Barbara Walters Retiring in May 2014? Legendary ABC Broadcaster, 'The View' Host to Announce Retirement Plans, Big Sendoff Coming Soon

Several reports suggest that legendary ABC broadcaster Barbara Walters will soon announce her plans to retire in May 2014. The 83-year-old "The View" host's retirement plans remain unconfirmed, but insiders reveal that she could make the monumental announcement as early as this May. Throughout the next year leading up to her official retirement, Walters will allegedly be given a huge, honorary sendoff with the airing of several ABC specials highlighting her impressive TV career.

Deadline broke the story on Thursday (March 28), reporting that "a plan has been put in place for Walters to announce her retirement, eyed for May 2014." According to reporter Nellie Andreeva:

"I hear she would be given a big sendoff with retrospectives and other special content in the weeks leading to her retirement that would celebrate her 52-year broadcast career. Walters had been determined to leave on her own terms, so it is unclear whether revealing the plans would make her change her mind and whether she would go for a full retirement or keep some TV presence with occasional appearances and specials."

Walters, a popular broadcast journalist, author, and television personality, became the first woman to co-host a national news broadcast with NBC's "Today Show" in1962. She then became the first female co-anchor of a nightly news program with ABC. Since then, she has hosted several morning television shows including "Today," "The View," "20/20," the ABC "Evening News" and ABC News.

After battling ongoing health issues, Walters recently made her return to "The View." TMZ published a report in late 2011 claiming that Walters had told President Obama that she was retiring soon, but ABC laughed it off.