Savannah Guthrie Takes Ann Curry's Chair Tomorrow

Ann Curry

Ann Curry's chair isn't even cold yet ... but "Today" producers have already lined up a new ass to fill it for tomorrow's show ... and it belongs to Savannah Guthrie -- the woman who will replace Curry.



NBC sources tell us, Savannah will be anchoring with Matt Lauer Friday ... and it's "likely" they will formally announce the big switch during the show.



We're told the reason it's likely is because Matt is on vacation all next week for the holiday -- and the network wants to announce his new co-host while he's still around ... to show a united front.



TMZ broke the story ... Ann would be getting the chop after Matt made it clear he didn't want to work with her anymore. The declining ratings at "Today" didn't help.



After Ann's emotional exit announcement on Thursday's show, sources say she was in no mood to talk ... and kept quiet by herself in the studio until it was time to leave.



During exit negotiations, Ann had previously demanded the remaining $20 million of her co-hosting contract -- but NBC didn't want to pay her that kinda cash. It's unclear what kind of payout Ann will get, but our sources say NBC offered $10 million.

Ann Curry : NBC's $ 10 Million Mistake

Ann Curry will get her walking papers from the "Today" show next week, and NBC will pay dearly for its blunder -- because network sources tell us she's under a contract that guarantees her $10 million a year.



Our sources tell us Ann signed a new contract almost a year ago to the day, when she took over as co-anchor of "Today." Under the deal, Ann gets a cool $10 mil, and it's a long-term contract. We're told she's guaranteed that amount for 3 years.



Network sources tell us ... the likely scenario is that Ann will become a foreign correspondent for NBC News.



Short story ... she'll be the first foreign correspondent who will rake in an amount equal to the gross national product of some of the countries she will cover.