Broadcasting & Cable’s Michael Malone talks to local stations about “Katie” as the first season wraps. Although some stations are pleased with the show’s performance, local partners mostly say Katie Couric’s talk show “did not meet ratings expectations,” Malone reports, and some stations are weighing their options for next season:
“The results have not been as strong as we would’ve liked,” says Emily Barr, former WLS Chicago general manager who now heads up the Post-Newsweek group. “We hope there’s some changing and tweaking to improve the connection with the audience.”
Station veterans say they are surprised that there’s not been talk of renewals at this point, especially with the future ironed out in recent weeks for Dr. Oz, Wendy Williams and Steve Harvey. “Everyone has their dates to the prom, or they’re not going to the prom,” says one GM airing Katie who asked to be unnamed. “Except one.”
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[…] Katie‘s local partners are at least considering their options, if not acting on them. “You always explore what else might be on the horizon,” says Barr. “In some markets, maybe it’s something local.”