Entertainment

Katie Couric to headline CBS’ Royal Wedding coverage

Laura Donovan Contributor
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Her CBS News contract is about to expire and many speculate she has no intention of renewing it, but anchor Katie Couric will be the face of the channel’s live coverage of the April 29 Royal Wedding.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Couric will conduct her newscast from London and colleague Erica Hill will co-anchor the “Early Show” from the U.K. as well. Deadline reports that Couric will lead coverage of the festivities for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s big ceremony and anchor an hour-long primetime special that evening.

This news might catch some people off-guard, as Couric has spent weeks at the center of the rumor mill and is expected to flee CBS after her contract with the network ends. On top of the gossip, Couric has had to address low viewership figures. In a New York Times interview published Monday, Couric implied that local news stations might be somewhat at fault for CBS’s uncompetitive ratings.

The anchor said, “I believe we were in third place for 13 years before I got here, and I think habits, particularly with an evening news broadcast, move at a glacial pace. And I think that local news stations have something to do with it.”

When pressed for more information, Couric answered, “Some people have said that local news is really important in terms of lead-ins. I haven’t really analyzed that. I’m just saying what I’ve read or some of the theories about it.”