Ann Curry's Firing Affecting 'Today Show's' Ratings as 'GMA' Continues to Grow

ABC News' "Good Morning America" stood as the No. 1 morning newscast for the second week this season. The two-week win marks GMA's "strongest competitive start to a season in 21 years."

GMA was the No. 1 morning news program in both Total Viewers (4.932 million) and Adults 25-54 (1.870 million) for the week of October 1 and beat "Today" by 646,000 Total Viewers and 165,000 Adults 25-54 to rank No. 1 in overall viewers for the last 8 weeks and No. 1 in the key adult news demo for the last 6 weeks.

"GMA" beat the "Today Show" in all five head-to-head telecasts of the week in both total viewers (Mon: +425,000, Tues: +723,000, Wed: +870,000, Thurs: +425,000 and Fri: +785,000) and adults 25-54 (Mon: +63,000, Tues: +65,000, Wed: +284,000, Thurs: +161,000 and Fri: +253,000). "GMA" also had the top five telecasts of the week in total Viewers.

According to Nielsen Research, "GMA" is the only morning program to grow in both total viewers and adults 25-54 versus its year-ago averages. "GMA" has its largest overall season audience in 7 years and best Adults 25-54 performance in 5 years - since the 2005-06 and the 2007-08 seasons.

GMA also has No.1 morning news website and beats MSNBC's Today by millions of users every month. This summer, visitors spent more than 16 percent more time on Goodmorningamerica.com compared to Today.

After NBC fired Curry, GMA viewership skyrocketed and "Today" hasn't won a week since. Curry was replaced by Savannah Guthrie.

"Today is going to be my last morning as a regular co-host of TODAY," Curry said. "I will still be a part of the TODAY show family, but I'm going to have a new title and a new role."

Curry was replaced by Savannah Guthrie and, according to a RadarOnline.com source, "is truly settling into her role."

"She walked into a sh*t storm, which she had nothing to do with and has handled it with true class," the source told RadarOnline.com. "Savannah is truly part of the TODAY show family. She is wicked smart but she isn't arrogant about it. The cast is truly working together."

Curry was rehired by NBC as a News National and International Correspondent/Anchor and "Today" Anchor at Large. Curry reports for all platforms of NBC News including "Today," "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams," "Rock Center with Brian Williams," "Dateline," MSNBC, and all digital properties. Curry also serves as anchor for multiple NBC News primetime specials, regularly substitute anchors for "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" and reports for "Rock Center with Brian Williams."

"GMA" has been without its co-anchor Robin Roberts who is on medical leave for treatment of M.D.S., a rare blood and bone marrow disorder. During Roberts' absence, ABC News' Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric , Barbara Walters, Elizabeth Vargas, Oprah Winfrey, Kelly Ripa, Chris Rock, Rob Lowe and the cast of ABC's "Modern Family will help lead the GMA ship. Wife of GOP presidential nominee Ann Romney has co-hosted the show.