What began as some idle speculation in a few newspapers has now escalated into full-scale buzz: Will Katie Couric vacate her Today show throne in exchange for Dan Rather's anchor desk on CBS's Evening News?
Couric, NBC representatives and CBS's spokesman have all declined comment, but CBS chairman Leslie Moonves tells the Wall Street Journal that the perky, 13-year veteran of NBC's top-rated morning show is welcome to serve as the centerpiece in his network's news operations.
Couric's NBC contract, which reportedly pays her upwards of $16 million a year, is due to expire in May, though it's said that she hopes to reach a decision regarding her future – which, presumably, would include weighing an offer from CBS that the Journal says could reach $20 million a year – by the end of this year. Some newspapers, such as the New York Post, however, are reporting that she is actually planning on reaching her decision this week.
In preparation for possibly losing its 48-year-old star to a rival network, NBC has been grooming Campbell Brown, Alexis Glick and Natalie Morales to join Matt Lauer on Today – with Brown being the frontrunner, says the Journal.
Your Reaction
