NYT: NBC Said to Be Close to Signing Vieira for 'Today'

[DeepModem Mom]

NBC Said to Be Close to Signing Vieira for 'Today'
By JACQUES STEINBERG
Published: April 4, 2006

As CBS nears a deal to make Katie Couric the next anchor of its evening news program, NBC moved close today to reaching agreement with Meredith Vieira of ABC to replace Ms. Couric as co-host of the "Today" show, a person who had been briefed on the negotiations said early this afternoon.

Under the terms of the deal, which could be completed as soon as this evening but is expected to be resolved no later than week's end, Ms. Vieira would sign a four-year contract worth at least $10 million a year and would take up her morning assignment on NBC just after Labor Day, said the person, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because negotiations were ongoing.

While Ms. Vieira would leave her position as co-host of the talk show "The View" on ABC when her contract ends this summer, she and NBC have yet to resolve whether she would fulfill the two years that remain on her contract to be the host of the syndicated game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." That program is produced, in part, by Buena Vista Television, which, like ABC, is owned by the Walt Disney Company.

Though the individual with knowledge of the negotiations said there was a "strong possibility" that an agreement with Ms. Vieira would be struck over the next few days, no announcement is believed to be imminent, at least not before Ms. Couric discloses her own plans....

***

Ms. Vieira, 52, emerged earlier this year as the best-known candidate under consideration to replace Ms. Couric, who has been with "Today" for 15 years, a period in which it has dominated its closest competitor, "Good Morning America" on ABC. After beginning her career as a local television news reporter in the mid-1970's, Ms. Vieira went on to high-profile assignments at CBS News (including "60 Minutes") and later ABC News (the magazine "Turning Point")....

(NOTE: The article notes that it is not known how the arrival of Ms. Viera will affect the future of Mrs. Dan Senor, Campbell Brown.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/04/business/media/04cnd-tube.html?hp&ex=1144209600&en=38076cecb69ce024&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Caoimhe]

1. UGH!!!

Why not Ann Curry? She's smart, experienced and is a perfect fit for Matt Lauer.

[Klukie]

4. I agree.

I really like Ann Curry.

[JerseygirlCT]

6. I like Ann. And I like Campbell, too

In fact, I like them both better than Katie. So why someone from outside?

She doesn't seem to bring anything particularly valuable to the deal.

Shrug.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

2. I have a hard time

understanding how this is really news. :shrug: TV news anchors long ago passed from being reporters to readers. Therefore whomever is in this job is just a 'talking head' and not worth any of my time.

[qanda]

3. At least she's more liberal than Katie

Her husband is very liberal and although Meredith is more to the center, they both marched against the war during the RNC. She said her son is very conservative and has started his own conservative talkshow at school-- UGH!

[cybildisobedience]

5. think how far we've fallen

A news reader who also hosts a daytime yak fest and a GAME show might make $10 million a YEAR to do fluff interviews and read "news."
It's so disgusting that it almost veers into immoral.

[LostinVA]

9. Viera has a solid journalism background, though

Including a stint on "60 Minutes."

[LostinVA]

7. Viera is a good lib

[Beausoir]

8. No she most certainly is NOT!

I watched her on The View as she suggested that Hillary Clinton was physically abusing Bill Clinton.

"Which well-known Senator has a history of spousal abuse?"

That was about 2 years ago and that was the last time I listened to anything that dribbled out of her vicious mouth.