Yahoo is doing whatever it can to stay relevant. The company recently acquired Tumblr, roped in New York Times' technology columnist David Pogue, and is now preparing to team up with Katie Couric on a new interview show that is completely Internet only. Couric will be leaving behind the more traditional TV journalism spot she has inhabited for last several years to begin this new show with Yahoo. It's a big step for Couric, and it could also be a big step for the Internet.
Before leaving for Yahoo, Katie Couric was at the helm of 60 Minutes, The Today Show, and most recently, ABC News. However, Couric is not planning to completely abandon ABC, according to Hollywood Reporter. Her relationship with ABC will continue in some fashion as materials used from her previous ABC Shows will be rehashed in her new Yahoo show, known as Katie's Take.
Furthermore, the new deal might have exclusive content that might feature on Yahoo's homepage.
"Katie is an incredible journalist and this was an opportunity that she couldn't pass up. 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," an ABC executive said.
Katie Couric signed on with ABC in the past for her own talk show program. However, it appears things haven't gone ahead as anticipated and the show was on the verge of cancellation.
The deal is said to be worth $40 million, but with Couric' early exit to a new job at Yahoo, it is unclear how much she'll walk away with at the end of the day.
"They certainly anticipated the show would be doing better than it's doing," says Bill Carroll, director of programming at Katz Media Group. "Based on what they paid for the show and the time periods they put it in, and the promises that were made, it just hasn't happened."
If everything works out as planned, it would be the latest move by CEO Marrisa Mayer, to revitalize Yahoo. Furthermore, it is said Mayer courted Couric herself to get this deal underway.
