Couric's new show, based in New York, has not yet been named. In addition to her new show, Couric will also join the ABC News team and contribute to all programs, including "/*Good Morning America*/," "/*World News with Diane Sawyer*/" and "/*Nightline*/." Beginning this August, Couric will anchor specials, contribute interviews and participate in special events coverage.
"/*Katie Couric*/ is one of television's iconic figures and we are thrilled to have forged such an exciting partnership with her," Anne Sweeney, president of the Disney/ABC Television Group, said in a statement.
Eight ABC-owned stations, which cover about a quarter of the nation's population, have all agreed to air the show at 3 p.m.
Couric's new daytime show will premiere in September 2012, taking over /*Oprah Winfrey*/'s old time slot. Former NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker will be executive producer.
"There will never be another Oprah, she is unique. But Oprah's Oprah and I'm me, and I don't aspire to be the next Oprah. I just aspire to do whatever I can to put on a good show that's compelling and informative and fun to watch," she said.
Couric is returning to the network where she began her career as a desk assistant in the summer of 1979 after she graduated from college.
"At the time, I was Xeroxing, making coffee, fetching ham sandwiches for Frank Reynolds, changing the Teletype machine wearing little white gloves, so I feel like I'm so ancient. But it really is like going back to where my career began, it's so exciting," she said.
"I think one of the appealing things about ABC News is there's so many platforms and so many places to do good work. I hope that they'll all utilize me, I hope I'll be able to utilize them, but hopefully it will reflect my really wide-ranging interests and I'm really here to serve and do whatever I can to help whatever show may like to use me."
After making her mark in local television news, Couric went on to become a star on "The Today Show." Years later, she took over the anchor chair at "CBS Evening News," becoming the first female solo anchor of a weekday network evening news broadcast.
She left "CBS Evening News" last month after five years on the desk. Now she's taking some time for herself before jumping into her new gig.
"I haven't taken a vacation in 32 years so I'll take time off and then start August 1st," she said.
