NBC News, which has an expensive affection for royalty–whether British or American–is apparently on the cusp of hiring Pippa Middleton, who is both the sister-in-law and aunt of the future kings of Britain.The Daily Beast confirmed reports that the 31-year-old younger sister of Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton–the wife of 32-year-old Prince William and the mother of 15-month-old Prince George–has agreed on a provisional basis to sign on as a correspondent for the Today show.An ABC News spokesperson, however, denied industry gossip the Disney-owned network also offered Pippa a job at Good Morning America, but said ABC asked for an on-camera interview.NBC News–whose president Deborah Turness, like ABC News’s James Goldston, is a Brit–had the inside track on recruiting Philippa Charlotte Middleton, the second of three children of commoners and professional party planners, after she sat down in June with Today show alpha male Matt Lauer for her first-ever television interview.
The negotiations are said to have gotten underway months after Pippa’s network TV debut, and the deal with NBC was described Tuesday morning as experimental rather than permanent; more of a “giving it a try” situation than a long-term commitment.
It was unclear when Pippa will make her debut as an NBC News correspondent, or what stories she will be covering, or–most controversial at a time of layoffs and budget cuts in the television news business–how much she’ll be paid.
