Ms. Couric and the rest of the show’s co-hosts were as giddy and upbeat as a winning team preparing for its reward on “The Apprentice.” The “Today” hosts looked a lot like a losing team putting on a game face en route to Donald Trump’s boardroom. Ms. Couric made a point of rubbing it in, sending out a tweet that showed her posing impishly next to a wax likeness of Mr. Lauer alongside a “Good Morning America” news anchor, Josh Elliott.

The morning news wars will be ugly this week.

“Hosts as Weapons in Morning-Show Duel” by New York Times reporter Alessandra Stanley

We’re all competitive. And we’re going to try to get you guys in the press to write our story.
From a New York Times piece on how networks shows, including ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ and NBC’s ‘Rock Center’ are gaming the ratings system. [source]