Matt Lauer Fired? 'Today' Show Co-Host Rumored to Be Leaving the Show

"Today" show co-host Matt Lauer is reportedly going to be fired after 15 years as the show continues to be beaten in ratings by ABC's "Good Morning America" after leading for 16-years, according to a report Wednesday.

The report comes after the show's ratings decline. Starting last April, the "Today" show began losing to it's competitor Good Morning America except for the London Olympics coverage. This season the show's ratings are down 17%.

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"It's just desserts. Matt is finally getting what he deserves!" a Studio 1-A set insider told the National Enquirer.

"His years-long feuds with former co-hosts Katie Couric, Meredith Vieira and Ann Curry have taken their toll. Everyone has turned against him, and Matt is going to be ousted because he's being blamed for the show's collapse," the source said.

According to the Enquirer, co-host Al Roker is "secretly plotting to push Lauer aside."

The Enquirer reports that Roker will push the new executive producer to fire Lauer. Last week, NBC replaced "Today" show executive producer Jim Bell for Don Nash, a 23-year veteran.

But recent reports claim that management may not be the problem after all. According to The New York Daily News, "TV industry insiders say no amount of NBC executive reshuffling can save the embattled 'Today' show - until its longtime co-host throws in the towel."

"This is not going to go away until Matt Lauer does," a prominent former NBC News exec told The Daily News on Tuesday."He's great, but fairly or unfairly, his brand is damaged."

After Ann Curry was fired in June, Lauer was blamed and bid farewell with tears in her eyes, Lauer was blamed for her exit and for the morning show's ratings drop. However, former producer Bell defended Lauer and claimed responsability for Curry's firing.

A source close to the situation told Radar Online that Lauer is not taking the news of Bell's replacement too well. 

"Matt Lauer is NOT happy that Jim Bell who had been the executive producer of the 'TODAY' show since 2005 has been forced out," the source told Radar Online.

Lauer has been co-anchor of NBC News' TODAY since January 6, 1997. He joined TODAY in January 1994 as the show's news anchor.  He lives in New York with his wife, Annette Roque Lauer, their sons, Jack and Thijs, and daughter, Romy.