Posted on 04/19/2017 12:58:59 PM PDT by drewh
Caving to pressure from the public and advertisers, as well as reportedly frustrated employees, Fox News has fired host Bill O'Reilly following the revelation of multiple settlements made by him and the network of claims of sexual harassment.
"After a thorough and careful review of the allegations, the Company and Bill O'Reilly have agreed that Bill O'Reilly will not be returning to the Fox News Channel," says a statement from Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman of parent company 21st Century Fox, and his sons James and Lachlan, respectively the company’s CEO and co-executive chairman.
Fox News simultaneously announced that Tucker Carlson's program will be moved to the 8 p.m. hour from Monday to replace The O'Reilly Factor, the long-reigning ratings king of cable news.
It's a stunning turn of events for O'Reilly and for Fox, which has stood by its star through multiple controversies in the past. The end was precipitated by a New York Times article April 1 that revealed embarrassing details of previously unknown settlements of sexual harassment claims. O'Reilly and the network have together made at least five settlements totaling $13 million of allegations of sexual harassment or other inappropriate behavior.
O'Reilly has denied the allegations; his attorney Marc Kasowitz put out a statement Tuesday saying his client has been "subjected to a brutal campaign of character assassination" from far-left organizations and that he has "irrefutable" evidence to prove it.
O'Reilly, who went on vacation amid the controversy last week, was one the first talents brought to the Fox News Channel by Roger Ailes, its recently ousted programming mastermind, and became a cornerstone of the attitude-heavy conservative news juggernaut that Ailes built.
O'Reilly has had the network’s highest-rated program for 68 consecutive quarters, averaging 4 million viewers per episode during the first quarter of 2017. His prime-time show generated $446 million in advertising revenue between 2014 and 2016, according to Kantar Media. Last year, the show brought in an estimated $110.8 million in ad revenue, according to iSpot.tv. That compares to the $20.7 million in 2016 ad revenue brought in by MSNBC’s biggest star, Rachel Maddow, who is on an hour later. Fox News makes up about 10% of its parent company 21st Century Fox’s revenue and about 25% of its operating income.
"By ratings standards, Bill O'Reilly is one of the most accomplished TV personalities in the history of cable news," said the statement from the Murdochs. "We have full confidence that the network will continue to be a powerhouse in cable news."
Following the New York Times story, more than 60 advertisers pulled their ads from the show, leaving it almost commercial-free. Because the ads were relocated to other shows at Fox that don’t boast the large number of eyeballs that O’Reilly delivered, they will not be nearly as profitable for the network.
Several more women have come forward over the past few weeks with allegations against O’Reilly, leading to an investigation into O'Reilly's behavior by the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, which also was engaged by Fox to investigate claims of sexual harassment by Ailes. On Tuesday, a lawyer for a former clerical worker at the network claimed that O’Reilly had called her “hot chocolate” and made suggestive gestures at her. Former Fox News guest Wendy Walsh also alleged that after she rebuffed advances from O’Reilly at a hotel bar, her offer to become a contributor for the network was rescinded.
Demonstrators rallied against O'Reilly outside of the News Corp. and Fox News headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) [+] Organizations like UltraViolet and Colors of Change had put pressure on the network to part ways with O’Reilly. On Monday, 450 victims of sexual assault and domestic violence penned a letter to James Murdoch—who is believed to have been the most willing to cut ties with O’Reilly—asking him to “choose women’s safety and justice for survivors by getting rid of O’Reilly once and for all.” Protests erupted outside of Fox News headquarters in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, with a group of less than 100 pressuring the Murdoch family to dismiss O'Reilly.
While these are relatively small acts, any public condemnation may hold more power than before due to Fox News’ pledge last summer that it would show zero tolerance for “behavior that disrespects women” after the ouster of Ailes amid a series of allegations of sexual harassment. (Ailes, who has denied the allegations, stepped down last July with a $40 million exit package.) Public perception may also hurt other 20th Century Fox business proceedings, such as the $14 billion deal to buy the outstanding interest in satellite company Sky that is currently being reviewed by U.K. regulators.
Internally, female Fox employees were reportedly uneasy that O’Reilly had gone unpunished, and earlier this week it came out that former Fox News star Megyn Kelly decided to leave the network in part to get away from him. Additionally, executives at other 21st Century Fox companies reportedly complained that O'Reilly was getting special treatment and called for his removal.
O'Reilly's following seemed largely to be standing by him. According to a poll conducted late last week by Morning Consult, only 23% of regular O’Reilly viewers thought Fox should cancel the show, compared to 46% of all Americans. Prior to his vacation but after the allegations came out, ratings for the show actually climbed.
Fox said that The O'Reilly Factor will continue to be broadcast for the rest of the week, with Dana Perino and Greg Gutfeld standing in as hosts. Still unknown: Will O'Reilly be allowed to say goodbye to his devoted audience on air? And how much will be paid out of his $20 million-plus per year contract, which was renewed just weeks ago?
With Fox losing its biggest name and O’Reilly losing his home for more than two decades, both the network and the commentator face uncertain futures as the media industry and fans track their next moves.
See also: Can Fox News Remain Dominant Without O'Reilly? Bet On It
For the latest on the entertainment industry, follow me on Twitter @MadelinePBerg.
I got tired of BOR. Although he seems to have a problem with sexual promiscuity, he consistently stood with the Right on social/moral issues. He came across as basically a decent guy.
On the other hand, he seemed clueless when it came to the unconstitutional portion of the federal government and was tone deaf when it came to understanding the benefits of the free market.
After awhile I stopped watching Carlson also. With his furrowed brow, he comes across as a bit cynical and seems to argue against his Right-friendly guests sometimes, not unlike the way Kelly did.
Now get rid of Shep Smith so he can go to dying MSNBC where he belongs. He can co-host with “the rev” Al Not Too Sharpton.
the Five goes to prime time! bring in Jono Nosuchinsky and Kat Timpf...
Tucker is going to need to VARY HIS SCHTICK for that time slot.
Too bad The Five will be at nine. Wish they would give Jusge Jeanine the nine o’clock hour
The loofah boy is out.
Bye. Good to see Tucker get the slot.
Judge J is a great backup plan though!
So is O’Reilly going to MSNBC at 8pm to lead into a Megyn Kelly show at 9pm - would that be funny or what.
He wont and his show stinks on ice/is unwatchable!
The NYT and CNN have won, and Fox viewers have lost. Love him or hate him personally, Bill’s show was always interesting, and a major thorn in the side of every liberal media outlet. Can’t believe Fox is dumb enough to let him go — although I believe Fox as we have known it will never be the same, now that Murdoch’s sons have taken over. Too bad.
Tucker Carlson is like Forrest Gump; always showing up at the right place at the right time.
Conviction via accusation...
I wasn’t there, and I don’t know. But the accusation(s) alone appear to be all we need to get these guys silenced.
Now to knock off the pugnacious Hannity, and the ever-controversial gadfly, Limbaugh, and the rest of the small
fish will be scared enough to shut up.
Internet user licensing and ID should follow, and then we
can get down to some serious governance for the people.
...way too much of this free speechifying going on —
“The Kat House”?
They're not Prime Time caliber.
Who can stand Barfy Beckel and The Idiot (aka Greg Gutfeld) night after night?
In six months FOX will be in third place behind MSNBC and CNN.
No more Hot Chocolate for you!
You want a seasoned but pretty younger woman to anchor that slot. Trish Regan in her 40s is a far better bet medium-term than a senior citizen like Judge Pirro.
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