Lauer has hosted "Today" since 1997, but his contract expires late next year.
Matt Lauer, left, and Ryan SeacrestIs "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest going to be the new Matt Lauer?
NBC executives, including "Today" executive producer Jim Bell, met with Seacrest on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of him joining NBC's highly rated morning show, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The network is interested in hiring Seacrest to host television's top morning program should Lauer decide to leave the "Today" show when his contract expires next year. The 53-year-old host has been with the show since 1997.
Fox News described Seacrest as NBC's top choice to replace Lauer. NBC News President Steve Capus and senior vice president for marketing and communications, Lauren Kapp sat in on the Tuesday night meeting, Fox reported.
Seacrest's camp declined to comment to queries from various media outlets.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Lauer has flirted with the idea of leaving "Today" when his contract is up in late 2012 and Seacrest has publicly expressed an interest in having a spot on "Today."
The Los Angeles Times voiced concern about having the host of "American Idol" taking over the reins of a network news program.
"Journalism purists will no doubt feel a pain in their stomach over the idea of Seacrest hosting what is technically a morning news program. After all, while the morning shows are a lot of fluff these days, the anchor still has to have the gravitas to be able to turn to the camera at a moment's notice and say, 'America is under attack.' So far the only thing Seacrest can say with conviction is 'Seacrest out,' the L.A. Times wrote.