CBS News Mulls Possibility of Couric Successor

CBS News executives are considering who could replace Katie Couric, according to people familiar with their thinking, as the anchor deliberates whether to leave her chair at "CBS Evening News."

According to Sam Schechner at wsj.com, Couric's five-year contract with the CBS Corp. news unit expires around the beginning of June, and she is now weighing a jump into daytime TV. Ms. Couric's decision on her future could come within weeks, according to a person familiar with her thinking.

Top CBS News executives are looking at all options, including internal and external candidates who could take on the nightly anchor role if Ms. Couric leaves, one of the people familiar with their thinking said.

Among internal candidates, Harry Smith has been the primary substitute anchor for Ms. Couric since leaving CBS's "The Early Show." Scott Pelley, a "60 Minutes" correspondent, has also served as an "Evening News" sub.

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