsen figures released Monday," WPTV reported. 

"This represents the largest lead by "GMA" over "Today" in more than 17 years, while extending its top-ranked status to three consecutive weeks, ABC said," the publication considered to report. 

The change in ratings on the show is largely due to Savannah Guthrie's new presence. However, executives of "Today" don't regret the move of anchors. 

"We are incredibly confident in the new 'Today' anchor team," executive producer Jim Bell said. "Although it's premature to look at one week of unofficial numbers and draw any conclusions, we just made a big change that we didn't take lightly, and we are in this for the long run."

Ann Curry was ruthlessly dropped from the "Today" show after a slump in ratings, and bosses were likely hoping that a change in personnel could spark renewed interest and a rise again in viewers. However, since Savannah Guthrie made her debut as a new co-anchor the ratings have not picked up.

Good Morning America has averaged more than 360,000 viewers each day than "Today" which is the largest lead they've had over the NBC landmark show in their history of rivalry. And it seems that things could get worse for the "Today" show, as earlier this week Good Morning America experienced nearly 600,000 more viewers than "Today" on one day.

Previously Ann Curry gave her Today show fans an emotional goodbye, saying: "It's not how I expected to leave this couch after 15 years," seemingly confirming rumors that she had been pushed, rather than jumping by her own accord.

There was then a low key transition to replacing Ann Curry, and commentators have been saying that that could be because producers feared a negative backlash from Curry's fans.

Curry said during her farewell show: "This is not easy to say, but today is going to be my last morning as a regular co-host of 'Today.' I will still be a part of the 'Today' show family, but I'll have a new title and a new role, and this is not how I expected to ever leave this couch after 15 years. But I am so grateful, especially to all of you who watch."

"For all of you who saw me as groundbreaker, I'm sorry I couldn't carry the ball over the finish line. Man, I did try and so to all of you who watched, thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me touch yours," she also said.