Good Morning America host Josh Elliott leaving for NBC Sports

The cast of Good Morning America might be in mourning today as news anchor Josh Elliott announced he's leaving the program to join rival NBC. Once seen as the heir apparent to the top-rated morning news program, Elliott will contribute to NBC Sports programs after he failed to come to a contractual agreement with ABC News.

Elliott's defection to NBC left media critics wondering if he'll join NBC's struggling Today show, but a non-compete clause prohibits him from appearing on his former rival's program for at least six months. A member of the GMA team that helped dethrone Today from first place in the ratings, Elliott was seeking a substantial pay raise from his reported $800,000 per year salary to between $4 and $5 million.

"In good faith, we worked hard to close a significant gap between our generous offer and his expectations," wrote ABC News President Ben Sherwood in a note to staffers. "In the end, Josh felt he deserved a different deal and so he chose a new path." Amy Robach will assume Elliott's position as news anchor.

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NBC is expected to make an official announcement later this week.