SEACREST IN WITH KELLY RIPA

Ryan Seacrest, who retains his title as the hardest-working man in showbiz, has signed on to join Kelly Ripa as the co-host of ABC’s Live, it was announced this morning.

Seacrest, formerly host of American Idol and ongoing iHeartRadio star, will serve as an executive producer on the show. Although he’s been living in L.A., he has a NYC home as well. His presence on the show should ignite a new ratings fight with NBC’s rival chatfest Today. Former Fox firebrand Megyn Kelly will become host of the 9 o’clock hour in the fall, though it's possible NBC will move up the popular 10am hosts Kathy Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb and give Megyn Kelly a 10am start. President Trump could not be reached for comment.

On Air with Ryan Seacrest, which iHeartRadio broadcasts on weekday mornings from 6-10am Pacific time will continue to air in the time slot but some segments during the radio program’s first hour will be taped, the New York Times reported.

ABC, which broadcasts Live from its Upper West Side studio, will reportedly be installing a new radio studio for Seacrest.

“Very few people have both the appeal and the work ethic to accomplish this,” Robert Pittman, Chairman/CEO of iHeartMedia, said in a statement dropped from his jet. “I’m pleased to see him return to another regular TV platform.”

Ripa promised that “the next chapter of the Live story is about to be written” and thanked her erstwhile co-hosts.

The former American Idol host is the rare on-air talent able to move freely between networks; his ABC connection is as the host of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

Still active in music television, last week, Ryan Seacrest Productions and Endemol Shine North America announced Best.Cover.Ever., a talent competition series for YouTube with Ludacris as host and featuring Demi Lovato, Backstreet Boys and Jason Derulo.

Stay tuned for updates.