Eyewitness News

New York, April 5 - Katie Couric will announce her departure from the "Today" show on Wednesday and CBS is expected to quickly appoint her as the network's new evening news anchor, a person close to her negotiations said Tuesday.

NBC's dominant morning show has set aside time to salute Couric's 15 years as anchor, at which time she is expected to address the stories swirling about her future, people at NBC said. All the people close to the story spoke on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Meredith Vieira of "The View" has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Couric at "Today." Vieira, a former CBS News reporter who won a Daytime Emmy as host of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," has previously turned down offers to return to news since joining "The View."

Couric, whose contract with NBC expires at the end of May, joined "Today" as co-anchor on April 5, 1991 - precisely 15 years ago Wednesday - and launched an unprecedented period of prosperity there.

She would be the first woman to be named the sole host of a network evening newscast - even though Elizabeth Vargas frequently has done that job alone at ABC's "World News Tonight."

That designation - and the desire to try a new challenge after 15 years of early wake-up calls - is said to be a powerful motivation for Couric, 49. NBC's offer to keep her is reportedly several million dollars more than CBS's offer, but it doesn't include the anchor slot at NBC's "Nightly News," said the person close to the talks.

Couric reportedly needed the network's permission to begin negotiations with another network before next month. NBC's decision to grant it could be an indication that the network expects her to leave, or at least that it wants a decision before outlining its fall programming plans to advertisers next month.

Representatives for NBC, CBS and Couric would not comment Tuesday on the discussions.

She likely would begin at "CBS Evening News" in September. The CBS job would also include Couric's participation on television's leading newsmagazine, "60 Minutes."

With Bob Schieffer filling in during the year since Dan Rather's exit, the "CBS Evening News" is the only network evening newscast rising in the ratings. But it's still in third place behind NBC and ABC.

"I will be delighted if she came," Schieffer said Tuesday. "I think she'll be a great addition to a very good news team. ... I've known Katie for years and I think the world of her."

If a deal with Vieira can't be reached, the top in-house candidates to replace Couric are "Today" weekend anchor Campbell Brown, NBC reporter Natalie Morales and "Today" newsreader Ann Curry.

"Today" hasn't lost a week in the ratings in more than 10 years.

"If it comes to an end, I'll be the first to cry," Curry told "Access Hollywood." "If she leaves, she'll be very hard to replace."

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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