Say what you want about Van Susteren, she is -- in cable news, anyway -- a heavyweight and a serious talent. She will bring credibility to FOX, and her move will hurt CNN, which will be seen as a falling star.
I've been trying to find an explanation for why she turned down a larger counter offer from CNN. There are two obvious possibilities: 1] They gave her the counter offer after she had already signed; and 2] She just didn't want to stay at CNN for some reason.
But there is another possible reason why she took a smaller offer from FOX: It is possible that she has ambitions for things greater than CNN will ever allow her to do. Perhaps at FOX she will be able to take on more reponsibility or have more control or something -- I don't really know, I'm just guessing.
Whatever happens, I think it will ultimately help FOX and hurt CNN. I'll be interested to see who is next...