By Stone Martindale Jul 13, 2007, 15:31 GMT
Despite the negative ratings and criticism, anchor Katie Couric isn't leaving the "CBS Evening News" anytime soon, according to CBS News president Sean McManus.
03/05/2007 - Katie Couric - © Wild1 / Photorazzi
McManus says Couric is there at least until her current deal expires.
"She has a five-year contract with CBS to anchor the evening news," McManus told the Associated Press' David Bauder yesterday. "All of us, including Katie, expect her to be anchoring the evening news in her fifth year."
His comments were on the heels of a revealing New York magazine interview with Couric that cast rumors of her impending departure.
Initially Couric's debut sparked a ratings boost for the newscast, short-lived as real numbers began to slide and the "Evening News" dropped to third, where it languished for many years.
The No. 1 newscast is ABC's "World News With Charles Gibson." In efforts to shore up their on-air staff, CBS hired veteran Rick Kaplan to the program.
The New York Daily News reports that the New York magazine interview with Couric "sparked speculation about the future of the CBS newscast, and whether she'll stay in the anchor seat for the duration of her contract or move to '60 Minutes.' "
CBS previously announced that Couric would lead the network's 2008 Presidential election coverage.
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