• The New York Times, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 11:02 AM

CBS, with possibly the most celebrated news division in broadcasting, has been talking to Time Warner about outsourcing some of its news-gathering operations to CNN, according to insiders. Over the years, the cable net has held talks with both ABC and the Tiffany Network about joint ventures. The CBS discussions have apparently been revived - and intensified.

The conversations involve reducing CBS' news-gathering capacity but keeping its top personalities like Katie Couric, while also buying CNN's news feeds. But the same insiders caution that no deal is imminent and Sandy Genelius, a spokeswoman for CBS News, says "we are extremely pleased with and proud of our news-gathering operation. No outside arrangements are being negotiated."

For its part, a CNN spokeswoman says "we don't comment on speculative business matters." A deal with a broadcast network would give CNN a new revenue stream without much in the way of additional cost; CBS would be able to cut costs while maintaining its brand. Right now, CBS' evening news program is mired in last place, evens as it shells out $15 million a year to Couric.

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