Great timing, Matt! Lauer pictured on vacation in Colorado as Today show loses ground to GMA during sweeps season

With financially-critical sweeps season in full swing, heads were tilting when Matt Lauer took a break from anchoring the Today show this week.
A newly-published photo answers questions to his whereabouts, revealing the veteran journalist has taken an ill-timed vacation with his family in Vail, Colorado.
An employee of a local sporting goods store posted the image of Matt smiling on the company's Facebook page on Tuesday, writing that the television host had stopped in for a pair of new ski boots.

Time out: Matt Lauer, pictured in Vail, Colorado this week, has taken time off anchoring Today for a family vacation during sweeps season

Sighting: An employee for sporting good store Surefoot posted the image on Facebook with this message

Lauer, 55, flashes a toothy grin next to an employee at Surefoot.
'Matt Lauer, Host of NBC's The Today Show just got Surefoot Custom Ski Boots in Surefoot Vail!' the image caption reads. 
TMZ first reported the story.

 

A salesman at Surefoot told the website Lauer walked in and said: 'Gimme the best thing you have for my foot', and employees outfitted him with a custom fit pair of boots.
The father-of-three reportedly took the week off to enjoy some downtime with his kids and wife, Annette Roque.
But it was the timing that raised eyebrows with viewers, with sweeps season underway from January 31 to February 27.

Missing Matt: Today's co-anchors took the reigns without Lauer for the early morning show on Wednesday

The seasonal event means ratings are more important than ever in securing ad revenue, and comes at a time with Today losing ground to longtime rival Good Morning America.
On Tuesday, when the photo was posted, Today was down by nearly one million viewers, compared to GMA.
Sources told TMZ the time off was coincidental, as Lauer has taken vacation days before to coincide with his kids' school holidays.
GMA was expected to again dominate ratings on Wednesday, with anchor Robin Roberts making her return to air  five months to the day after receiving a bone marrow transplant and a year since she started feeling symptoms of the ailment that has sidelined her since August.

Contentious: Ann Curry and Matt Lauer host Today on March 12 - three months before she exited the programme

Fanfare: Curry was a favourite with viewers, who blamed her exit on Lauer

The bulk of the ABC show turned into a celebration of her return as she's recovering from MDS, a blood and bone marrow disease. President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and basketball star Magic Johnson all sent taped greetings.

Amy Robach and Elizabeth Vargas largely filled in for Roberts during her absence, although there were occasional celebrity 'guest hosts' like Charlie Sheen, Stephen Colbert and Jessica Simpson.
The show didn't miss a beat, not losing a single week to NBC's Today show while she was gone, a development producers admitted was a surprise.
The Today show sent a gift basket that Good Morning America displayed in its studio, and gave Roberts an on-air welcome.

Early morning rivals: Robin Roberts, bottom left, returned from medical leave to host Good Morning America on Wednesday - and is believed to have secured another day of high ratings for the show

'She's looking and feeling great,' said NBC's Savannah Guthrie. 'And I know we're all really happy for her.'
Lauer's sighting in Vail also comes on the heels of reports about his contentious relationship with former Today co-anchor Ann Curry, who has barely been seen on screen since her teary exit from the morning show last June.
Curry is believed to be making a bid to leave the network, being linked to both Al Jazeera and CNN.
Viewers blamed Lauer for Curry's mistreatment - and even his new co-host Savannah Guthrie admitted replacing Curry had been somewhat of a chalice, telling Vogue in October: 'I respect that the change has been difficult for our viewers.'

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