Couric, ABC confirm talk show plans

NEW YORK, June 6 (UPI) -- Disney/ABC Television Group announced plans Monday for a syndicated daytime talk show anchored by U.S. broadcast journalist Katie Couric.

The company said it has signed a multi-year, multi-platform agreement with the former "Today" show co-host and "CBS Evening News" anchor to serve as host and produce her own nationally syndicated talk show and to join the ABC News team.

The announcement was made by Anne Sweeney, company president and co-chairwoman of Disney Media Networks.

Couric's new show will be distributed by Disney/ABC Domestic Television and will premiere in September 2012.

Couric will be reunited on her newest venture with Jeff Zucker, who will be an executive producer on the yet-to-be-named series, which will be based in New York and produced in conjunction with Disney/ABC.

Couric also will join the ABC News team, contributing to all programs and platforms. Beginning this summer, she will anchor specials, contribute interviews and participate in special events coverage.

"Katie Couric is one of television's iconic figures and we are thrilled to have forged such an exciting partnership with her," Sweeney said in a statement. "We look forward to having Katie join the best news team in the business, and to working with her to create a dynamic and successful talk show franchise."

Couric said she's looking forward to being part of an "incredibly talented, visionary team."

"I'm very happy to be returning to the network where I began my career as a desk assistant in 1979," Couric said. "It is tremendously exciting to have the creative freedom to develop my own show with Anne Sweeney, the Disney/ABC TV Group and Jeff, and to contribute to such a vibrant, innovative news division."

Zucker said "it was a blast" working with Couric at "Today" and looks forward to being her colleague again.

"And besides, it should be more fun spending time with Katie at 3 or 4 in the afternoon than at 3 or 4 in the morning," he said.