Another week, another round of speculation as to where “CBS Evening News” anchor Katie Couric will end up.
This week the news is that CBS may have retracted its formal offer, while ABC continues to make a move.
Yesterday, TV Guide‘s Stephen Battaglio reported that CBS pulled its offer, which was comprised of a daytime talk show deal, along with a continued presence on CBS News programs like “60 Minutes.”
Meanwhile, TMZ reports that Couric is close to a $20 million deal at ABC, which would give her a syndicated show and a significant presence on the ABC News platforms.
Deadline.com’s Nellie Andreeva has more on the matter, including the fact that CBS has the right to match any deal made by a competitor, so even if ABC is the only offer on the table, CBS can still swoop in:
But the abrupt end of the talks with early frontrunner NBC was surprising. I hear it was triggered by the rumor circulated a month ago that Couric’s former Today co-host Matt Lauer might join her on the new talk show. Word is NBC, which has Lauer locked in on Today until the end of 2012, was so miffed by the speculation — which some link to Zucker, who worked with Couric and Lauer at Today — that they pulled out shortly thereafter. That is approximately when ABC seriously entered the picture.
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The situation puts ABC in a weird position: should they make a low offer now that they’re the only player and risk CBS swooping in and easily matching it or go high and possibly overpay if CBS is indeed not interested. (I hear what the suitors for Couric have been willing to offer her was $10-$20 million as an advance toward profits from her talk show.) One way or another, there will probably be a signed deal with Katie Couric on June 5.