Today Show Anchor Headed to The West Coast

FTVLive told you that NBC Today Show news reader Natalie Morales might be packing her bags for the left coast.

Yesterday, NBC made that move official.

The Peacock announced that Morales will be the new West Coast anchor for the Today Show. 

Morales will also host NBC properties Access Hollywood and Access Hollywood Live. 

For years Morales has been quietly talking about doing more with entertainment and less with news. The move to LA seems to be inline with those plans.

At one point, Morales appeared to be the heir apparent to sit alongside Matt Lauer. But, when she was passed over for Savannah Guthrie, it was a clear that her stock was no long on the rise at Today. 

Today Show SVP Noah Oppenheim told the staff of the move in an internal memo:  announced the news to employees. 

"I'm writing with excited news – this summer, Natalie Morales will move to LA to become Today's West Coast Anchor. She'll continue to play a prominent role on Dateline," Oppenheim wrote, also including her other two gigs. "With our show's increasing focus on West Coast stories, it became clear to me that having a permanent anchor presence in LA would be of enormous value."