There have been rumors about Katie Couric possibly leaving the CBS Evening News anchor chair when her contract is up in June. The rumors have been steady – and there has never really been a explicit denial about it either. I tend to think that it’s a situation where nobody is happy – Katie finds the anchor chair too stifling and boring, and CBS News isn’t happy with the ratings or the ad revenues. Then, this morning, TMZ started the rumor mill churning anew, claiming that Katie is ready to “bolt” soon and that she’ll likely move on to a syndicated show. Then, just a short while ago, TMZ reported this update:

Katie Couric has not officially quit CBS, but nonetheless network sources tell us it’s a virtual certainty that she will be leaving.

Sources connected with Couric tell us … Katie has no hard feelings toward CBS and may end up staying at the network, but feels her role as anchor of the CBS Evening News has been way too confining.

We’re told Couric is most interested in doing a syndicated show — probably a talk show — but wants to end up somewhere that has a news operation where she can contribute. Sources say she’s in serious talks with CBS, NBC and CNN. Her reps are talking to ABC, but that’s a long shot.

Katie’s exit from CBS Evening News is “not 100%” but it’s just a matter of time before Katie announces her departure — sources say it will come in the next few weeks. Katie’s plan is to start a syndicated show in September, 2012.

As far as front-runners, a Katie source says there are none — “Everything and everyone is in play.”

[From TMZ]

I wouldn’t mind seeing Katie move to CNN, but she might not want to enter that sinking ship. I mean, what would she do? Take over from Piers Morgan? That bastard needs to go anyway, but surely they can find someone sassy to take over (NOT Dame Seacrest, more like Anderson Cooper). My guess is that Katie will return to NBC, her one-time home, and that she might get a magazine show, like Dateline or something.

As for who will take over the CBS Evening News…Gawker has a list here, complete with betting odds. Once again, Anderson Cooper’s name is in the mix, which could be interesting. He already contributes to 60 Minutes, so he already has a relationship with CBS. He could be our first gay network anchor! Will CBS’s core audience of Olds care for him, though? My guess is the CBS will hire internally for the next anchor, and go with Harry Smith. Still, it’s interesting to see Keith Olbermann’s name in the mix.

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