Tag Archives: cable news

CNN reports: Jeffrey Toobin returned to CNN as the network’s chief legal analyst on Thursday, eight months after he exposed himself during a Zoom call with colleagues at The New Yorker. “I feel like we should address what’s happened in the months since we’ve seen you,” Alison Camerota said. She summarized the situation and said, “To quote Jay Leno, ‘What …

The New York Times reports: For seven years, Juan Williams was the lone liberal voice on “The Five,” the network’s popular afternoon chat show. On Wednesday, he announced that he was leaving the program, after months of harsh on-air blowback from his conservative co-hosts. Many Fox News viewers cheered his exit on social media. Donna Brazile, the former Democratic Party …

The Hill reports: Political correspondent Steve Kornacki has signed a four-year, multimillion dollar deal with NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC and MSNBC the company announced Thursday. In addition to politics, Kornacki will bring his analytical stills to the “entertainment, sports and streaming networks of NBCUniversal,” the company said. NBCUniversal’s Television and Streaming Entertainment group is also developing a game …

Variety reports: After devoting constant chatter to the 2020 election and the coronavirus pandemic, Fox News wants to make sure to talk about other subjects, including sports and weather. During an upfront presentation to ad buyers and clients Tuesday, executives from Fox News Media told Madison Avenue they intended to expand programming beyond the news of the day. Jeff Collins, …

The Hill reports: Eric Spinato, a top producer for Fox News and the Fox Business Network, died of the coronavirus over the weekend. In a memo to Fox News staffers obtained by the Hill, company leadership called Spinato’s work “instrumental to the growth and entrepreneurial success” of the network, saying his contributions to the company during two stints over a …

NBC News reports: Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch said Thursday it is the job of Fox News to serve as the opposition to the Biden administration, stating clearly the political biases of a network that until 2017 billed itself as “fair and balanced.” Speaking at a Morgan Stanley investor conference, Murdoch said Fox News stood to benefit from Biden’s presidency …

The Hill reports: Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer said Friday that “cancel culture” will “come after Bible characters next” during a discussion of the Chicago initiative to review historical statues in the city, including ones of former President Abraham Lincoln. “If they start canceling American presidents, they’ll come after Bible characters next,” Hemmer said. “Mark my words, right?” The Black …

The New York Times reports: Beset by declining ratings, upheaval in its on-air ranks and a multibillion-dollar defamation suit related to its election coverage, Fox News is staggering out of the Trump era — blamed by many for seeding the poisonous political culture that brought a violent mob into the halls of the United States Capitol. Yet in Britain, where …

Axios reports: President Trump’s brash communication style — combined with a societal shift towards streaming, where there are no regulatory restrictions on speech — has forced the entire media industry to present information in a more candid and less polished way. It’s no longer uncommon to hear cable anchors use foul language or for TV or radio personalities to make …

The National Review reports: Joe Scarborough, the host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, said that he regrets hosting Donald Trump so often ahead of the 2016 election, during an episode The Realignment podcast released on Tuesday. While Scarborough stressed that he frequently pushed back on Trump in the run-up to the election, the Morning Joe host said he wished the candidate …

The Wall Street Journal reports: For nearly two years, allies of President Trump have been exploring ways to build up a formidable competitor to Fox News. One target they recently zeroed in on: the fledgling pro-Trump cable channel Newsmax TV. Hicks Equity Partners, a private-equity firm with ties to a co-chair of the Republican National Committee, has held talks in …

Axios reports: CNN edged Fox News among total viewers for election week, averaging 5.9 million to Fox’s 5.7 million and MSNBC’s 4.6 million, AP reports. The state of play: The election, which saw record voter turnout, had networks competing for viewers as states were called. Fox viewers tuned out Joe Biden’s victory speech on Saturday night: CNN drew 13.5 million …

CNBC reports: CNBC announced on Wednesday that former Fox News anchor Shepard Smith is joining the network to host a one-hour evening news program on weekdays at 7 p.m. ET. The newscast, which will be called “The News with Shepard Smith,” is set to launch in the fall. Smith joins CNBC after spending 23 years at Fox News Channel, where …

This will surely enrage Trump: An extraordinary stretch of news with the coronavirus pandemic and racial reckoning triggered by George Floyd’s death has led CNN to its biggest audience for any three-month period in the network’s 40-year history. CNN’s weekday prime-time audience of 1.95 million was up 120% over the same period last year, Nielsen said. Fox News, which has …

CNN reports: CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin announced on Friday that she tested positive for coronavirus after experiencing symptoms a day earlier. “I am OKAY,” Baldwin said in an Instagram post announcing her diagnosis. “It came on suddenly yesterday afternoon. Chills, aches, fever.” Baldwin became the second CNN anchor to test positive for the virus. Chris Cuomo tested positive earlier in …

CNN reports: Former CNN anchor Bobbie Battista has passed away at the age of 67, according to a family spokeswoman. Battista passed away on Tuesday morning after a four year battle with cervical cancer, according to Wendy Guarisco, family spokeswoman. “Bobbie was the consummate trooper in her struggle with cancer, she was courageous and fearless in her battle and thoughtful …

Axios reports: Top news executives tell Axios that a real “Trump slump” is hitting digital, cable and more. The shock factor around President Trump’s unplanned announcements, staff departures, taunting tweets and erratic behavior is wearing off, and media companies are scrambling to find their next big moneymaker. Executives tell Axios that Trump fatigue is very real: Interest in political coverage …

From the Hollywood Reporter: Don Lemon is tying the knot. The CNN Tonight anchor revealed in an Instagram post shared Saturday that his boyfriend, Tim Malone, popped the question while celebrating the real estate agent’s birthday. “He gave me a present on his birthday. How could I say no?” the 53-year-old news anchor captioned the photo, which showed two photos …

Fortune reports: Ratings data released today by Nielsen show Maddow ended the week as the most-watched cable news show for the week, beating out competition from CNN and longtime top-rated cable news network Fox News Channel. Among viewers 25-54, the demographic most coveted by advertisers, Maddow remained on top, with an average audience of 667,000 viewers. The Wrap reports: On …

Raw Story reports: MSNBC has cancelled that weekly television show hosted by right-wing pundit Hugh Hewitt, the conservative explained at the end of his final show on Saturday. “This has been the last Hugh Hewitt Show on Saturday mornings,” Hewitt explained. He said that NBC News would continue to employ him as a contributor and he said he expects to …