Couric Announces Departure
 

Well, it was the worst-kept secret in the news business, but Katie Couric just announced that she is leaving the Today show for CBS News. She made an announcement on the air, followed by a couple of short comments from Matt, Al and Ann.

Now we can look forward to a drawn-out month-long retrospective on her career.

Finally! Maybe I'll start watching the Today show now!

According to the New York Post, Meredith Viera from "The View" will be taking over for her, with a 4 year, $40 million contract in hand.

I have been hearing rumors that she is going to but I did not know that it was coming so soon -- so shocked!

Here is an article if you missed it today!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,190579,00.html

She's probably the biggest rumor at this point...has it been made official yet?

Campbell Brown of NBC News is, or at least was, another contender.

I know Brown and Natalie Morales were being talked about the most, and then all of a sudden Viera's name popped up. I'm not sure of her news experience, but it's a bit surprising to me that they would pass over Brown and Morales for the position.

Since the link above is to FOX, I thought it might be educational to see what NBC has to say:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12137229/

It appears that a final decision on the successor has not been made yet and an NBC spokesperson wouldn't comment on the search.

ETA...watch the streaming video of her actual announcement.

As a side note, having been in broadcasting for years, I think it was pretty classy of NBC to allow her to handle it that way, to allow that much airtime and to allow Matt Lauer (who I think handled it with humor and class), to ask about future plans. It has been my experience in a few badly handled incidents in the past for management to simply escort the person who is leaving out of the building...which would have been a really bad move in this case.

I would think it would be in their best interests to wait as long as possible, although I would also assume at this point that all involved know their status.

I know at times things could get nasty at the newspapers when people were passed over for editor promotions, columnist spots, etc. I can't imagine how it would be when one involves on-air personalities.

Two edged sword, I think. Half of me says, make the announcement and begin promoting and half agrees with you due to the employee/personalities involved.

It may well be that no final decision has yet been made, too.

BTW, I was editing above while you posted.

Al Roker was on one of the Boston radio stations this morning, talking about Katie's departure. There doesn't seem to be any love lost there, at least on his end.

He also claimed that the rest of the on-air talent didn't know that Katie was definitely leaving until the day before she announced. If that's the case, it could make for a very uncomfortable last month on the set.

Meredith Viera was on 60 Minutes for a short time, and then quit or was forced out (depending who you talk to) because she got pregnant. She did a good job whike she was there, IMO. I like Campbell Brown enough, but I think they need someone there with a little more name recognition at this point.

I didn't realize she was on 60 Minutes - thanks for the info. I only knew that she had been on The View and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Apparently her husband is very ill (MS and blind). That may be a factor in whether she takes the job or not.

Meredith Viera just announced that she is leaving The View to go to the Today Show.

Just when I thought I could start watching the Today Show. Both of them annoy the crap out of me. Of course, most news anchors do. Except Ron Burgundy and Veronica Corningstone. If they did the Today Show, I'd watch.

I wonder if the View will continue on without Meredith. Especially now that Star Jones is apparantly nuts (not to mention scary looking)