KATIE Couric’s brief run as TV’s No. 1 news anchor ended Monday night.

Couric dropped into third place – CBS’s usual spot – behind NBC anchor Brian Williams and ABC’s Charlie Gibson.

The good news: She drew about 7.4 million Monday night, virtually the same as she did last Friday.

That seems to indicate Couric’s steady slide from an openingnight draw of 13 million viewers has finally stopped.