EXCLUSIVE: NBC to CANCEL one hour of the Today show for $12m Megyn Kelly's new 10am slot

  • New hire Megyn Kelly's arrival at NBC will mean Today show loses fourth hour
  • The $12m acquisition of Kelly means NBC is desperate to get a return on her
  • Will give her a new show starting at 10am and move Kathie Lee and Hoda to 9am
  • Have cancelled Tameron Hall and Al Roker's 9am hour - causing Hall to leave
  • This is infuriated Al Roker - who is upset that his friend turned down $2m to stay 

By Chris Spargo For Dailymail.com

Published: 20:44 EST, 3 February 2017 | Updated: 00:40 EST, 4 February 2017

Ready or not: Megyn Kelly will be joining NBC from Fox News in September 

Ready or not: Megyn Kelly will be joining NBC from Fox News in September 

Not only is Megyn Kelly not replacing Savannah Guthrie, she may not even be on the Today show at all. 

An NBC insider tells Dailymail.com that the plan is for the former Fox News darling to get her own hour of morning television that would not fall under the Today show brand, would be a new brand, and would cancel the fourth hour of it altogether.

The news comes on the heels of Tamron Hall abruptly leaving the network, refusing an offer of over $2million a year, after Today cancelled her 9 am hour with Al Roker. 

Kathie Lee and Hoda are expected to move to 9 am from 10, and the 10 am hour could be cancelled. 

The news of their cancellation was announced to Roker and Hall on same day it was confirmed that they had beaten Live Kelly in the key demo for the month of January, according to an insider.

More changes: Al Roker (right with Jenna Bush Hager) is said to be furious his co-anchor from 9-10am Tamron Hall (left) has apparently been forced out despite a new $2m package

More changes: Al Roker (right with Jenna Bush Hager) is said to be furious his co-anchor from 9-10am Tamron Hall (left) has apparently been forced out despite a new $2m package

 And they had won they key demo for eight straight weeks when Today decided to inform them of the Kelly news.

Al and Tamron were told Friday after Today ended and just a few mins before she was going on air to host MSNBC live. 

Hall walked away from the money on Tuesday - leaving her cohost not too happy.

'Al's upset because it's his friend, but he's also upset because he lost the show. And this is the second time the network has done this to him,' a network source told Dailymail.com. 

The pair ended up together at 9 am after Billy Bush was abruptly axed in wake of the Trump p**sy tape scandal. 

But a different NBC insider disputed Roker's mood on the situation. 

Up in the air: Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie have led the Today show for the past four years

Up in the air: Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie have led the Today show for the past four years

Moving on down: Kathie Lee and Hoda will be moving down an hour to make way for Megyn

Moving on down: Kathie Lee and Hoda will be moving down an hour to make way for Megyn

Disruption to the Today family: Carson Daly,Tamron Hall, Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, Matt Lauer, Natalie Morales, Willie Geist, Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb appear on NBC News' Today show

Disruption to the Today family: Carson Daly,Tamron Hall, Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, Matt Lauer, Natalie Morales, Willie Geist, Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb appear on NBC News' Today show

'Al has a huge presence on the Today show from 7-9am and across the network, and he's very happy with that.' 

Kelly's hire, at a reported $12million a year, has rustled feathers at the Peacock network, where she is expected to debut this fall. 

All change: There are suggestions that Megyn's next stop will be to take over the nightly news from Lester Holt

All change: There are suggestions that Megyn's next stop will be to take over the nightly news from Lester Holt

She's reportedly moving into a 30 Rock office space in May. 

'Megyn was a very expensive purchase and they need to get their money back. So they are going to do everything in their power to make her the network star,' the source said to DailyMail.com claiming she'll get her own hour.

'They want her to eventually replace Lester Holt.'

A different NBC insider insists the Holt rumors are just that, and completely untrue, just like her replacing Guthrie.  

As for Kelly, she isn't expected to appear with anyone every day - including Lauer 

'She is not a team player. You can't put her with anyone,' the source said.

Meanwhile Tamron Hall is looking for a new place to shine.  She was being offered more $2million to stay, almost half what Bush was being paid.

She is now being shopped to other networks at that same rate. 

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