There's no official word on why NBC forced ANN CURRY out, but the prevailing speculation is that it was a combination of:  A decline in ratings, and / or MATT LAUER asking for a new co-host when he renegotiated his contract earlier this year.

If Matt was NOT an ANN FAN, that explains the awkwardness between them when Ann announced her departure on yesterday's "Today" show.  However, he talked as if he thought the world of her.  So if she's so amazing, then why did she have to go, just ONE YEAR after taking over for MEREDITH VIEIRA?  Someone DID think she had to go, and it wasn't Ann.

In an interview with "USA Today", she said, "I don't want to leave."   She added, "In every single co-host's first year, there have been kinks to be worked out."

When asked if she thought she'd gotten enough time to work out the "kinks," she said, "No.  I do not."  And when asked if she would have liked more time, she said, "Oh, sure I would have."

As for the ratings, ABC's "Good Morning America" broke NBC's 16-year weekly winning streak in April, and has taken three additional weeks since then.  Here's what Ann had to say about that:  "I know I am not to blame for the ratings worries, [But] there is no doubt that the rating wars have become meaner and less focused on our responsibilities as journalists."

By the way, we've heard that NBC booted Ann despite owing her a guaranteed $20 MILLION over the next two years.  (They may have renegotiated that amount in a new deal, but there aren't any new details on that.)    Comedienne LISA LAMPANELLI had this to say about that:  "NBC is paying Ann Curry $10 million a year to leave 'Today'.  I'll pay $20 million if someone will dismantle 'The View' completely!"