MSNBC parts ways with weekend host Tiffany Cross as she prepares for her next role as a senior White House correspondent, NBC News has confirmed.
NBC News announced Cross’ departure from “Meet the Press” Sunday afternoon, while Cross’ replacement is being chosen.
“Today” co-hosts Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie are staying on as NBC’s “Today” anchor team. NBC’s schedule will be more “Today” driven during the four-day time period in which Cross appears at the network.
Cross’ last day as a “Meet the Press” correspondent is Saturday, when the network will air a one-hour special with her and “Meet the Press” guests John Dickerson and Mark Halperin.
NBC has been working to get the series moving at the “Today” show, which has seen its ratings hit new lows. Friday’s show brought in just 975,000 viewers from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. EDT. Sunday’s “Today/NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw” drew 792,000.
Cross is a longtime correspondent for NBC News, previously serving as a White House correspondent before landing a position as the “Meet the Press” anchor in January 2010.
“Tiffany Cross’ love of the news has been evident and her work at the White House has led her to new heights in all forms of journalism,” NBC News chairman Andy Lack said in a statement.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Cross called “Today” her favorite news program.
“I have great admiration and support for Andy Lack, our boss, and the brilliant and supportive people of NBC News, who continue to work tirelessly to improve the quality of news we deliver to our audiences,” Cross said. “It has been an honor and a privilege to work and cover all of this amazing country for so many years, and I will miss it, but I look forward to many more years here at NBC and to all of you who are part of ‘Today.’ “
NBC News has already said it has no plans to replace Cross with another news journalist.
Cross joined “NBC Nightly