Bashir is already known to US TV viewers

Bashir is best known to US audiences for his interview with Michael Jackson, seen by 27 million people last year.

ABC has also shown other Bashir shows about Princess Diana and the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? cheating scandal.

Reports about Bashir's move to ABC first emerged in February. One said he was leaving his post on ITV1's Tonight show in July in a $1m (�530,000) deal.

An ITV1 spokesman confirmed he was leaving the network, but no details were immediately available of when he would begin work in the US.

He was also unable to confirm Bashir's reported $1m fee.

Bashir's Living with Michael Jackson was named programme of the year at this year's Royal Television Society journalism awards.

ABC News has also appointed Elizabeth Vargas to replace Barbara Walters as co-host of the Friday night 20/20 programme with John Stossel.

Walters, the show's co-host since 1979, will continue doing interview specials for the network.