JONATHAN Wald is out as top man at the “Today” show – and is expected to be replaced with an ex-producer from rival “Good Morning America.”

Wald got the news yesterday, 17 months after taking over TV’s top-rated morning show, sources say.

The leading candidate to replace Wald is Tom Touchet, a former senior producer at “GMA.”

“Jonathan worked incredibly hard, but it just wasn’t the perfect fit,” said one source. “It was more like, ‘Let’s do it differently.’ “

Wald was not popular with Katie Couric, and the “Today” show co-host reportedly tangled with Wald several times in recent months.

In one case, “Today” was scooped by “GMA” for an interview with a miner who had survived three days trapped underground in Pennsylvania.

“Today” officials were also reportedly upset that “GMA” – and not “Today” – was the first morning show to air live from the reconstructed Pentagon.

It’s likely that Wald will remain with NBC in another capacity.