Katie Couric On the Verge of $20 Million ABC Deal

Katie Couric and ABC television are on the verge of signing a $20 million deal, which would give Katie her own talk show, as well as significant involvement in ABC News — and the big casualty could be “General Hospital.”

Sources connected with ABC tell TMZ — under the deal that is in the final stages — Katie would do specials for ABC News, “20/20,” and do a significant amount of fill-in work — including anchoring.

ABC would also give Katie a 1-hour, 5-day-a-week syndicated talk show, that would begin in September, 2012. Our sources say … one option ABC is considering is giving its affiliates back the hour where “General Hospital” airs to make room for Katie. In other words, ABC would axe the third, longest-running soap in history and the last one standing on ABC.

via Gv