ABC's "GMA" co-host Josh Elliott is "joining NBC Sports," and is expected to "cover the most high-profile sports properties the network carries, including the NFL, the Olympics and the Triple Crown," according to Don Kaplan of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Elliott "had been asking to be paid" $10M a year to stay at "GMA." A source said that ABC counter-offered with $5M annually, "adding that ABC News brass had believed their offer was a 'generous increase' over his current" $1M salary. ABC News President Ben Sherwood told the "GMA" staff in "a rare Sunday night memo" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/31). ADWEEK's Anthony Crupi reported a "standard non-compete clause" in Elliott's contract "could keep him off the air until early October" (ADWEEK.com, 3/30). In N.Y., Bill Carter notes while Elliott "may work for NBC Sports much sooner," his contract "forbids him from appearing on 'Today' for six months." How much the move to hire Elliott "was intended to bolster the sports division and how much to unsettle the cast lineup at 'GMA' is a question NBC is unlikely to answer." But there is "little doubt that NBC had a dual purpose in going after" Elliott (N.Y. TIMES, 3/31).
