Katie Couric Will be on in 60% of U.S., Per ABC

Disney-ABC is reporting that the new nationally-syndicated talk show, "Katie," with none other than Katie Couric, will air in 60% of the country.

The network has lined up eight of its own stations, the O&O's (owned and operated by ABC), including New York, LA, Chicago, San Francisco and Philly.  Affiliates which have agreed to take the show include Dallas (WFAA), Boston (WCVB), Atlanta (WSB), Washington, D.C. (WJLA), Detroit (WXYZ), Phoenix (KNXV) and Tampa/St. Pete (WFTS).

There's even an NBC station signed up, which is unusual considering ABC owns the show - KING-TV in Seattle.

Couric is the former anchor of the CBS Evening News.  Katie, sure to have a somewhat softer tone, is slated to premiere in September 2012.

There has been word that General Hospital will be canceled to make room for the show, but now that The Chew, ABC's latest afternoon addition is not doing well, there is some speculation that GH is safe.  That's not a given, because it will still cost ABC more to produce GH than it will to produce any talk show, including Katie.