John Stossel Leaving ABC For Fox

TV Newser ^ | September 10, 2009 | Chris Ariens

[rightwingintelligentsia]

First on TVNewser: John Stossel, the longtime ABC News correspondent and co-anchor of "20/20," is leaving ABC to join Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network. TVNewser has learned Stossel will host a weekly, one-hour program for the 2-year-old business channel. He's expected to signed a multi-year deal with Fox which will include regular appearances on Fox News Channel during daytime and primetime. He'll also host four, hour-long specials on Fox News, much like the business/consumer specials he'd hosted for years on ABC.

Stossel, a libertarian, has been appearing on Fox News for years as a guest on shows including "The O'Reilly Factor," "Hannity & Colmes" and "The Big Story."

Stossel joined "20/20" in 1981 and was upped to co-anchor in 2003. TVNewser has learned there was a window in Stossel's ABC contract which allowed him to jump to Fox.

Stossel's departure from ABC means there will soon be another anchor vacancy at the network. Last week, Charlie Gibson announced his retirement paving the way for Diane Sawyer to take over on "World News" beginning in January. "20/20's" other co-anchor Elizabeth Vargas, is one of the top names being mentioned for the GMA slot.

[mc5cents]

I don’t think this is great news, we need to have more voices for our side outside of Fox News, instead of concentrating them all in one place.

I tend to agree. Lee's classic mistake at Gettysburg was sending Pickett to attack the middle, concentrating his force in one place. We need to attack the flanks as many of Lee's generals wanted. Stossel was doing good work on the enemy flank.

[Maverick68]

In honor of his move, I will grow a big gay moustache....
Seriously, I like Stossel...

[BertWheeler]

Well, hopefully he’ll blossom at Fox.

[dirtboy]

I was pointing out the core absurdity of your logic - that electoral success = goodness.

[Palladin]

It’s about time!

[Frantzie]

I cannot stand Shep Smith. Bret Baer is a good guy. He had the guts to bring up Hussein’s BC.

[TBP]

Stossel will be more comfortable with Fox, but I am sure ABC will replace him with a conventional liberal.

they ought to hit back at Fox by hiring current or former Fox reporters for the Stossel and Sawyer openings.

Is Laurie Dhue doing anything these days?

[mc6809e]

So now every non-lefty person in media is going to be pushed to Fox, where they can easily be discredited and diminished? Wonderful.

I disagree. Stossel is great at providing intellectual ammunition for conservatives.

Beck, et al at Fox, have great instincts. But there is a perception that in general they doesn't go intellectually deep enough into their subjects. They're "big picture" types. That's not enough for some people. Stossel will help Fox by shoring up the intellectual foundation for its conservatism. He'll dig a little deeper.

[presently no screen name]

If you are so offended by Fox - don’t watch it. Stay w/your propaganda - there’s no doubt it has worked on you.

[Guenevere]

Yay!

[Tucson Jim]

Today, Megyn Kelly looks even better than this picture. Being with child, has been good to her appearance.

She has earned an evening time slot. Ship Shep out!

[nickcarraway]

You think Free Republic is propaganda? Then why don’t you stop reading it and watch your Fox Sex Channel.

[Pajamajan]

I like Stossel's reports. However-he won't be on in prime time main stream media. That's a loss, in a way.

But, at least Fox won't be trying to block his reports like I'm sure ABC has been. This will be good.

[Dream Warrior]

Agreed, Shep and Whorealdo should move on. Nothing interesting about them, but tired, wornout hacks.

[truthguy]

Put me down as someone who doesn't think this is good. I really like Stossel but he's better off over at ABC where he can reach an audience that might not watch Fox. Most over at Fox like Stossel a lot but he will be preaching to the choir. With an ABC audience he has a good chunk of moderates and other open minded people. He is extremely articulate and logical. He is a much more powerful voice with these types of people.

He doesn't add that much to Fox. I always watch him on ABC and it would have been better if he had stayed there. I haven't read the article. I wonder if he was forced out of ABC or maybe they didn't give him the freedom he wanted.

[truthguy]

I agree. That was an excellent show and Carlson did a terrific job. Give the guy a chance.

[presently no screen name]

See how you twist things to deceive? That’s what propaganda does to you!

[RobinMasters]

[ozarkgirl]

I thing Stossel will eat into Geraldo's airtime.

We can only hope and pray that will be the case. I have to turn the channel when he comes on, I can't stand that man!

[nickcarraway]

If you are so offended by Fox - don’t watch it. Stay w/your propaganda - there’s no doubt it has worked on you.

How am I twisting it, these are your exact words. I don't watch Fox- except occasionally at someone else's house. Instead I get my news at Free Republic, about which you said, "stay with your propaganda." I don't have a TV, so your implication I watch the mainstream media was completely false.