CBS HAS DENIED A REPORT THAT KATIE COURIC WILL BE ASKED TO TAKE A PAY CUT: 

The "CBS Evening News" is still in last place . . . behind "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" and "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" . . . so reports that CBS is looking to dump KATIE COURIC continue to pop up and fade out.

--The latest rumor was started by The Drudge Report, which claimed that Katie was, quote, "in the direct line of fire . . . [for a] dramatic pay cut."  (???) 

--It's easy to see how this rumor got started.  CBS News has been working to cut its budget.  On Monday, they reportedly laid-off 150 employees, but they're paying Katie around $15 million a year to anchor a last-place news show.

--Drudge also claims that Katie's huge salary . . . in the face of all those lay-offs . . . is causing a lot of backlash among other members of the staff.

--But CBS News boss Sean McManus says these reports are false . . . quote, "I don't think it's fair at all.  There is no relationship between how much money Katie is paid and the adjustments we make to our budget periodically."

--He admits that CBS has had to lay-off some employees, but said it was only, quote, "a fraction" of the reported 150 being reported.  (--He didn't give a specific number.)

--McManus also insists . . . again . . . that the network is happy with Katie.  He says, quote, "I am not anticipating, nor do I want to anticipate, life at CBS News without Katie Couric.  [I expect her to be here] for a long time."

--Katie's contract is up in May of next year.  It seems like CBS News is interested in retaining her, but for now there have been no formal negotiations on an extension.

--There's also speculation that Katie and CBS will part ways at that point . . . and she could move on to do anything from taking over for LARRY KING, or becoming the next big daytime talk show host.  (--Oprah will leave syndication that fall.)