It's front-page news: CBS
It seems to be a coup for CBS and a blow to General Electric's
Still, the deal might not be as big a win as it seems. Howard Stern's departure from CBS's radio waves to Sirius Satellite Radio
As a host of Today, Couric has delivered some serious news, but such segments were interspersed with a whole lot of fluff. Celebrity interviews, cooking demonstrations, and mingling with Today's live audience are staples of the show, and it was in these softer segments, when Couric got to show off her personality, that she won over the program's viewers. In fact, Couric cannot even be described as Today's anchor, given that Ann Curry serves as the show's newsreader.
On CBS, Couric won't have a lot of opportunities to even crack a smile. How does one make the latest bombings in Iraq into lighter fare? Couric will have to play it straight, and her attraction as a symbol of gravitas is largely unproved.
Granted, Couric's position as the first female nightly news anchor also could generate some interest. But CBS probably could have gotten plenty of other women for less than the $13 million to $15 million per year it is reportedly paying Couric. For CBS, this looks like an expensive misuse of talent.
Fool contributor Brian Gorman is a freelance writer in Chicago. He does not own shares of any companies mentioned in this article.