AceShowbiz - Matt Lauer is allegedly planning to make a media return. According to new report, the former "Today" co-host is pondering to make a media comeback years after he was ousted from NBC News with his friends supporting him.

"He thinks that he should be able to have a comeback," a source tells Page Six. It is said that Matt's friends are allegedly pushing him to make a move like Megyn Kelly and put himself back in the games on his "own terms."

The insider goes on to say that Matt, who was fired from "Today" in November 2017due to a complaint of "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace," has been focused on spending time with his children and his girlfriend, public relations and marketing guru Shamin Abas. "Shamin has absolutely no issues with any of the scandals, it doesn't seem to faze her," the informant adds.

It is also revealed that the once-popular anchor stopped communicating with most of his powerful old friends in the media and rarely speaks to anyone on "Today". "He's still pretty upset about how he was ousted at NBC and upset at all the people he thought were his friends who turned their backs on him," an insider continues. "He knows he made mistakes, and he is a lot more humble."

The source says that Matt has "got some confidence back," though he realizes that his road back to the media industry would not be easy. "He understands that there might not be any sort of appetite for [a comeback]," says the insider. "In other words, he wants to see if there would be any chance - but he understands fully that there might be zero chance. He's not unrealistic."

Meanwhile, a media source notes, "He has had a couple of opportunities put to him. But then something always happens, like Katie Couric's book comes out, and the opportunities go away." It is said that he's "really hurt" after his former "Today" co-host released "Going There", which included private text messages between them, and Katie called Matt's alleged behavior "callous" and "grossly inappropriate."

"His friends would love to see him do something again," the insider divulged. "He'd be great at a podcast or his own production firm, using his skills behind the scenes. He looks at how someone like Megyn Kelly has reinvented herself on her own terms."

The informant adds, "His problem is that he can't go back to mainstream TV, because advertisers would likely pull away. He could do a podcast or something on his own terms. All of his friends hope he can find a pathway. But he isn't rushing into anything."

Another source also notes that Matt has put all of his "reparations" into his children. He's now an empty nester as his youngest is at boarding school and his other kids are in college. Matt shares three children, Jack (21), Romy (19) and Thijs (16), with his former wife, Annette Roque.