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Title: Relationship between CBS and Couric ending with a whimper, not a bang (quiet death of rad progressivism)
Source:
LA Times blogs
URL Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/ent ... g-with-whimper-not-a-bang.html
Published: Mar 25, 2011
Author: Joe Flint
Post Date: 2011-03-25 20:46:45 by Hondo68
Keywords: anchor of CBS Evening News, has lost a lot of value, She did not boost ratings
Views: 5552
Comments: 4
Katie Couric was chided by David Letterman this week for thinking of leaving her job as anchor of the CBS Evening News. "It's not like it's a temp gig," Letterman told Couric, reminding her that other anchors "ride into the sunset." Now she wants to try daytime. What's interesting is that CBS does not appear to be making a big push to keep her in the anchor chair. CBS CEO Leslie Moonves, who was instrumental in wooing Couric away from NBC to CBS, is sitting back and letting the new leadership at CBS News -- Chairman Jeff Fager and President David Rhodes, call the shots, according to people familiar with the situation. Moonves may not want to be seen publicly pursuing someone who clearly has their mind made up. Perhaps singing "Happy Birthday" to Couric for a video the network made for her in January was as far as he was willing to go. That Couric is consulting with her former "Today" producer (and ex-NBC Universal CEO) Jeff Zucker probably hasn't helped her relationship with her current bosses at CBS. It will be interesting to see if CBS seriously considers going after a Couric talk show or passes. Pelley, a "60 Minutes" correspondent, is close to Fager, who besides being chairman of CBS News continues to executive produce the newsmagazine. Pelley has been with CBS for more than 21 years. If he is given the job, odds are the network won't have to worry about him eyeing his next big deal or wondering what else is on the horizon. If Couric does leave, her stint at CBS will be one of the shortest for an evening news anchor. Cronkite did it for almost 20 years and Rather for more than two decades. ABC's Peter Jennings and NBC's Tom Brokaw also put in over 20 years anchoring. While ABC weathered some instability with the anchor slot after Jennings died, Diane Sawyer seems willing to take Letterman's advice and ride into the sunset. NBC's Brian Williams also seems entirely comfortable in his job. There will be lots of analysis about Couric's run at CBS News. She did not boost ratings the way CBS would have liked. Her persona, perfect for the morning, ultimately did not work as well in the evenings. The media seemed more obsessed than viewers about her role as CBS News anchor. In daytime, she will be back in her comfort zone.
Poster Comment: First Keith Olbermann disappears, and now perky Katie. The viewing public grows weary of frothing at the mouth progressives. "He's dead Jim" ~Bones McCoy
For Couric, the sun apparently sets around 2 p.m. Don't blame her, though. That anchor seat has lost a lot of value since it was occupied by Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather. In fact, a case could be made that Couric traded down when she left NBC's "Today" for CBS.
Inside CBS, attention is starting to focus on Scott Pelley as the leading candidate for Couric's job should she bolt, which seems to be a foregone conclusion.
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#2. To: hondo68 (#0)
This is all PR BullBarack. They have been wanting to get rid of her since the first year of her contract,but couldn't. She's leaving because her contract is ended and CBS has no interest in renewing it. Hell,I doubt they would be willing to keep her as a anchor if she would work for free because they lost millions in advertising because of lost viewers. Hell,how can you take ANY article seriously that says Commie Cronkite and Dan Blather were some sort of "Gold Standard"? As for her replacement,why not hire Starr Jones? She's unemployed and available,and they could easily see her as a combination of Cryin' Bryan Gumbel and Kommie Katie. A twofer.
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Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestInside CBS, attention is starting to focus on Scott Pelley as the leading candidate for Couric's job should she bolt, which seems to be a foregone conclusion.
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