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Katie Couric Is Out at CBS News

She'll likely launch syndicated talk show, says source

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 4, 2011 2:22 AM CDT | Updated Apr 4, 2011 7:54 AM CDT

(Newser) – It's been rumored for weeks, but a CBS Evening News official is now (anonymously) confirming that Katie Couric is leaving her anchor post. Couric, 54, the first woman in US history to be sole anchor of a daily network news program, plans to start a syndicated talk show some time next year. Couric moved from NBC's Today show to began as CBS anchor in 2006 with major hoopla. But much of her first curious audience drifted away and CBS was stuck in third place behind NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams and ABC's World News with Diane Sawyer. Couric's current contract is up June 4, but it's not yet clear when she will step down, reports AP.

CBS Sunday news anchor Russ Mitchell, 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley and former Early Show co-host Harry Smith are being considered to replace Couric, and the network will also look at candidates currently working elsewhere, according to sources. Several companies are seeking to produce Couric's next venture. Some blame the falling fortunes of network news for the ouster of the $15 million-a-year anchor. "There are people who love Katie and those who don't love her and that was a factor," said Rome Hartman, Couric's first executive producer on the news show. "But it was the overall dynamics. There was a rock that we couldn't move and I don't think it would have mattered who we would have put in there."

Katie Couric rehearses for Election Night of Presidential Campaign 2008 in New York.
Katie Couric rehearses for Election Night of Presidential Campaign 2008 in New York.   (AP Photo/CBS, John P. Filo, FIle)
CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric speaks at a memorial service for the late CBS News anchorman Walter Cronkite, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009, at the Lincoln Center in New York.
CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric speaks at a memorial service for the late CBS News anchorman Walter Cronkite, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009, at the Lincoln Center in New York.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
In this July 16, 2006 file photo, Katie Couric, CBS News anchor and correspondent, answers questions about her upcoming season anchoring CBS Evening News with Katie Couric during a news conference.
In this July 16, 2006 file photo, Katie Couric, CBS News anchor and correspondent, answers questions about her upcoming season anchoring "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" during a news conference.   (AP Photo/Lucas Jackson, File)
In this July 16, 2006 file photo, Katie Couric, CBS News anchor and correspondent, answers questions about her upcoming season anchoring CBS Evening News with Katie Couric during a news conference.
In this July 16, 2006 file photo, Katie Couric, CBS News anchor and correspondent, answers questions about her upcoming season anchoring "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" during a news conference.   (AP Photo/Lucas Jackson, File)
Katie Couric attends an event in Manhattan last year.
Katie Couric attends an event in Manhattan last year.   (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, file)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 35 comments
boxcar
Apr 5, 2011 1:27 PM CDT
The most attractive women are also the most intelligent- guess that leaves out Fox Propaganda Channel Blondes Katie Cute-IC was all of that, at age 54, still a Classy Lassy PS- IC means Intelligent Creature
DontLikeYou
Apr 4, 2011 11:58 PM CDT
She didn't have the gravitas for that job. She might have a career making infomercials for the P90x.
Colonel_Sanders
Apr 4, 2011 12:18 PM CDT
the first woman in US history to be sole anchor of a daily network news program, .................... They make it sound like this is some kind of real accomplishment. All this is is just show business run by @ 4 or 5 companies. They're just millionaire actors. Nothing but a sad Punch and Judy show, just like the Presidential 'debates' they broadcast every four years. Time for this dinosaur (TV news) to go into the sunset.

 
Katie Couric • CBS Evening News • network news

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