Katie Couric Trades Today for CBS Night
As Couric Becomes First Woman to Anchor a Major Evening
News Broadcast Solo, View's Viera Heads to Today Show
Updated: April 6, 2006
[Originally Published: April 5, 2006]
New York, NY –
As Katie Couric celebrated her 15th anniversary with NBC’s Today show Wednesday, she announced her historic move to the CBS Evening News. Couric is now the first woman to anchor a major network evening newscast solo.
CBS confirmed subsequently that Couric will contribute to 60 Minutes and do prime-time specials as part of her five-year deal, along with her duties as anchor and managing editor of the evening news.
Industry sources say the CBS pact gives Couric near her current take of around $15 million a year for the five years, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Couric’s arrival marks a major victory for CBS News President Sean McManus, in his efforts to increase his cornered team’s star power.
Along with Today colleagues Matt Lauer, Ann Curry and Al Roker, Couric has been an essential component of morning television’s most consistent ratings winner—besting all other morning news shows every year to date since 1997. The move, however, has not come without its critics.
Interim CBS Evening News anchor Bob Schieffer told the New York Observer this week that he believes Couric will do her new job well. “I think, by and large, people are pretty excited about it,” he said.
Nevertheless, he continued, “There are some people here who think it’s a marvelous idea—and some people here who maybe don’t think it’s a marvelous idea.” The rumor mill is wrought with tales of grumbling among some CBS executives and some at 60 Minutes, according to the Observer.
Detractors reportedly question Couric’s ability to make the switch from morning host to night news anchor, among other issues—despite Couric’s history interviewing heads of state and covering the range of political, business and controversial topics. She arrives in company with other journalists who have made successful leaps from morning to night time chairs, such as Tom Brokaw.
Perhaps in response to those who wish to believe Couric too “lightweight” to be an anchor and handle hard news, her spokesperson Matthew Hiltzik, reportedly circulated a 15-page brief outlining the star journalist’s qualifications and professional milestones. “Katie’s extraordinary career speaks for itself,” said Hiltzik.
The opportunity to make history with CBS, as well as a personal change, appears to have truly inspired Couric. That is, she reportedly bypassed a considerable $20 million per year offer to stay with NBC, according to AP.
Couric said today that she believes change is sometimes a good thing. "Although it may be terrifying to get out of your comfort zone,” she explained, “it's also very exciting to start a new chapter in your life."
Co-host Lauer surely spoke for many when he said,"It's hard to imagine being here and not having you sitting next to us."
Meredith Viera of Daytime Talker The View to Replace Couric
NBC announced this morning that The View's Meredith Vieira will be Lauer's new partner on The Today Show beginning in September, choosing Vieira over potential in-house candidates Curry, Today weekend anchor Campbell Brown and NBC reporter Natalie Morales.
A former correspondent for 60 Minutes and Daytime Emmy® winner for her work as host of successful gamer Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Vieira has experience delivering the mix of hard news and lighter fare typical of morning telecasts.