Couric Takes CBS Anchor Spot

CBS (CBS Quote) confirmed Wednesday that Katie Couric will anchor its "CBS Evening News" beginning in September.

The broadcast giant, mired in last place in the network news ratings and trying to get past a scandal that led to the departure of longtime anchor Dan Rather, said Couric also will contribute to the networks' "60 Minutes" franchise.

Couric was the lead anchor on NBC's Today show, the most profitable show on the GE (GE Quote)-owned network. Couric joined NBC News in 1989 as deputy Pentagon reporter. She began work on Today in June 1990 as its first national correspondent, which included two stints covering the Gulf War. Couric served as substitute co-anchor from February 1991 until taking over the job permanently on April 5, 1991. She also was a contributing anchor for the "Dateline NBC" news magazine.