At 10 a.m., NBC staffers raised a glass to Katie Couric in Studio 1A.
In an internal message shortly before her announcement, Today EP Jim Bell wrote: “As we prepare to move forward, you all probably have the same question on your mind, and rest assured, we’ll have an announcement soon. But, for now, I ask that you take a moment to reflect on the past 15 years and the extraordinary team that has carried the show to such an unprecedented and successful run. Then, get back to the great work that you do, and start thinking about what our 7 o’clock open will be tomorrow. There are exciting times ahead.”
The full message is after the jump…
Katie will announce this morning that she has decided to leave NBC when her contract is up at the end of May. As she has said, this has been a tough and emotional decision. And this will now be an emotional time for us, too. She has been more than a colleague; she is a friend to everyone on the show and to the millions of viewers who welcome her into their homes each morning. We’ll have time to look back on her amazing 15 years at Today in the weeks ahead. For now though, on behalf of the staff & the viewers, I’d simply like to express a heartfelt thanks to Katie.
On a personal note, I feel extremely fortunate to have spent the past year working with her. She has been invaluable to my grasp of this show and this job. Everyone knows her skills on the air are without peer. She is simply one of the most talented broadcasters in the business. But as much as she shines from 7-10a each morning, she is even more exceptional off the air — devoted to the craft of journalism, caring and compassionate towards her co-workers and friends, and deeply dedicated to her family.
I also want to offer my sincere gratitude to all of you – it has been a trying few months of speculation. We ignored the noise, kept our heads down, and continued to make this show stronger. As a result, Today couldn’t be in a better position for our next chapter.
As we prepare to move forward, you all probably have the same question on your mind, and rest assured, we’ll have an announcement soon. But, for now, I ask that you take a moment to reflect on the past 15 years and the extraordinary team that has carried the show to such an unprecedented and successful run. Then, get back to the great work that you do, and start thinking about what our 7 o’clock open will be tomorrow. There are exciting times ahead.
Jim