Katie Couric to quit CBS News to be replaced by Scott Pelley?

[HMG Celebrity News] – When Katie Couric assumed the throne at CBS Evening News in 2006 she became the first solo female news anchor in US TV history. But now her own job is news – Speculation is rife that Katie is leaving.

Her reign began with great fanfare on September 5, 2006. There was a new set, flashy graphics and a new theme from James Horner. The first week’s ratings were glowing but the numbers soon began to slide and CBS is now right back in third place, where it was before Katie arrived.

Her TV career began when she joined NBC’s ‘Today’ Show in 1989 as the political correspondent. An upgrade to co-host followed in February of ’91 and she became part of the couch fabric until May of ’06.

The end of her time at the news desk has not been formally announced yet but it’s believed the 54-year old host is planning to bow out when her $15-million-a-year contract expires on June 4th. Her reps are now in talks with the three networks and CNN and it’s believed the plan is to launch a talk show sometime next year.

A rep for CBS News declined any comment when questioned by TMZ, and Katie’s own rep, Matthew Hiltzik was equally non-committal. Russ Mitchell, Scott Pelley and Harry Smith are among those being eyed as replacements. CBS spies say the network’s also looking at outsiders who could handle the task.

Update: Word now is Katie Couric’s replacement for the “CBS Evening News” will be “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley, because he is the choice of CBS News Chairman Jeff Fager. TMZ says CBS bosses including Fager who was not going to keep Katie as the “CBS Evening News” anchor anyway want her to do a syndicated show at the network and maintain a presence at CBS News. Couric hasn’t made her decision yet.