NBC's Katie Couric to anchor 'CBS Evening News'
Katie Couric, longtime host of NBC's Today, has been named the official replacement for Dan Rather as anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News.
Couric celebrated her 15th anniversary with Today Wednesday by announcing her departure, scheduled for later this spring.
"After listening to my heart and my gut ... I've decided I'll be leaving Today at the end of May," she told viewers Wednesday morning.
"Sometimes I think change is a good thing," Couric said. "Although it may be terrifying to get out of your comfort zone, it's also very exciting to start a new chapter in your life."
Couric, who started at NBC as a deputy Pentagon correspondent, takes over the chair at CBS from Bob Schieffer, who has served as the interim anchor since Rather's departure last March.
As the new anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News, the 49-year-old Couric will become the first woman in U.S. network history to serve as the sole anchor on a weekday evening newscast.
As part of her five-year contract, she will also work on prime-time specials and contribute to the venerable newsmagazine show 60 Minutes, CBS said.
Couric and the rest of the Today crew – including co-host Matt Lauer, newsreader Ann Curry and weathercaster Al Roker – have been the most successful morning show team for nearly a decade.
With morning shows gaining in popularity and influence over the years, Couric and team have had to balance news, information and entertainment. The job entailed, for instance, interviewing world leaders as well as dressing up in silly Halloween costumes each year.
Couric's contract with NBC runs until May 31. According to some reports, the sunny TV personality declined an NBC offer of $20 million US a year to stay with the network, choosing instead to accept the CBS gig at a salary close to her current one (estimated to be between $13 million and $15 million US).
With Couric's impending departure, NBC must now find a strong personality to fill her spot on Today.
The leading candidate is reportedly Meredith Vieira, one of the co-hosts of ABC's daytime talk show The View and the Emmy Award-winning host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Viera is also a former CBS News reporter.