Fox News Lays Off Digital Employees Amid Reorganization

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorFox Business Network is poised to cancel Lou Dobbs’ long-running program, the latest in a series of programming changes taking place at Fox News Media, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.A spokesperson for Fox News Media could not be reached for immediate comment.Dobbs is one of three Fox News personalities who has been sued along with the Fox Corporation unit by Smartmatic, the voting technology company that has levied a $2.7 billion defamation

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorSmartmatic, a maker of voting technology whose name has been the subject of disparaging commentary from a handful of conservative-news outlets, on Thursday said it had sued Fox News and three of its popular on-air personalities — Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro — for more than $2.7 billion, citing efforts made on Fox News programs to disparage the company’s business.Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, two attorneys who had been working for President

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeRemember when Fox News Channel launched in 1996 with the slogan “Fair and balanced”? Believe it or not, early on, the channel at least pretended to follow that idealistic goal, providing straight news during the day and balancing conservative voices with liberal ones on primetime opinion shows.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorLinsey Davis is helping to tie things together at ABC News.You might not see the string during one of her recent hours on the Disney unit’s ABC News Live. On Tuesday evening, Davis’ “ABC News Live Prime” took viewers to Russia to examine how the government was cracking down on citizen protests and spent time looking at Congress’ effort to devise pandemic relief and hold an impeachment trial.

The three news networks carried tribute ceremonies on Wednesday for Brian Sicknick, the police officer killed in the siege on the Capitol last month.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorLinsey Davis and Whit Johnson have been named co-anchors of the weekend broadcasts of ABC News “World News Tonight,” filling roles in the wake of the departure of anchor Tom Llanas.In a memo sent to ABC News staffers Monday, James Goldston, the unit’s outgoing president, said Johnson will anchor Saturdays, while Davis will anchor Sundays. They will commence their new duties this weekend.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorJames Goldston, the president of ABC News, will leave the Walt Disney-backed unit at the end of March, the latest in a recent series of changes among top national news executives.“It’s a really tough decision,” Goldston said in a memo to staffers.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorComcast said fourth-quarter profit increased thanks to customer interest in broadband and wireless services, even as it grappled with a downturn in performance at its large NBCUniversal entertainment conglomerate spurred by the coronavirus pandemic.The Philadelphia cable giant said net income came to $3.38 billion, or 73 cents a share, up from $3.16 billion, or 68 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Revenue fell 2.4% to $27.7 billion.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorTom Llamas, the ABC News anchor who leads the unit’s weekend “World News Tonight” broadcast and is its chief national affairs correspondent, is jumping from the Disney operation to NBC News.

Larry Kudlow, the banker-turned CNBC anchor-turned Trump economic adviser will return to television, this time for Fox News Media. Kudlow will host a new weekday program on Fox Business Network, and will provide financial analysis across the media company's platforms.

Donald Trump soured somewhat on Fox in the final months of his administration, the network remains popular with his fans.Kudlow's experience and “intuitive on-air presence will add depth and insight to our business analysis programming,” said Suzanne Scott, Fox News Media CEO.Kudlow, in a statement, said Fox was among the first news organizations to understand the importance of the relationship between Washington and Wall Street.McEnany, Trump's final press secretary, had worked at CNN before

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorLarry Kudlow, the former CNBC host turned Trump economic advisor, has found a new media job after his time at the White House — and it’s not with his former employer.Kudlow, who took on the unenviable job of predicting a quick V-shaped recovery for the nation in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and also tried to make the case the contagion was contained before it took full root in the U.S,, will launch a new weekday program for Fox Business Network.

Recently departed White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany has talked with Fox News about joining the network, but she is not currently employed by them.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorFox News Channel held talks with Kayleigh McEnany, the former White House Press Secretary whose performance in the role earned sharp criticism, about a possible position at the cable-news outlet, according to a person familiar with the matter.Those conversations have yet to bear fruit.

Emily Compango has been promoted to co-host of Fox News Channel’s Outnumbered. 

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorAs NBC News’ newly minted chief White House correspondents, Kristen Welker and Peter Alexander have the sort of job that rarely ends neatly for the week on Friday at 5 p.m.

Mass Effect is known for being pretty progressive when it comes to romance options, but its sequel Mass Effect 2 could’ve been more inclusive, if not for one infamous Fox News segment.The intergalactic RPG was meant to include an option for players playing as a female version of protagonist Shepard to romance the character Jack.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorTom Brokaw, the NBC News anchor who rose from an early stint at a station in Sioux City, Iowa to anchor three of the nation’s best-known TV-news programs – “Today,” “NBC Nightly News” and, for a short time, “Meet the Press,” is set to step down formally from NBC News, where he has worked since 1966.Brokaw’s time on air has dwindled in recent years, while he has served as a special correspondent for the NBCUniversal-owned outlet.More to come….

Fox News Digital is laying off staff as a continuation of restructuring plans the company first announced last fall. The new cuts also reflect a news cycle that may be less intense in the aftermath of the election, and with Joe Biden set to take office tomorrow.

Fox News Digital is trimming its staff amid a restructuring following the 2020 election.