Couric’s future? She’s coy

The conference call with reporters Thursday was organized to spotlight the “Today” show’s 10-year streak as the top-rated morning news program, but co-anchor Katie Couric knew the real question on everyone’s mind: Will she be staying at NBC?

“I know there’s been a great deal of speculation in the press, and while I appreciate the interest, kind of, I just thought I’d say off the bat that my contract ends in May and I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do,” Couric said a few minutes into the call.

The “Today” co-anchor did not confirm reports that she is being wooed by CBS News President Sean McManus to be the next face of the “CBS Evening News,” temporarily anchored by Bob Schieffer since Dan Rather left the program in March. But senior editorial employees at both networks have said that McManus is actively pursuing the morning show host -- and that Couric is seriously considering make the switch.

The 48-year-old newscaster told reporters: “I’m fortunate to have a couple of opportunities that I’m thinking long and hard about. But in terms of any imminent announcement, there won’t be one.”

Couric did laud the “Today” show’s pursuit of more hard news stories under its new executive producer, suggesting that tabloid fare had been getting too much play before he arrived. And she said she’d think twice about hosting another entertainment program after what she described as an “embarrassing” episode at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

The focus on Couric’s next move comes amid NBC’s efforts to highlight “Today’s” decade-long run in first place, a streak that was almost disrupted in the spring when ABC’s “Good Morning America” nearly closed the ratings gap between the shows.

Fearful that their most profitable program would fall into second place, NBC officials replaced executive producer Tom Touchet with Jim Bell, a veteran NBC sports producer. Since then, “Today” has regained a wide margin. So far this season, the NBC show has drawn an average audience of 5.8 million people -- 540,000 more viewers than its ABC rival, according to Nielsen Media Research. (ABC noted that its morning viewership is up 4% this season, while NBC’s is still down 2%.)

On Monday, Couric and “Today” co-anchor Matt Lauer, news anchor Ann Curry and weatherman Al Roker praised Bell for sharpening the show’s pacing and focus. Couric said Bell has beefed up the amount of hard news, especially in the first half-hour, adding that the program had strayed from its “roots” somewhat.

“Sometimes we would go after stories because they were quote-unquote competitive, but not necessarily really great stories or necessarily right for our broadcast,” she said. “Sometimes I felt we did Laci Peterson or Michael Jackson ad nauseam because, quite frankly, it was the easy thing to do.”

She also suggested that she was unhappy with how the network handled an incident during this year’s Thanksgiving Day parade show that was produced by NBC’s entertainment division but hosted by her, Lauer and Roker. During the broadcast, a giant M&M; balloon swung wildly and knocked down a light fixture, slightly injuring two sisters. But the co-hosts never reported the accident, sticking instead to a lighthearted script. NBC showed viewers footage of last year’s M&M; balloon at the end of the parade.

Couric and Lauer said they did not have details about the mishap while they were on air, and Couric called the episode “embarrassing.”

“It shows both Matt and me and Al, I think, that it’s a bit awkward when you’re doing sort of lighter fare and more of an entertainment show and news intervenes, and we might have second thoughts about doing it again,” she said.