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Report: Katie Couric’s Talk Show in Trouble — and It’s Much More Than Just Low Ratings

Oct 10, 2013  •  Post A Comment

Katie Couric’s talk show could soon be canceled, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The story cites problems including soft ratings, a large budget and poor Q scores.

"Stations throughout the U.S. are contracted to carry Katie Couric’s syndicated talk show through summer 2014, but the decision on whether ‘Katie’ will score a third season likely will be made this month — and renewal seems a long shot," the story says.

Couric’s Q scores report that only 10% of women view her favorably, the piece reports, noting that the initial budget of the show was $50 million, including $20 million for Couric over two years.

"But station owners now complain the daily strip hasn’t lived up to the hype, and several insiders tell THR that internal discord has become nearly unbearable," the article notes.

One issue is that Couric hasn’t added softer features to appeal to daytime’s key 25-54 female demographic, instead preferring harder-edged news segments. In the meantime, her Q scores show that 21% of women view her in a negative light. Daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, meanwhile, has a 29% positive Q score and is only 14% negative.

The article adds: "A Couric source says she is adamant about doing a show she is proud of, and she is prepared to move on if the ratings don’t back up her mission. Her contract with ABC News is said to expire next summer, so she could be a free agent or she could stay with ABC even if ‘Katie’ is canceled. One report has her in discussions with Yahoo, another possibility could be that she reunites with [Jeff] Zucker at CNN."

katie couric.pngKatie Couric

8 Comments

  1. Once the ratings are low, it hardly matters about the rest.

  2. One of the 10% here! I enjoy her show — it is intelligent and yet “friendly” and welcoming.

  3. Katie began her career with ABC in 1979. I’m thinking about when or is Katie may be returning for a third season, nor do I have decided over an imminent third season of the series.

  4. The expiration date on “perkyness” ran out years ago. Ms. Couric proves how one can continue to reap a huge paycheck while failing upwards. Nothing happened to the “CBS Evening News” whilst she served as anchor and managing editor. Twenty million per year, no more!

  5. The expiration date on “perkyness” ran out years ago. Ms. Couric proves how one can continue to reap a huge paycheck while failing upwards. Nothing happened to the “CBS Evening News” whilst she served as anchor and managing editor. Twenty million per year, no more!

  6. She screwed her chances at making that show a success when she demanded that time slot and knocked General Hospital down to 2:00…but little did she know or realize..GH fans refused to watch because of her demand….but would probably thank her now because GH is doing wonderfully at 2:00 and her show is in the tank. Can we say..”Karma”????

  7. Linners, that is interesting. You make a great point. I am wondering what Katie will do next? Will she remain at ABC and become the next Barbara Walters (Q Scores be damned?) or is she approaching her expiration date?
    Too much has been written about Katie Couric in terms of negative press. She is no longer the Katie that middle America used to eat up.
    A great and unique talent, but like I said, perkyness went out a long time ago. What more can she do on television?
    Does anyone want to bet that she will be forced to go the tabloid route? Will she sell out in order to save her twenty million dollar paycheck? And a fifty million dollar budget? That does not sound like a lot of money for a five day strip. Am I wrong in this thinking?

  8. I think people are tired of her and her “chosen” tribe’s continued assault on white Christians and white Christian culture in America. If I didn’t know any better I would think that her station aired on BET. I always go back to the Glenn Beck interview she conducted some years back. Now, I’m not a Republican, and say what you will about Beck and his politics, but her response to him defending Whites and Christian culture in America by stating arrogantly, “What exactly is White culture?”, was deplorable and completely turned me off to her.

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