To us outsiders it does seem precipitous.
OTOH we don't really know what the decision is based on.
There may be witnesses, evidence (a "blue dress") a confession or something else held in confidence.
I suspect there might be something to back up the allegation and they are concerned that their competition may have it or know of it.
Just my 2¢.
I’m happy to accept the plausibility of your narrative(s).
And if that version is true, it makes the funereal hand-squeezing, shoulder-hunching, eyebrow-knitting routine by what’s left of NBC’s on-air staff even more disingenuous since it’s highly unlikely they found out about it at 4 AM just before air time.
Hey, where do I find the cent thing on my keyboard?
Thanks.