Megyn Kelly’s departure from NBC has BOOSTED Today show ratings by 10 percent

Today Show ratings have soared since host Megyn Kelly was given the boot from NBC for her controversial blackface comments.  

While the firing cut short Kelly’s three-year contract with NBC and cost the network millions, her departure is so far boosting the morning show’s numbers.

Since her departure, viewership by 25 to 54 year olds – the key demographic favored by advertisers – for the third hour slot of Today is up about 10 percent, according to Nielsen.

In the last three weeks, viewers for the first two hours of NBC’s morning show have surpassed that of rival ABC’s Good Morning America, which typically boasts the largest morning viewership.

Today show ratings are up 10 percent following Megyn Kelly’s firing from the Today Show on October 26 for her controversial remarks defending blackface. Since her departure, viewership by 25 to 54 year olds – the key demographic favored by advertisers – for the third hour slot of Today is up about 10 percent

The firing cut short Kelly’s three-year $69million contract with NBC and cost the network millions in payout, but her departure is so far boosting the morning show’s numbers. Kelly pictured on Monday walking through Manhattan

Today now regularly beats GMA in total viewers

In Megyn Kelly’s last week, her 9am program had 675,000 viewers between the ages of 25 and 54 and 2.52million viewers overall, according to Nielsen. 

Just one week after her departure the show clocked 752,000 viewers between 25 and 54 and 2.64million viewers overall – leaping 11 percent and five percent respectively.

But last week those numbers jumped to 741,000 viewers between 25 and 54 and more than 2.63million viewers overall – a 10 and four percent jump respectively over the three week period. 

From November 5 to 9, Today recorded an average of 4.25million viewers, eclipsing the 4.22million viewers of GMA. Part of the reason is attributed to the network’s coverage of the California bar shooting.

Kelly’s eponymous hour show was abruptly cancelled on October 26 after she questioned why blackface was controversial as a Halloween costume. NBC is trying to figure out what kind of severance to offer the host who had a combined $69million contract.

Now the network is wondering if the spike in viewership will hold.

Kelly and husband Douglas Brunt pictured out in New York on Monday. Since her departure, Today show numbers have had a three-week streak in boosted viewership

She later stepped out in a pair of sunglasses with her hair pulled back

The show hasn’t seen a viewership streak like this since NBC covered the Olympics in Pyeongchang in South Korea, according to Variety. 

NBC’s number of viewers has peaked in the past recent months following moments of crisis. Viewers noticeably boosted after Today show house Matt Lauer was fired in late 2017 amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

The audience peak has also benefited Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee, who host the fourth hour of today at 10am and grabbed 1.844million viewers in Kelly’s final week on air. 

One week later the duo’s ratings jumped to 1.964million viewers – a seven percent jump. In the second week following Kelly’s departure, they clocked 1.911million viewers, slipping about three percent. 

Kelly’s third-hour on Today – which runs from 7am to 11am each weekday – is now run by a rotating group of anchors. It’s run from her old set in Studio 6A and also has a live audience. Overall viewership in this hour-long slot rose five percent a week after Kelly left. 

The third hour slot of the show is now run by a rotating group of Today Show anchors. Jenna Bush Hager helped take over the 9am program in the first episode following Kelly’s firing

The show is now regularly run by Jenna Bush Hager, Al Roker and Craig Melvin. In Kelly’s last week at the show she boasted 2.52million viewers. Last week the program bumped to 2.64million viewers overall

Jenna Bush Hager, Al Roker and Craig Melvin replaced Kelly on the show after she ousted. 

Hoda Kotb opened the program, clearing the air saying: ‘Today, as you know, we are starting a new chapter in the third hour of our show. And as it evolves we want you to know the entire Today family will continue to bring you informative and important stories just as we always have.’

Kelly hasn’t spoken out on her axing from the famed network. She was spotted smiling and strolling through Manhattan on Monday.   

Since she was abruptly taken off the air she’s been spotted on date nights with her husband Douglas Brunt and is filling her days with attending Broadway shows, romantic dinners and running errands.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk