Katie Couric says she's leaving ‘Today’

A successor?
The move simultaneously forces NBC to find a new team for “Today,” television’s most profitable news program, and gives CBS News President Sean McManus a major success in his effort to lure more stars to his beleaguered news organization.

Meredith Vieira of the daytime chat show “The View” has emerged as the leading candidate to team with Lauer. Vieira, a former CBS News reporter who won a Daytime Emmy as host of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” had previously turned down offers to return to news since joining “The View.”  The New York Times reported that a $10 million-per-year deal with Vieira was expected to be done by week's end.

An NBC spokeswoman would not comment on succession plans.

During Couric's reign atop the ratings, morning news shows have both grown in influence and expanded their entertainment and soft-news offerings. The “Today” job required Couric to interview presidents in one hour and helm cooking segments the next. It also demanded a draining five-day-a-week schedule that required her to wake up well before dawn.

“Today” is currently seen by about 6 million viewers a day. While the “CBS Evening News” has been averaging upwards of 7.5 million, it lags far behind NBC's evening effort, anchored by Brian Williams, which draws nearly 10 million each night. In a statement, McManus called Couric a “key ingredient” in his efforts to regain a No. 1 slot.

“Katie is simply one of the best in the business and represents a tremendous addition to CBS News,” said CBS president and CEO Les Moonves.

‘I think the world of her’
Couric’s contract with NBC, owned by General Electric Co., extends to the end of May and she’s expected to remain at “Today” through that sweeps month.

The lure of trying something new and making history in the evening proved enticing to Couric, who is also expected to contribute to “60 Minutes.” She spurned a more lucrative offer — about $20 million a year — to remain at NBC and accept the CBS Corp. offer, the person close to Couric said.

It’s not the first time an anchor has made the transition from morning to evening; NBC’s longtime “Nightly News” anchor Tom Brokaw was a “Today” show host in the 1970s. Another “Today” personality, Barbara Walters, briefly co-anchored ABC’s evening news with Harry Reasoner.

With Schieffer filling in during the year since Dan Rather’s exit, the “CBS Evening News” is the only network evening newscast rising in the ratings. But it’s still in third place behind NBC and ABC.

“I will be delighted if she came,” Schieffer said Tuesday. “I think she’ll be a great addition to a very good news team. ... I’ve known Katie for years and I think the world of her.”

If a deal with Vieira can’t be reached, the top in-house candidates to replace Couric are “Today” weekend anchor Campbell Brown, NBC reporter Natalie Morales and newsreader Curry.

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