Sarah Palin holds a newspaper as she co-hosts NBC News' "Today" show in New York on Tuesday.
/ AP/NBC
NEW YORK (AP) — If Sarah Palin's star turn on the "Today" show was meant to send ratings soaring, it fell short.
The gap dividing NBC's "Today" from ABC runner-up "Good Morning America" widened by just 23,000 viewers Tuesday compared with the day before, according to the Nielsen Co.
"Good Morning America" had its own guest star, Katie Couric, back on morning TV after many years hosting "Today." But Couric, now at ABC, is filling in all week at "GMA." Palin was "Today" guest co-host on Tuesday only.
"Today" drew 5.5 million viewers, while "GMA" had 356,000 fewer tuning in. On Monday, the gap dividing them was 333,000 viewers.
This morning-show rivalry has intensified as "GMA" chips away at the audience margin that has kept "Today" in first place for 15 years.
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