Katie Couric to Exit ABC News for Yahoo

Katie Couric will soon be ending her relationship with ABC News.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the veteran broadcast journalist is currently negotiating an amicable exit from from the network and her nationally syndicated talk show. This year, the number of pieces Couric has contributed to ABC News has drastically dropped off. Following the break, Couric will reportedly move to Yahoo, "finalizing an extensive deal" for her own interview show, sources have confirmed to THR and Deadline. ABC and Yahoo regularly share content, per a 2011 deal.

"Katie is an incredible journalist and this was an opportunity that she couldn't pass up," a source told THR. "Thanks to the powerful association between ABC News and Yahoo we know that Katie will continue to work closely with us and welcome her on our air anytime"

As previously reported, Couric's talk show, KATIE, will most likely be canceled this winter, with ratings on the decline. "They realize it will never be a success and ratings are down drastically from last season," a source recently told the New York Daily News. "The ABC development team has been working nonstop on new talk show pilots and are looking at high-profile names to replace her, hopefully by January."

KATIE, now in its sophomore season, has recently taken on a more 'gossipy' slant in a network effort to attract more viewers. The former anchor has reportedly not been happy with the direction the show has been heading, and has been "sniffing around" for other opportunities in recent months.

ABC execs refused to comment to THR, though insisted a decision on KATIE will not made until December, following the November sweeps.

Rumors have also arisen that Couric may rejoin former KATIE executive producer Jeff Zucker at CNN, though that now appears not to be the case.

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has also allegedly been courting Couric, who has regularly been sharing features from her talk show. The new deal, however, "would be a much more high-profile endeavor with Couric hosting a newsmaker interview program that would be featured on the site's highly trafficked home page," according to sources.

For The Hollywood Reporter's original report, click here.

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