Katie Couric to be new anchor of CBS Evening News?

[Turtleboy]

Note this was posted on April 2, not April 1.

Looks like it's going to happen.

[Krissy]

Good for her, but personally I haven't watched network news for years. It's really a media dinosaur.

[YamahaRick]

Kenneth, what is the frequency?

[IJustLikeTivo]

Excellent, Now I never have to see her again. I used to like her but the last few years, she has forgotten her roots and now thinks she is some kind of TV Goddess. More like TV Phony Balony.

[Todd]

Hmmm, yet another reason not to watch CBS news.

[Chapper1]

She may be entertaining in a Today show environment, but I wonder how much credibility she would have being the achor of a network news program such as CBS Evening News...

[SullyND]

She may be entertaining in a Today show environment, but I wonder how much credibility she would have being the achor of a network news program such as CBS Evening News...

Yeah... I was thinking the same thing... If this turns out to be true, it won't be long until she is as busy as Jane Paully.

[Jon J]

If CBS does hire her the suits at ABC will do a double backflip and the NBC brass will have rid themselves of a poor talent.

ETA: If she is headed to CBS, it would be nice if she could arrive before the May sweeps. I will have a Neilsen diary and guess whose eyeballs won't be on Katie. ;)

[crowtoo]

Most people do not know this but prior to her gig on the Today show Katie Couiric used to be a news reporter for channel 4 (WRC) in Washington DC for many years. I'm sure she will have to adjust to the different format but I think she'll do ok.

Chris

[EchoBravo]

personally I haven't watched network news for years. It's really a media dinosaur. What Krissy said.

I think my mom watches Brian Williams, but only b/c it comes on before Wheel of Fortune.

[DevdogAZ]

There's no link in the OP. I did a quick search but didn't find this anywhere. I know it's been rumored for a long time, but I don't see any sites reporting it.

I'd be happy to have Katie gone from Today, but not if it means that Ann Curry will take over. If you think Katie is annoying, just wait until Ann gets more screen time. We'll all be wishing for Katie back if that happens.

Edit: I see the headline on Drudge and the link goes to a TV Week article, but the link doesn't work.

[Mr. Soze]

I can't stand her. Oh wait, I don't watch network news any more. Phew.

[Jesda]

Other than Fox News and ABC News on XM, I dont really follow TV news anymore. I found out only recently that Tom Brokaw retired.

I cant stand Katie and Matt, and probably prefer her over him. I grew up watching "Today" as a kid back in the 80s and early 90s and back then it was decen, but I've lately preferred ABC's Good Morning America or Fox and Friends with E.D. Hill and Kiran Chetry.

[EchoBravo]

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/

[Todd]

I'd be happy to have Katie gone from Today, but not if it means that Ann Curry will take over. If you think Katie is annoying, just wait until Ann gets more screen time. We'll all be wishing for Katie back if that happens.
I'll second that. I can't stand Ann Curry. She's by far my least favorite of the Today Show crew.

[terpfan1980]

CBS news + Katy Kouric, twice the reason not to watch. Nice of both to do me the favor of keeping my least favorites on one channel....

[bostlaw]

I'd hit that.

[Inundated]

Here's the TV Week story that started it all:

http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=9678


Couric a Blink Away From Landmark Gig
'Today' Host's Move to Eye Net Puts Rival NBC in Talent Bind
By Michele Greppi
Katie Couric's deal to move to CBS News is completed in principle, and an announcement that she is leaving NBC might come as early as this week.

That's the quiet buzz among sources familiar with assorted moving parts connected to the deal to transform Ms. Couric from co-anchor of the No. 1 morning show "Today" to anchor of the third-place-but-growing "CBS Evening News." In taking on the CBS job, Ms. Couric would be the first female to serve as sole anchor of a network flagship newscast.

The first announcement should be that Ms. Couric is leaving the Peacock Network and the viewers who have spent their mornings with Ms. Couric for 15 years.

The official announcement of CBS's dream come true-landing Ms. Couric as its evening star- would follow, perhaps next week. Ms. Couric's personal publicist, Matthew Hiltzik of Freud Communications, declined to comment to TelevisionWeek last week, as did representatives of NBC News and CBS News.


The Los Angeles Times weighs in with a "Couric has everyone planning" story for tomorrow's paper, and does NOT echo that the deal has been "completed in principle".

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-couric3apr03,1,6652797.story?coll=la-headlines-entnews


Couric has everyone planning
News divisions are weighing the changes that would be involved if she goes to CBS.
By Matea Gold, Times Staff Writer
April 3, 2006

NEW YORK -- Several key details remain to be resolved before "Today" co-anchor Katie Couric would leave her post and take over the "CBS Evening News," including the final negotiations of what her contract would be at the network.

But that hasn't stopped executives across the television news industry, who have been bracing for the NBC star to make the jump and planning their countermoves accordingly.

[DevdogAZ]

I think the best thing that could happen in conjunction with this is for CBS News to lose the viewers they have gained since Rather left and for Today to widen its lead after replacing Couric. I've never seen what people see in her and would be thrilled if this blew up in everyone's faces.

[Philly Bill]

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8228/surverysays1ie.jpg

[MickeS]

I have a lowest priority season pass on CBS evening news, and since nothing else is on in that timeslot for me, It records it every day. I actually enjoy it, it's a decent summary of the news that day, and some special reports. Far prefer it over the stupid morning shows and other stuff like that. The newschannels regular newscasts aren't as good IMO, as they often focus on ongoing stories that are often of lesser relevance (like the scott peterson trial).

I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other about Katie - she's good, I suppose. The anchor doesn't do much anyway.

[LoadStar]

I do still watch both the local and national news on ABC. I like their style the best, and they tend to be the most even-handed presentation of the news.

CBS -- partially due to their anchors, but not totally -- just seems like a dinosaur. I mean, I suppose if you were like 80 and you wanted a newscast just like what you've always watched, CBS would be great for that, but it just feels stodgy and dull to me.

As for NBC - they just seem like they tend to be overly "hip," but news just isn't "hip." Plus, every time an olympics rolls around, the news turns into a cross-promotion for that, which gets old, fast.

[Jesda]

I kind of prefer CNN:HN for hourly summaries. They dont waste as much time on scaremonger "in depth" nonsense and sensationalism (THERES PERVERTS ON THE INTERNETS! SUVS EAT CHILDREN. WATCH OUT FOR TERRARISTZ AND GUNZ!).

[LoadStar]

I kind of prefer CNN:HN for hourly summaries. They dont waste as much time on scaremonger "in depth" nonsense and sensationalism (THERES PERVERTS ON THE INTERNETS! SUVS EAT CHILDREN. WATCH OUT FOR TERRARISTZ AND GUNZ!).

For the most part, most national newscasts are a bit above doing this, at least in my opinion. It's the local news that seems overly prone to doing this.

[DevdogAZ]

For the most part, most national newscasts are a bit above doing this, at least in my opinion. It's the local news that seems overly prone to doing this.
I don't watch the network newscasts very often, but it seems like when I do, this is the type of stuff I see all the time. I'll never understand how you can condense an entire day's worth of world news into 30 minutes (22 after commercials) and still have time for package pieces and investigative reports about stuff that's not "today's" news. Leave those kind of things to 60 Minutes, Dateline, and 20/20, and that includes the segments of interviews that are shown on the news as teasers and promos for those shows.

[FLbadgirl]

Am I the only one who likes Katie here?

Good for her!

[IJustLikeTivo]

There's no link in the OP. I did a quick search but didn't find this anywhere. I know it's been rumored for a long time, but I don't see any sites reporting it.

I'd be happy to have Katie gone from Today, but not if it means that Ann Curry will take over. If you think Katie is annoying, just wait until Ann gets more screen time. We'll all be wishing for Katie back if that happens.


I'm betting that Campbell Brown will be moved in. I don't think Ann has good enough Q scores to move up.

[IJustLikeTivo]

Am I the only one who likes Katie here?

Good for her!

I liked her before her Head grew to the size a freakin watermellon. Somewhere along the way, she lost the common touch. I'd put it about the time her husband died. Something about that changed her world view and make her much more ego centric. Kind of say, I really liked her. I don't like her but, that's not the same thing as wanting bad things for her.

[Rob Helmerichs]

She's always struck me as being a lightweight. It's going to be hard for me to take her seriously.

I miss Peter Jennings...

[TiVo'Brien]

She's always struck me as being a lightweight. It's going to be hard for me to take her seriously.

I miss Peter Jennings...
Same here. Pete had the depth and credibility to be an anchor. Couric and Vargas are too nicey nice and cutesy to be the traditional anchor I want to get my news from. :down:

[Bars & Tone]

Am I the only one who likes Katie here?
I like her just fine on Today.
I just don't think she has the gravitas to pull it off.

[jlb]

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8228/surverysays1ie.jpg

A quick look and one can LOL at that pic.....then the subtlety of it takes hold and you really appreciate the little things....like the point value.

Should we then follow it up with this one:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/11/God-kills-kitten.jpg/350px-God-kills-kitten.jpg

[MauriAnne]

Katie just confirmed it on the Today Show this morning.... effective the end of May.

[SnakeEyes]

I think it's safe to say that many talk show hosts around the country are delighted that the perky Katie Couric has been promoted. I'm glad since I'll never see her now.

[SnakeEyes]

I liked her before her Head grew to the size a freakin watermellon. .

She was dating Barry Bonds?

[FLbadgirl]

I like her just fine on Today.
I just don't think she has the gravitas to pull it off.

I'd like to think she's multi-dimensional. I think she'll pull it off and surprise a lot of nay-sayers. :D

[TiVo'Brien]

Now what am I gonna do? Peter Jennings is gone, Bob Sheiffer will soon be gone, Tom Brokaw is gone.

Brian Williams? Maybe, but probably not.

There's no good anchors anymore. :(

[cheesesteak]

She's a talking head who'll be reading the news off a teleprompter like every anchor before her. Gravitas, schmavitas. Anybody can read the news, not just old, half dead white guys.

[Rob Helmerichs]

I'd like to think she's multi-dimensional. I think she'll pull it off and surprise a lot of nay-sayers. :D
That would be nice.

Hard to imagine, but nice.

[durl]

I agree that network nightly newscasts are a media dinosaur. 18 minutes of sensationalized stories that someone in New York deems to be worthy of my attention. Even if I did watch them, I wouldn't watch Couric.

[Wilhite]

We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who comes on at five
She can tell you ’bout the plane crash with a gleam in her eye
It’s interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry
http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20060405/capt.ny11704051207.tv_koutric_ny117.jpg
JMHO....

[marksman]

I think this is pretty much the end of the beginning of the last round of network news anchors. My personal opinion is the Network landscape will change significantly in the next 20 years, and network news will likely be going away. The audience continues to dwindle as they die off. Considering the amount of money they are talking about it doesn't make any sense. But there is hubris and credibility at stake and the network news departments have fortified themselves fairly well over the years.

I think eventually one of the big 3 will switch to a simulcast of a cable news broadcast for the evening news and then eventually you will see them go away altogether. It may even potentially be landscape recaptured by the local affiliates. Although the local affiliates are another issue.

Besides not watching the evening news, I don't know anyone who watches any of the morning shows either. I think the last time I watched the Today show was during the early years of cable.

[ScubaCat3]

I think this is pretty much the end of the beginning of the last round of network news anchors.

I think eventually one of the big 3 will switch to a simulcast of a cable news broadcast for the evening news and then eventually you will see them go away altogether.


I tend to agree with this in some form.

It's obvious who the prime demographic is for network news viewers. My favorite stories are the ones about some wonder drug that will "begin human testing in 5 years", most likely won't amount to anything, and even if it does, you'll have died from that disease long before it's ever FDA approved. If they'd spend as much time telling us about how to live healthier lives and spent less time pimping for drug companies (between drug company commercials), we wouldn't need so many drugs.

Ok, back to work.. :o

[durl]

I tend to agree with this in some form.

It's obvious who the prime demographic is for network news viewers. My favorite stories are the ones about some wonder drug that will "begin human testing in 5 years", most likely won't amount to anything, and even if it does, you'll have died from that disease long before it's ever FDA approved. If they'd spend as much time telling us about how to live healthier lives and spent less time pimping for drug companies (between drug company commercials), we wouldn't need so many drugs.

Ok, back to work.. :o

You've made me think of another reason why I believe network news is dying. They report these terrible things that are going to happen to us because of X, but when it doesn't materialize, they rarely update the story or say they were wrong. I remember being told about the coming Ice Age in the 70's. Killer bees were going to swarm the southwest in the 80s. DDT was going to kill us all. Sacharin (sp?) was going to give us cancer (at least on this one they've reported new research proving otherwise).

People are tired of all the bad news from the mentality of "if it bleeds, it leads." There are plenty of good news stories out there, but we never hear about them.

[5thcrewman]

And now Barbara Walters can stop waiting for the call to become the first......


I only watch 'Naked News!'

[Graymalkin]

Hey, don't we have a favorite French female newscaster here? Nobody complained about her!

So, if Meredith Viera skips out on ABC to go to NBC, we just need someone from CBS to head over to ABC and round out the multi-network swap.

[5thcrewman]

Hey, don't we have a favorite French female newscaster here? Nobody complained about her!

So, if Meredith Viera skips out on ABC to go to NBC, we just need someone from CBS to head over to ABC and round out the multi-network swap.
Mrs. Maury? :rolleyes:

[Graymalkin]

Mrs. Maury? :rolleyes:

I was thinking Mrs. Moonves. She'd be perfect as Meredith's replacement on The View. :D

[Legion]

She may be entertaining in a Today show environment, but I wonder how much credibility she would have being the achor of a network news program such as CBS Evening News...

Didnt Bill Oreilly once cover what purse Lindsey Lohan just bought on her night on the town when he was at INSIDE EDITION? Now he is the voice of the right.

They will tweak her image enough. Wont happen overnight, but it will happen. She will take her morning house frau audience to the night time hours as well.

[Havana Brown]

She may be entertaining in a Today show environment, but I wonder how much credibility she would have being the achor of a network news program such as CBS Evening News...


I couldn't stand her at all on the Today show. I enjoyed the show when she was off. I think she would do better in a more professional news environment.

[Jon J]

I predict her anchor run will be less than 18 months.