Matt Lauer addressed speculation that he will be departing NBC’s "Today" soon after co-anchor Meredith Vieira leaves the show, reports the Los Angeles Times’ Show Tracker blog.

"I have a long-term deal with NBC," Lauer said at a press conference held by NBC News after the announcement that Vieira would be leaving the program. "I’m gonna be here for a while."

Lauer, whose contract expires Dec. 31, 2012, acknowledged that he had talked with his former "Today" co-anchor Katie Couric about teaming up on a future project, but said negotiations didn’t pan out, the story says.

"I just determined that there really wasn’t a need for us to continue the conversation right now because I’m not going anywhere," Lauer said.