The "New York Daily News" reports that MATT LAUER'S popularity with viewers is down 25% from last year.  This is according to his "Q Score", a respected survey that measures the appeal of things to consumers.

Matt actually responded to this, and acknowledged the decline.  He said, "Is it only 25%?  Because it actually feels much worse."

Some people are attributing this to Matt's somewhat cold dismissal of former co-host ANN CURRY earlier this year.  That's ironic, because Ann was supposedly dumped because SHE wasn't connecting with viewers.