Don't Let the Door Hit You in the $15M Ass,...

Katie Couric Announces Departure from CBS News

After months of speculation that she would leave CBS News at the end of her contract, Katie Couric confirmed Tuesday she would indeed be stepping away from the anchor's chair.

"I have decided to step down from the 'CBS Evening News'," Couric told People.com. "I'm really proud of the talented team on the 'CBS Evening News' and the award-winning work we've been able to do in the past five years."

Though the 54-year-old is staying mum on her future plans, she has hinted she would like to develop her own syndicated talk show because of "the creative freedom to pick subjects, to really dig deep, to have a smart, intelligent conversation (and ambush a real woman and threat like Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachmann)... it might be nice to have a little more wiggle room to show my personality," she said during a "Today" show interview earlier in April.

ABC News is also said to be wooing Couric with an offer of specials, conventions and "everything but the 'Evening News,'" according to The Daily.

"They are offering her the keys to the castle. It won't leave much for Diane Sawyer, Barbara Walters and Christiane Amanpour," the source said.

The salary offer from ABC was said to be far less than the $15 million Couric currently takes home for her duties at CBS. (Imagine how many quality shows CeeBS could have funded on that dime??)

Couric gained national attention when she became co-host of NBC's "Today" show in 1991.

She left the popular morning show in 2006 for CBS, becoming the first woman to serve as anchor for a nightly network news

Though her ascent to the anchor's chair gained considerable press, the CBS news show failed to jump in the ratings during her tenure.