Matt Lauer's contract with NBC's Today show has been extended, laying rumours to rest surrounding his dismissal. The network received a number of complaints after Lauer's co-anchor on the morning show, Ann Curry, left. However, NBC has offered its official endorsement of the 56-year-old anchor and released a public statement making clear their intentions to keep Lauer on the show.

Matt Lauer
Matt Lauer's contract on the Today show has been extended.

The statement, issued on Thursday (12th June), announces Lauer has been signed as host for a number of years to come, at least two according to the NY Times. The NBC executives have released the news that Lauer's contract has been extended but the specific terms are uncertain. It is rumoured his salary could be anything between $20 and $25 million.

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The Today show has recently gone through a rocky patch after ABC's Good Morning America had considerably higher ratings. Whilst some have attributed these ratings to Lauer's hosting and Curry's decision to leave, NBC have continued to back the Lauer as anchor. Moreover, since Curry left in 2012, the ratings for the show initially declined but have increased slightly. The network even claims the steady increase in ratings over previous months has been a result of Lauer's presence. In a recent interview, executive Deborah Turness, said the growth in ratings over the last eight months was a result of the current Today show team including Lauer, his co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, weather anchor Al Roker and news anchor, Natalie Morales.

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In the statement, Turness said: "We couldn't be more thrilled with Matt's decision. As I've said many times before, he's the best in the business, and there is nobody I would rather have in the Today anchor chair than Matt."

Matt Lauer
Matt Lauer's hosting has recieved criticism.

Ann Curry
Ann Curry previously co-anchored the Today show with Lauer.