Sarah Palin To Co-Host 'Today' Show In Ratings Battle With Katie Couric

It's a Sarah Palin vs. Katie Couric smack-down on the network television morning news / talk shows Tuesday.

The former Alaska governor and one-time Republican Party vice-presidential nominee will be co-hosting NBC's Today Show at the same time Couric, a former Today host and CBS anchor, will sit in for Robin Roberts on ABC's Good Morning America. Each program starts at 7 a.m., local time.

I appreciate NBC's boldness in having me on, Palin told other Today hosts in a phone call Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported.

This wouldn't be the first time the two clashed on television. Palin famously flopped in a CBS interview with Couric while she was running as vice president with U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ari., in 2008, fumbling over which newspapers she liked (she couldn't name what she reads) and her knowledge of the economy and foreign affairs. Since then, Palin has been chastising reporters for gotcha questions that take sources off-guard in order to embarrass them.

NBC teases in a promotional video (below) that the politician-turned-pundit will reveal a different side of her than you've seen before.

What are you doing to prepare? asked Today host Matt Lauer. Are you reading some newspapers?

Palin responded by laughing, That's a fine how-do-you-do. That's a great start. Here we go.

When asked about her feelings on competing with Couric, Palin told Breitbart News, Game on.

I see this as a good opportunity to bring an independent, common-sense conservative perspective to NBC, she told the conservative news site. We're 'going rogue' and infiltrating some turf for a day.

The Today Show guest spot is an unusual gig for Palin, who spends most of her time drawing big crowds by trumpeting Tea Party ideals or weighing in on Republican affairs on Fox News.

Sill, the move isn't too surprising considering that both Today and Good Morning America are looking to boost their ratings. According to TV Newser, Today experienced 15 percent fewer viewers during the week of March 19 from the same time last year, and Good Morning America has been struggling to beat the NBC show, the highest-rated morning program for some time.

Katie Couric left NBC for CBS after 15 years with the network. She announced she was leaving the CBS Evening News in April.