Media reports CBS and Couric in talks to break contract
By Matthew B. Zeidman
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 4/10/08 – When Katie Couric replaced Dan Rather in 2006, CBS hoped her high “Today” show ratings would translate to the “CBS Evening News,” but lower-than-expected viewership may force CBS to retire its secret weapon. The “Wall Street Journal” has reported that CBS and Couric are in discussions to rewrite her role on the network if ratings don’t improve by the end of the election cycle.
Couric has not been able to break the network news show out of third place among its peers since she signed on (NBC and ABC average about two million more viewers per airing), and CBS is reportedly planning to terminate Couric’s $15 million-per-year contract if viewership doesn’t spike soon—far earlier than its planned end in 2011.
Couric hosted “Today” from 1991 until 2006, when she accepted the offer to host “CBS Evening News.” The network hoped she could reinvigorate the show, which suffered from credibility issues after it was revealed a 2005 story about President Bush’s National Guard service was false. The scandal led to Rather’s retirement from the show after 24 years as anchor.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Jo // Apr 10, 2008 at 8:40 am
Its not so much Couric as it is the fact no one can trust network news – especially one that had the problems it did with Dan Rather. This is a wound yet healed and Couric was just salt into the wound instead a balm to heal. She’s a female Dan Rather …
2 Merrell Dilsavor // Apr 10, 2008 at 8:53 am
With her bubbly personality and all her energy she exuded on the Today show, watching her as an Anchor woman is torture. It’s like the life got sucked right out of her. Hard to watch, that’s why I don’t.
3 Steve // Apr 10, 2008 at 9:07 am
Thank you it is about time.The Vulcan eyebrows did her in. In the early days with NBC she head friendly smiles and eyebrows that followed her smile. Now she has these Clingon Vulcan eyebrows that point down in the middle as if she were angry all the time. Check it out.
4 Miss Empowerah // Apr 11, 2008 at 3:47 am
If the role of anchor woman doesn’t suit her anyway, I think it’s better if they changed her role before her reputation gets too charred by it.
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