Chris Wallace, the host of ratings-challenged FOX News Sunday, stunned his colleagues by announcing on-air that he was leaving the network effective immediately. Not long afterwards CNN announced Wallace had been hired to host a program on their new CNN+ digital streaming platform.
National radio host Todd Starnes, who worked at Fox News for more than 14 years said he was not surprised that Wallace would jump ship.
“Let’s hope the next host of FOX News Sunday will actually be fair and balanced,” Starnes said. “Wallace made no secret about his disgust for the Make America Great Again crowd.”
The reality is that many hosts on conservative networks are conservatives in name only, he said.
“During my years at Fox I was always astonished at the number of on-air hosts who held Fox viewers with such little regard. Drawing massive paychecks while mocking and belittling the conservatives who afforded them their lavish lifestyles,” Starnes said.
Washington Post obtained an email sent to staffers from CNN president Jeff Zucker.
“It is not often that a news organization gets the opportunity to bring someone of Chris Wallace’s caliber on board. He is as fine a journalist as there is in our business,” Zucker wrote. “This speaks volumes about our commitment to journalism and CNN+, and we are thrilled to have Chris on the ground floor of helping us build the next generation of CNN and news.”
Wallace said he was beyond thrilled to be joining the lowest-rated network on cable television.
“I am thrilled to join CNN+. After decades in broadcast and cable news, I am excited to explore the world of streaming. I look forward to the new freedom and flexibility streaming affords in interviewing major figures across the news landscape—and finding new ways to tell stories,” said Wallace. “As I embark on this adventure, I am honored and delighted to join Jeff Zucker and his great team. I can’t wait to get started.”