Yep, the rumors were all true: Katie Couric is leaving the CBS Evening News after five years as anchor. And though she has yet to announce where she'll land, rumors that she's heading to ABC reportedly have Barbara Walters in a tizzy.
Couric, whose contract ends June 4, gave her official word to Time Warner's People magazine, telling them "I have decided to step down from the CBS Evening News. I'm really proud of the talented team on the CBS Evening News and the award-winning work we've been able to do in the past five years in addition to the reporting I've done for 60 Minutes and CBS Sunday Morning. In making the decision to move on, I know the Evening News will be in great hands, but I am excited about the future."
As for what is next, she only says that "I am looking at a format that will allow me to engage in more multi-dimensional storytelling." Multi-dimensional storytelling!
Meanwhile, the rumor mill is running as fast as it can to try and figure out what Katie will do next, and the latest hot rumor is that ABC is "offering her the keys to the castle." Which "won't leave much for Diane Sawyer, Barbara Walters and Christiane Amanpour." So naturally Walters, who already has the keys to ABC's castle, is rumored to be freaking out. But only rumored. When the News asked her people about it they called the story "ridiculous," and added that when it comes to Couric, Walters says she is "her biggest booster, and I think she would be great if she wants to do her own show."
Meanwhile, 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley is considered the favorite to replace Couric as anchor.
