KATIE COURIC TO FLUSH GENERAL HOSPITAL DOWN THE DRAIN

KATIE COURIC

As if soap fans aren’t mad enough! KATIE COURIC’s new talk show is skedded in the 3 PM ABC daytime slot. Say good bye to GENERAL HOSPITAL!

After the popular host ankled NBC for greener pastures, Couric landed her own as yet un-named syndicated talker which has been picked up by the Alphabet Net.

ABC gave the 3 p.m. timeslot to Couric's new show, set to launch fall of 2012 which signals the end of the long running soap – yet another casualty in the reality series-scripted drama war.

The network stopped short of cancelling "GH" outright — saying in a press release that it "continues to support 'General Hospital'.

"We are not announcing the cancellation of General Hospital," Anne Sweeney, president of the Disney/ABC TV Group told media.

 "It is important to look at daytime like we do at primetime — it really is about eyeballs, and we will go with the shows that have the most viewership."

Luke and Laura, we hardly knew ye…