Gail Shister | First step in Couric move likely by Thursday

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, April, 2006 | by Gail Shister

The firstKatie Couric domino is expected to fall Thursday, at the latest.

Smart money says NBC will announce thatToday's 15-year coanchor is leaving the network at the completion of her contract May 31, according to industry sources.

The second and third dominoes - Couric's becoming anchor ofCBS Evening News andThe View's Meredith Vieira 's taking over for Couric onToday - will follow quickly, the sources say.

The deal for Couric at CBS is "98 percent" done, CBS insiders say.

Couric, 49, would replaceBob Schieffer in the fall, becoming the first woman to solo anchor a major network evening newscast. Schieffer, 69, has been keeping theEvening News seat warm since March '05.

Also, Couric will do four to five pieces a year for60 Minutes.60 has...