"Today" co-host Matt Lauer confirmed that he talked with his former co-host Katie Couric about joining her on her new syndicated show, reports The New York Times’ Media Decoder, which cites an as-yet-unpublished interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

The new daytime talk show, “Katie,” is set to debut this fall.

"There’s no crime in listening,” Couric said, according to the interview, which will be published Wednesday.

In the end, Lauer said he remained at NBC out of loyalty to his colleagues.

"It’s hard to explain after 17 years — this is a second family,” Lauer said. "It’s impossible to leave.”

After Lauer told NBCUniversal Chief Executive Steve Burke about his wish to stay at NBC on April 4, a new contract was established within a day and a half, the story notes.