Report: Katie Couric Pursuing Syndicated Talk Show

Zucker, Couric

With Katie Couric's contract set to expire in early June, the anchor is closing in on a decision about whether to stay at CBS News at a reduced salary or try to stake a claim in daytime TV, according to Thursday's issue of The Hollywood Reporter.

Couric has entered the window in which she can entertain offers. While no decision regarding her future has been made, the anchor is working on a potential syndicated show, which could involve her friend and former NBC boss Jeff Zucker, according to two sources familiar with Couric's plans. She is believed to have already begun conversations with Time Warner, NBCUniversal and her current employer, CBS, about the potential next act.

Each of these entities offers a powerful syndication arm as well as a news outlet, which is said to be a particularly appealing, if not necessary, combination for Couric. (Time Warner is home to CNN and Telepictures; CBS has CBS Sunday Morning and 60 Minutes as well as a syndication division; NBCUniversal owns MSNBC and a syndie arm.) NBC, Telepictures and CBS declined comment; Zucker did not respond.

If Couric were to move forward with a syndie show -- which is a "strong likelihood," according to one source -- it would premiere in fall 2012. That would make staying with the news through the next election, as many had predicted, impossible. Couric would have a news presence of some sort, be it on CBS or elsewhere, in the interim.

While a syndicated show wouldn't guarantee Couric an upfront $15 million the way her CBS News contract does, it would have the potential to be as lucrative -- if not more -- in success, given that she would be a profit participant.

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