CBS denies rumor of split with Couric

Two years into a five-year contract, Katie Couric and CBS may split by early next year, according to The Wall Street Journal – but a network spokeswoman said the rumor is untrue.

The “CBS Evening News” has been plagued by low ratings since Couric left NBC’s “Today” show and became the first female solo anchor of a weekday network evening news program.

CBS executives are reportedly in talks with Couric that could end her tenure well before her contract expires in 2011, the Journal reported.

But Sandy Genelius, a CBS News spokeswoman, said: “We are very proud of the ‘CBS Evening News,’ particularly our political coverage, and we have no plans for any changes regarding Katie or the broadcast.”

Couric, 51, joined the CBS newscast in June 2006 to the tune of about $15 million a year, after the departure of longtime anchor Dan Rather.

But after enjoying an initial spike in viewership, the program remains behind the evening news programs of rivals NBC and ABC by wide margins.