Ann Curry's NBC Battle Gets Hot

Ann Curry desperately wants NBC to release her from her special correspondent's contract so she can accept a fabulous job at CNN, but the powers that be are playing hardball. They want the fired former TODAY Show co-anchor to stay off the air for six months before switching networks.

According to a report from RadarOnline, this is completely unacceptable to Curry.

"NBC has made it clear that if they let Ann out of her contract, they want to keep her off the air of a competing network for at least six months," the source said. "This is unacceptable to Ann. She has been on the air only in a very limited capacity."

When Ann was

fired from The TODAY Show things went from bad to worse--but not just for her. She was promised lots of air time but it has been minimal. And Matt Lauer--who many believe was instrumental in Ann's firing, has watched his popularity as well as his show's ratings plummet. Good Morning America has trumped The TODAY Show since Ann was fired.

Matt Lauer recently went to bat for Ann, telling NBC they should let her out of her contract so she can go to CNN. She wants to make that move in February and join former TODAY Show boss Jeff Zucker, who wants her in Anderson Cooper's 8PM slot.

Do you think NBC will continue to play hardball with Ann? It certainly seems like they owe her the courtesy of letting her out of her contract. Her lawyers said a week ago that as a last ditch effort they will file a breach of contract suit against the network if they don't release her. Hopefully things won't take that kind of a drastic turn.