Katie Couric heads to Yahoo as Mayer beefs up news programming
Katie Couric, one of the top women in American television, is heading to Yahoo! for a key news programming role, according to weekend reports in the US.
Katie Couric: Going to Yahoo?
It’s under three years since Katie,56, joined ABC in a deal that included a daytime talk show and a role at ABC News. It’s understood she will carry on with her ABC chat show meantime, although its future is up for review in December.
The original deal -- said to be worth $40 million -- took in two seasons of the daytime talk show and three years at ABC News.
At Yahoo! she will reportedly create news programming for the Web giant,in a deal expected to be signed this week. Couric , said one commentator, will give Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer “another recognizable name to draw viewers and advertisers.”
In the past month she has added New York Times tech gadget reviewer David Pogue and earlier she brought in editor Megan Liberman also from the NYT.
Couric, 56, will continue to work closely with ABC, which already provides news reports to Yahoo, said one insider, adding, “The network would welcome her continuing to appear on ABC News.”
A spokeswoman for Yahoo, declined to comment.
Mayer, 38, has been beefing up Yahoo’s efforts to produce professional news content. Pogue is a top name in technology journalism . Earlier this year Mayer brought in on Liberman as editor-in-chief for Yahoo News.
ABC already provides news reports to Yahoo.
The battle between ABC's Good Morning America and NBC's Today was at a fever pitch when Couric was hired by ABC. NBC recruited Sarah Palin to help anchor the Today show.
An ABC executive told the Hollywood Reporter: “Katie is an incredible journalist and this was an opportunity that she couldn’t pass up. Thanks to the powerful association between ABC News and Yahoo we know that Katie will continue to work closely with us and welcome her on our air anytime.”