Posted on 02/03/2010 11:13:53 AM PST by abb
Sean McManus, president of CBS News and Sports, denied reports Wednesday that “CBS Evening News” anchor Katie Couric is facing a salary cut when her contract expires.
“I have not had any thought to change Katie’s role, Katie’s salary, anything to do with it,” McManus told POLITICO by phone from Miami, where he’s gearing up for Sunday’s Super Bowl on CBS.
McManus said that Couric “has well over a year to go” on her contract—reportedly worth $15 million a year—and that “it has not even been a subject of discussion.”
The network, he said, is “focused on putting on the best newscast.”
Since taking over the anchor desk, Couric’s newscast has won several prestigious journalism prizes, including the Edward R. Murrow Award and DuPont award.
But the “CBS Evening News” has remained in a distant third place in the ratings. While it ranked third for over 15 years before Couric arrived, there were expectations that the former “Today” star could help boost the ratings. So far, that hasn't happened.
This week's layoffs at CBS may only add to internal grumbling about the anchor’s contract, which expires in May 2011.
Both the New York Post and Matt Drudge reported today that Couric faces a salary cut when her contract is up, and quoted network insiders critical of the fact that she’s making so much money while others are losing their jobs.
“Like any media company, we’re going through some adjustments which are not fun,” McManus said. “But they’re not going to affect the quality of what we’re doing, and they’re not going to affect Katie’s role in any way.”
In addition to denying the salary reports, McManus praised the anchor's high-profile interviews with Captain Sullenberger, Andre Agassi, and Sarah Palin, as well as, her reporting on the ground in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Haiti.
“If you look at her body of work,” McManus said, “I don’t think there is anyone out there that would imply she hasn’t done a brilliant and stellar job.”
Damn, missed that “r”, didn’t I.
LOL. Hilarious!
In fact make it 3D IMAX.
Who watches CBS news anyway? She’s not perky.
I’ll take Megyn Kelly anytime over this AARP b*tch.
I certainly won’t miss some channel I never watch, the channel can be disabled.
The networks are all going down the tubes except Fox, one bright light on a dimming bulb.
Sean must be banging the perky one.
ROTFL!!!!!
She’s not even that glorified. Newsreader? ... More like a Tokyo Rose, by any other name would stink as bad.
So you do not think Sean is banging the perky one?
Scum like you have no class and no integrity. I’m pinging the moderator now.
Jim, this scum has a 1999 born on date. I can’t believe it has slithered beneath the radar for that long. Is there a way someone could have a born on date which is arbitrarily appointed, not the actual date they joined.
#29 is over the top, but it is pretty well known that Katie is not adverse to advancing her career by any means necessary.
I trust you will not find this post inappropriate.
http://www.businessinsider.com/hey-new-york-times-either-produce-a-diminished-product-or-start-acting-like-a-blog-2010-2
How The New York Times Lost An Entire Generation Of Readers
Good luck my sexually repressed friend.
'I trust you will not find this post inappropriate.'
I think he meant Sean McManus of CBS.
Geeze.
Hank
Isn’t it though! Awwright.
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