ABC’S “Good Morning America” was the winner of this week’s battle for the West Virginia man who survived being trapped in his car for nearly a week.

“GMA” interviewed Robert Ward from his hospital bed yesterday after about 24 hours of defending its “exclusive” against rival networks, including “Today,” which did not mention the Ward story at all.

The scramble between NBC and ABC to land an exclusive interview with Ward unfolded at the rural hospital were he was taken after he survived for six days on packets of taco sauce, peanut butter and snow.

According to sources at the hospital, “Today” show host Katie Couric became personally involved in the hunt for Ward, hoping to avoid a repeat of the incident last summer when “GMA’ producers locked “Today” out of the first interview with one of the trapped Pennsylvania coal miners.

On Monday one of Ward’s rescuers appeared on “Today.”

In the past, “Today” officials have accused “GMA” of holding high-profile guests “hostage” in the studio to keep them from appearing on rival telecasts.

In other instances, the shows have accused each other of ruining concerts by hiring traffic helicopters to hover over outdoor performances.

“Today” has been at the top of the ratings heap in the morning for years, but “GMA” has come close to beating the NBC broadcast on several occasions.