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Is Katie Couric Heading to ABC?

"We all hoped it would be better than it was..."

Earlier today, TMZ reported on an alleged dispute between CBS News and Evening News anchor Katie Couric.  According to TMZ, negotiations between the two parties have "broken down."

While the network claims that the conversation soured after Katie was offered a limited role on the news team, sources for Couric claim that CBS offered her a number of incentives to stay with the news team.

Sources told TMZ that Couric is most interested in a syndicated talk show. With this in mind, these informants claim that ABC would be a better fit for her.  In contrast to CBS' limited offer, ABC allegedly proposed expanding Couric's presence across platforms:

Katie and TV honcho Jeff Zucker -- the guy who will probably end up her partner in the ABC deal -- will score a $20 million guarantee for the syndicated show.  She'll also get some extra pocket cash for her news duties.  The ABC deal isn't final, but it's almost there.

At the end of April, TVNewser also speculated about Couric's potential move to ABC.  While the network is clearly interested, there are complications that a syndicated show might pose:

...as this is a syndicated show, Couric would air on non-ABC affiliates as well. It’s the kind of talent gig — hosting a daily TV show, while also working for a competing broadcast network — we rarely see, and could make non-ABC affiliates think twice about carrying Couric. Of course, the same could be said if Couric stays at CBS.

Regardless of what happens, Katie Couric's departure from CBC is less than surprising.  According to Broadcasting & Cable:

CBS affiliates board chairman Wayne Daugherty said Couric's run in the anchor chair was neither a disaster nor a big success. "We all hoped it would be better than it was, but at the same time, we all supported the decision [to hire Couric]," he says. "We thought it was a good plan."

ABC is cautioning that no deal has been set in stone and industry insiders claim that CBS still has time to counter offer.  Either way, Katie Couric stands to profit a great deal from whatever arrangement she inevitably finds herself in.

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