Katie Couric is leaving Yahoo News as its global anchor after four years, according to a company spokesperson.
“Over the last four years Katie has created a vast portfolio of work that has been equal parts inspiring, thought provoking and fun to watch,” the company said. “We’re proud of everything she has accomplished and look forward to exploring ways to work together in the future.”
Couric signed with Yahoo in 2013 for a reported $10 million per year, joining the internet company to much fanfare. But her interviews with big names and newsmakers failed to capture the kind of attention and virality the company had hoped.
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Couric’s interviews included Bill and Melinda Gates, Edward Snowden, Gal Gadot, Bryan Cranston, Sherry Lansing, Joe Biden, Newt Gingrich and Loretta Lynch.
“I’m very proud of my time at Yahoo anchoring live events, political coverage and breaking news with a team of very talented journalists,” Couric said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Over the past three years, we have produced a wide range of high-quality video content that was delivered to millions of viewers,” she said. “I learned some valuable lessons during my tenure, which I will take with me as I continue to create, develop and produce a variety of content for different platforms in this constantly evolving landscape.”
It was also reported Friday that the 60-year-old former “Today Show” icon and “CBS Evening News” anchor had signed talent agency WME (William Morris Endeavor) after parting ways with her agent since 2001, Alan Berger of CAA (Creative Artists Agency).
TVNewser reported Couric’s new team will include super-agent Ari Emanuel, the brother of Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel and the basis of the character Ari Gold on the late HBO hit series “Entourage.”
Couric rose to prominence in the 1990s as the co-host of The Today Show before jumping to CBS to replace Dan Rather as “CBS Evening News” anchor in 2006 as the first solo anchor of an national evening newscast on one of the so-called Big Three Networks.
High ratings didn’t follow Couric to CBS, however. After five years, she went to ABC for a relatively short stint as the host of the daytime talk show “Katie” from 2012 to 2014.