Posted on 01/04/2017 4:50:12 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Megyn Kellys decision to jump from Fox News to NBC resolves one of the last unanswered questions of the Roger Ailes scandal: Would she stay or would she go when her contract ended? With her last show set to air on Friday, Kellys departure raises a new series of questions about how transferrable her talents are and where Fox News is headed now that the network has lost its biggest star and one of its few hosts with serious mainstream credibility.
For Kelly, the jump from a primetime perch at Fox to a multifaceted role at NBC carries a high degree of risk. Shell be giving up the most loyal audience in cable news for new set of platforms that shell have to largely build herself. At NBC, Kelly will anchor an Oprah-like daytime show, launch a new Sunday night news magazine, and contribute to the networks political coverage. The track record for talented anchors launching daytime programs hasnt been good (see: Katie Couric, Meredith Vieira, Anderson Cooper), and no Fox News star has successfully crossed over to the mainstream before. But Kellys prodigious talents as a broadcaster, not to mention her canny media instincts, could help her defy the trend.
Sources close to Kelly told me today that her departure is an indication of just how unhappy she had become at Fox in the wake of her high-profile feud with Donald Trump and revelations she had accused Ailes of sexual harassment. Her relationships with Bill OReilly and Sean Hannity in particular had completely broken down, one Fox host told me. Bill hated her, the host said. As Kellys contract negotiations dragged on during her much-publicized book tour, things also grew strained with Rupert Murdoch, two sources said. One Fox insider told me Murdoch balked when Kelly asked for $25 million late in the talks. (A person close to Kelly disputed this, saying that said Kelly never asked for a specific dollar amount but that Fox had offered $25 million.)
Inside Fox News, staffers are speculating over who will replace Kelly. According to insiders I spoke with today, the consensus seems to be that the Murdochs will choose a woman to fill her 9 p.m. time slot. The leading internal contenders include Trish Regan, Shannon Bream, Sandra Smith, and Martha MacCallum. Two sources said Kimberly Guilfoyle is lobbying for the job.
The one thing Fox insiders are in agreement on is that whoever replaces Kelly will be a pro-Trump conservative. In the wake of Ailess ouster, some media observers speculated that 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch wanted to reposition Fox to the center, bringing it more in line with his moderate political views. But the selection of a pro-Trump host to fill Kellys slot would suggest that Fox is instead doubling down on its right-wing politics and planning to align itself with the new administration. After initially being hostile to Trump, Murdoch has made moves to curry favor with the president-elect. Fox insiders told me that Murdoch personally named pro-Trump anchor Tucker Carlson to replace Greta Van Susteren at 7 p.m.
Murdochs relationship with Trump has greatly improved since the depths of Trumps battle with Kelly last year. I really like Rupert Murdoch! Trump told guests at Mar-a-Lago over the holidays, according to an attendee. Roger Ailes was a friend of mine, but Foxs coverage is so much better since he left.
If Fox News politics ultimately solidify as more pro-Trump than they were during the campaign, that might be to the benefit of Murdochs business interests. According to a well-placed source, Trump has asked Murdoch to submit names for FCC Chairman. Murdoch, another source said, also wants conditions put on the AT&T-Time Warner merger, and he could lobby Trump to make that happen.
That Murdoch might choose to align his news network with Trump shouldnt come as a surprise. Throughout his career, Murdoch has tended to support the officeholder in power, whether it was Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, or George W. Bush. He even flirted with endorsing Barack Obama in 08, but at the time backed off when Ailes complained.
Please take shemp err I mean shepherd smith with you!
Easier on the eyes and much easier on the ears than Greta.
Make Megyn Feminine Again!
Two observations:
1) Tucker is awesome.
2) Not a chance her carpet matches her drapes.
Yeah...Her “star” went dim during the presidential campaign...
So NBC is now mainstream?
you mean-—’hot looking phony, bleached blonde person’——not so hot but somewhat cheap to my tastes
First, who is going to turn the TV on?
Secondly, If the TV is on and is on the Fox Channel, who is going to switch the dial to watch this narcissistic flake?
Is that a photo-shopped picture?
Oh, yes! Harris would be an excellent choice.
Good God! Where did that appear?
I’ll add Tammy Bruce to the list. Tired of the blonde cutsie “fluff” on Fox. I see Tammy as close to Greta when it comes to being serious and capable.
I believe that your are 100% correct!
And now he's going to be President and Megyn is going to morning TV to comment on chef's making quick meals on the go and the latest spring fashions.
Judge Jeanine should take Megyn’s spot.
Whomever they stick in there will shoot to the top of the ratings. Well, maybe not the judge.
FOX Has a stable full of bright, capable, attractive young women who are eager and ready to step in and do a better job than Megyn for a small fraction of her salary.
FTA: Fox CEO James Murdoch wanted to reposition Fox to the center, bringing it more in line with his moderate political views.
Liberals do not have moderate political views.
Their way or else.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.