Pure speculation, but couldn't the LWK&R deal and the AI deal been negotiated all at once, but TPTB decided to announce the LWK&R news first, generate some speculation (your welcome!) and buzz on the AI deal in the media, and then announce the AI deal.
It just seems weird to me that Ryan Seacrest signs a deal with LWK&R/ABC, and all of sudden, out of nowhere, this gift-wrapped present from ABC falls out of the sky into RS's Soulcycled lap.