Katie Couric Signs Multiplatform Deal with Disney/ABC

BURBANK: Award-winning journalist Katie Couric has entered into a multi-year, multiplatform agreement with the Disney/ABC Television Group, under which she will be hosting and producing her own nationally syndicated talk show, along with joining the ABC News team.

The program, set to premiere in September 2012, will be distributed by Disney/ABC Domestic Television. Jeff Zucker will be an executive producer with Couric on the as-yet-unnamed series. The show will be based in New York and be produced in conjunction with Disney/ABC. Couric also joins the ABC News team, contributing to all programs and platforms. Starting this summer, she will anchor specials, contribute interviews, participate in special events coverage and lend her talents to the team.

Couric is the former Today show co-anchor, and was most recently the anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. She has been a correspondent for 60 Minutes and host of the weekly online interview series @katiecouric. During her career, she has received the duPont, Murrow and Cronkite Awards as well as numerous Emmys.

Anne Sweeney, the president of Disney/ABC Television Group and co-chair of Disney Media Networks, commented: “Katie Couric is one of television’s iconic figures and we are thrilled to have forged such an exciting partnership with her. We look forward to having Katie join the best News team in the business, and to working with her to create a dynamic and successful talk-show franchise.”

Couric added: “I’m very happy to be returning to the network where I began my career as a desk assistant in 1979. It is tremendously exciting to have the creative freedom to develop my own show with Anne Sweeney, the Disney/ABC TV group and Jeff, and to contribute to such a vibrant, innovative news division. I can’t wait to be part of this incredibly talented, visionary team.”

“It was a blast working with Katie at Today and I’m excited to do it again,” said Zucker. “And besides, it should be more fun spending time with Katie at 3 or 4 in the afternoon than at 3 or 4 in the morning.”