Is Barbara Walters saying Goodbye to Television?

It may be the end of an era for longtime television newswoman Barbara Walters. This afternoon, a source close to Walters confirmed a report to Deadline.com, that the 84-year-old host of The View will likely retire in May 2014.

The source confirms that ABC News will most likely give Walters "a huge sendoff with retrospects and  other special content" in the weeks leading up to her retirement. Walters, being in television for 52 years, has paved the way for women journalist as she was the first woman to co-host a news program back in 1974. (Today Show) She then joined ABC in 1976 and has had success anchoring 20/20 for 20 yars and co-hosting The View.  

Earlier this year, Walters was hospitalized with the chicken pox and was rumored that she wanted to lighten up her workload. With the announcement of Joy Behar leaving The View and now Walters retiring, what does that mean for the hit ABC talk show? Who will replace them and what about the rest of The View ladies?


The View airs weekdays on ABC.