News

Fox News Channel wants viewers to think of its hosts and anchors as the type of people you might see while taking in a football game, eating at the local diner, or even on board a military transport.

A new Fox News promo uses digital technology to insert Sean Hannity in a neighborhood eatery; Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino in front of what looks like a field of wheat; Jesse Watters and Laura Ingraham at a football game; and Harris Faulkner on board what appears to be a Navy ship. The hosts talk about a new era “where common sense….” says Martha MacCallum, holding forth at a shopping center, “….meets common ground,” adds Bret Baier, her frequent co-anchor.

“This is a time to come together,” add the various hosts, who also include Greg Gutfeld, “for all America.”

Executives at Fox News hope to create the notion that there is a single,...

Fox News host Jesse Watters joked he was going to “slap” his colleague Bill Hemmer for not asking astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunni Williams whether they “hooked up” while stranded on the International Space Station (Iss) for nine months. Watters made the comment on the March 31 episode of The Five, where the panel discussed Hemmer’s interview with Wilmore and Williams, who returned to Earth last month. Co-host Greg Gutfeld said of the interview, per Mediaite, “Did you see their body language? Oh, they hate each other. Can you blame them?” Jessica Tarlov added, “They talked a lot about what their days looked like. She even said that [Wilmore] would Zoom into his Sunday church service every week, so they kept some degree of regularity.” However, Watters only had one question on his mind, saying, “Hemmer’s a great interviewer, but he whiffed. The main question that everybody wanted asked was,...

Valeria Riccioli. (Courtesy photo)

Sinclair, Inc. has hired a former talent manager at Newsmax to serve as its new Director of Content for the broadcaster’s coast-to-coast news initiative, The National News Desk.

As Director of Content, Valeria Riccioli will oversee all content production and audience engagement strategies for the national news brand, which produces morning and afternoon news programs that air on many of Sinclair’s local TV stations across the country as well as online through its YouTube channels and local TV station web streams.

“Valeria is a dynamic leader with a proven track record of driving audience growth and engagement across multiple platforms,” Scott Livingston, the Senior Vice President of News at Sinclair, said in a statement on Friday. “Her deep experience in newsroom strategy, content development, and high-profile event coverage makes her the ideal choice to lead The National News Desk into its next phase of growth.

Five years ago this week, the television industry rose to the challenge of keeping news, daytime and late-night talk shows and other topical series on the air during the harsh early months of the Covid pandemic.

We didn’t know it then, but March 2020 marked a huge inflection point for the television business. Stay-at-home orders, masks and antigen tests — it seems distant and not so distant all at once. The story of how Covid helped supercharge the streaming business — and the streaming wars — has been well documented in recent years.

But another big TV story unfolded during the early months of lockdown that hasn’t gotten as much attention. The first few weeks of the pandemic spurred more seat-of-the-pants innovation to broadcast operations and engineering than had been done since the days of Sid Caesar and Milton Berle in the early 1950s. In media and entertainment, the show-must-go-on ethos is real.

Trump Administration border czar Tom Homan asked the Department of Justice if Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-New York) efforts to help illegal immigrants avoid authorities impeded Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (Ice) operations and broke the law.

Homan, who was named the Donald Trump‘s border czar in November 2024, appeared on the Fox News show, The Ingraham Angle. During his appearance on the show, the host Laura Ingraham told him that Ocasio-Cortez put “out a webinar” to advise illegal immigrants on avoiding trouble.

“I sent an email today to the deputy attorney general,” Homan stated. “At what level is that impediment? Is that an impediment? If so, what are we going to do about it? Is [Ocasio-Cortez] crossing the line?”

“So, I’m working with the Department of Justice and finding out where is that line that they cross,” he added. “So, maybe Aoc’s gonna be in trouble now.”

The...

Fox News Channel continues to top the ratings charts, delivering its highest-rated January in cable news history and marking its 23rd consecutive year as the number one network in cable news, averaging 1.916 million viewers in total day viewership and 2.781 million viewers in primetime.

In daytime, the network topped ABC’s “The View” head-to-head for the first time ever with “The Faulkner Focus,” anchored by Harris Faulkner. The daytime news show averaged 2.552 million viewers in January, +44,000 viewers ahead of “The View” and its 2.508 million viewers.

“I could not grab this big win without my wonderful team,” said Faulkner of the achievement. “It’s a testament to the hard work and passion we put into bringing Americans the latest news and analysis on what matters most to them. “The Faulkner Focus” is a place where audiences can tune in and know their questions about the day’s headlines will be answered with...

Former President of the United States Jimmy Carter’s funeral service is taking place today.

The late 39th President’s casket arrived in Washington D.C. on Tuesday (January 6), followed by a procession to the U.S. Capitol, the Rotunda service and the start of the lying in state.

The national day of mourning began on Thursday (January 9) as U.S. officials, loved ones and members of the public say their final goodbyes to Jimmy Carter, who will be buried beside his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter, at the home they built in Plains, Georgia.

He will be honored with two funeral services: one in Washington, D.C., and one in his small hometown.

Several news networks will be covering the Washington, D.C. ceremony, and there is also a way to watch via livestream.

Keep reading to find out more…

ABC‘s ABC News Live First will begin coverage...

Former president Jimmy Carter’s funeral services involved a few steps that led up to Thursday, Jan. 9. Following a funeral in his home state of Georgia Jan. 4, the 39th President of the United States’ casket arrived in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, Jan. 7 followed by a procession to the U.S. Capitol, the Rotunda service and the start of the lying in state.

Several main news networks will provide coverage of the events Thursday, as they have of the week’s previous moments and transport. Those schedules are outlined below. Find also below, a link to livestream the funeral service via PBS:

ABC

“ABC News Live First” Jan. 9 will begin coverage with anchor Diane Macedo at 8 a.m. Est for the Capitol Hill procession. There will then be a simulcast of network-wide coverage. ABC News coverage has been available to watch on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu.

CBS

Norah O’Donnell...

Sean Hannity will host the annual event on Fox News’ lifestyle streaming platform.

It’s almost time to walk the red, white, and blue carpet at the 2024 Patriot Awards. Hosted by Sean Hannity and presented exclusively on Fox Nation at 8 p.m. Et on Thursday, Dec. 5, the awards will honor and recognize America’s finest patriots, as judged by Fox. Tons of recognizable Fox News personalities will be on hand, and the only way to watch live is to stream the awards with a subscription to Fox Nation.

How to watch the 2024 Patriot Awards When: Thursday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. Et TV: Fox Nation Stream: Watch with a subscription to Fox Nation. 7-Day Free Trial $5.99+ / month fox nation Everything you need to know about 2024 Patriot Awards

How to watch the 2024 Patriot Awards

Watch Donald Trump announce he’ll attend 2024 Patriot Awards

About 2024 Patriot Awards

How to stream 2024 Patriot Awards from...

Fox News personality Sean Hannity hosts the Patriot Awards Ceremony on Fox Nation. (Photo courtesy Fox News Media)

Fox News Media will produce the sixth-annual Fox Nation Patriot Awards Ceremony on Thursday, December 5, the company announced this week.

The awards ceremony will be emceed by Fox News Channel prime-time host Sean Hannity, and will stream live through the Fox Nation streaming service at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (5 p.m. Pacific Time). Fox News will air an encore presentation of the awards ceremony on Sunday, December 8 at 10 p.m. Eastern Time.

The show partners with Tunnel 2 Towers (T2T), Patriot Mobile, Golden Corral and Belfor to honor and recognize America’s patriots, including military veterans, first responders and other everyday heroes.

Throughout the evening, heroes will be honored in a number of categories, including the T2T Stephen Siller Back the Blue Award, Fox Weather Ultimate Patriot Award, Fox Nation Award for Service to Veterans,...

We’ve got questions, and you’ve (maybe) got answers! With another week of TV gone by, we’re lobbing queries left and right about NCIS, Agatha All Along, The Summit, Svu and more!

1 | Why did Lioness choose a nickname for its new asset (“Josie”) that is so close to Joe’s own? And is it pure coincidence — especially with the Alex Cross TV series about to come out — that this was the title of this week’s Lioness, which co-stars Morgan Freeman? ▼

More from TVLineDid Frasier's Niles Excuse Fly? Which Survivor Deserves an Emmy? Can Any Agatha Season 2 Give Up 'Ghost'?...

If there is one overarching theme of the best-laid plans by TV news organizations for covering the 2024 election night, it is “transparency.”

Wary of what happened four years ago, it seems that every channel is gaming out how best to not only show the numbers, but how the numbers came to be, what they really mean, and why they matter.

In a world where one call by a TV channel can throw a campaign into chaos, everyone involved seems to understand how high the stakes are.

The early Arizona call made by Fox News and the Associated Press in 2020 still looms large in newsrooms. Both parties, of course, ultimately stood by their call, and they were vindicated in the end, but according to executives and on-air talent at multiple TV networks that spoke with The Hollywood Reporter, the lessons of that call are still being felt.

Chris Stirewalt, for example,...

Election Day is here, and the major news networks are prepared for a long night — and potentially a long week.

With over 50 million people early voting in the 2024 Presidential Election, Tuesday night will offer plenty of results to thumb through even if an ultimate winner isn’t called until later in the week, and most of the news networks will kick off their election night coverage at 6 p.m. Et, with CNN even starting at 12 a.m. Et while NBC News begins at 5 p.m. Et.

MSNBC’s Steve Kornacki will return to the Big Board — and will even be livestreamed on Peacock and other social platforms — while Fox News will see Bill Hemmer steering the “Bill”-board.

Most networks have scheduled eight hours of election night programming from 6 p.m. Et to 2 a.m. Et, with a result for the presidential showdown between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump not expected immediately.

New immersive graphics tech will be part of the Fox News Channel’s Election Night coverage in November. (Courtesy photo)

Fox News Media will unveil new immersive graphics technology during the Fox News Channel’s coverage of Election Night happenings next week.

The new graphics tech is part of the network’s overhaul of Studio M earlier this year, where the Fox News Channel broadcasts some of its news programming. It includes combined augmented reality tech that will be utilized by Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer — the network is calling it the “Bill”board — as well as touchscreen applications to enhance the channel’s reporting of voter turnout and results throughout Election Night.

Other elements that will debut next week include a map that outlines the “Path to 270,” the number of electoral college votes a candidate for the White House must receive in order to clinch the presidency; a “super...

Fox News is planning a barrage of high tech features for its election night coverage, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

With tens of millions of people tuning in for election coverage on Nov. 5, every network is pulling out all the stops when it comes to technology, and figuring out creative ways to display data, close races, and other returns on election day.

Fox News, which is the most-watched cable news channel in the country by a wide margin, is no exception. Its election coverage will be led by anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum in New York, who will hold fort in Studio M, Fox’s massive studio set within its headquarters.

Among the enhancements is an even more tech-infused “Bill”-board, the interactive segment with Bill Hemmer digging into exit polls and voting results. By now every cable news channel has an anchor or correspondent with a touchscreen of...

Greg Gutfeld hosts the prime-time comedy talk show “Gutfeld!” on the Fox News Channel. (Photo courtesy Fox News Media)

(The following is a press release; its contents were not editorially vetted by The Desk.)

Fox News Channel (Fnc) finished the month of August as the most watched network in all of cable, dominating total day and prime-time viewers and coming only behind Olympics-focused USA Network in the 25-54 demo. According to Nielsen, Fnc occupied nearly half of the total day (47 percent) and prime-time (45 percent) audience share. As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) commenced in Chicago, Il (August 19th through August 22nd) Fnc secured its spot as most watched for combined overall convention coverage, averaging 4.5 million viewers and 731,000 in the 25-54 demo during prime-time for the DNC and RNC. In contrast, CNN had 2.3 million viewer and 614,000 in 25-54 demo and MSNBC drew 3.2 million and 516,000 in 25-54 demo. Fnc finished the week...

The newsroom of the Fox News Channel appears in an undated photographer. (Image courtesy Fox Corporation)

(The following is a press release; its contents were not editorially vetted by The Desk.)

Fox News Media (Fnm) will present special programming surrounding the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) beginning Sunday, August 18th through Friday, August 23rd. Originating from Chicago, Illinois, the network’s convention coverage will be available across all of Fox News Media’s signature platforms, including Fox News Channel (Fnc), Fox Business Network (Fbn), Fox News Audio, Fox News Digital and Fox Nation.

Fnc will commence its special coverage from Chicago on Sunday with Fox News Sunday anchored by Shannon Bream (check your local listings). From 10 Am-12 Pm/Et on Fnc, Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino will anchor America’s Newsroom, followed by Outnumbered at 12 Pm/Et, America Reports from 1-3 Pm/Et, The Story with Martha MacCallum at 3 Pm/Et and...

America decides in 2024, and viewers who want to see the most coverage of the 2024 Republican National Convention when it meets in Milwaukee starting Monday, July 15 have plenty of options. Unsurprisingly, the most coverage will come from Fox News and the Fox broadcast network. With the assassination attempt of former president Donald Trump on Saturday, there will undoubtedly be even more attention on the GOP proceedings than normal. That means the best way to stream the 2024 RNC is with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream.

How to Watch 2024 Republican National Convention When: Beginning on Monday, July 15 TV: ABC, CBS, CNN, Cspan, Fox, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC, PBS Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. 5-Day Free Trial $79.99 / month directv.com/stream

Subscribe Now and get Max, Paramount+, Starz, and MGM+ free for three months

About 2024 Republican National Convention

The 2024 RNC will give Donald Trump the chance to...

Fox News was carrying Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pa, live at 6:11 p.m. Et when suddenly, chaos ensued as the former president grabbed his ear, then plunged to the ground and Secret Service pounced on top of him for protection.

Shannon Bream, the host of Fox News Sunday and legal correspondent, had been in Milwaukee, anchoring in the lead up to the rally, and was still in the chair as she watched on a monitor what was unfolding.

“We had just tossed to the live rally, and we all stayed in place just to be ready for any kind of coverage wrapping out of the rally, and very quickly, as I was sitting there just maybe five, six minutes into the speech, I heard some popping,” Bream told Deadline in an interview today. “I saw the president go behind the podium. I heard screaming, and just motioned...

This year’s Republican National Convention will take place in Milwaukee, Wi ahead of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, which will be held in Chicago in August. The RNC summit has been overseen by Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley and Chairwoman of the Committee on Arrangements Anne Hathaway for the 2024 Republican National Convention.

Amid Biden and Trump’s second showdown in a presidential election, eyes will be on both the RNC and DNC, which serve as the forums to officially nominate each party’s presidential candidate.

Here’s what the networks and streamers have planned for the 2024 Republican National Convention:

When is the 2024 Republican National Convention?

The RNC this year will take place from July 15-18.

How can I watch the 2024 Republican National Convention? Is it streaming?

Several networks are offering coverage.

Related: Joe Biden Counters Dismal Debate With A Stronger Press Conference, But It Was Not Without A Big...

Jimmy Failla isn’t taking over Fox News Chanel, but he has, at least for one short period in the late afternoon, seized control of a portion of its New York ground-floor facilities.

The space is typically devoted to a space for guests to hang out and a section for hair and makeup, but Failla uses it to get himself revved up to tape “Fox News Saturday Night,” a program the network says is devoted less to red-versus-blue rants and more to making people laugh. The hallway leading to his studio was flooded with the sounds of rockabilly and Queen.

“True comedy doesn’t have a political party. Comedy is a party,’ says the 47-year-old comedian, who hails from a family of cops and, prior to his tenure at Fox News was supplementing his stand-up income by driving a New York taxi. “And at a party, you don’t ask...

Jon Stewart called out Fox News on The Daily Show for their eclipse coverage with an immigration angle.

As North America prepared to witness the solar eclipse, Fox News warned viewers of the threat to the southern border that this represented.

“We are told that officials are bracing for higher traffic than usual and that means a real opportunity for smugglers and cartels and migrants to come right in,” Bill Hemmer said on the cable network after co-host Dana Perino said the eclipse would last about four minutes.

Stewart quipped, “Or they could just wait til nighttime.”

The Comedy Central host then questioned if there was anything Fox News couldn’t tie to immigration, mocking the anchors and saying, “This year’s cicada infestation provides perfect cover for Venezuelans.”

Later on in the show, Stewart had Christiane Amanpour as a guest who called the eclipse “beautiful.”

Stewart told Amanpour, “The world is ending,...

It’s eclipse day in America, and if you thought Fox News was going to act normal about it, you were wrong.

The right-wing news network wasted no time on Monday attempting to link the moon’s brief blotting out of the sun to migrant crossings at the Mexico border.

“Fox News alert! A rare celestial event collides with a policy failure on the ground. The southern border is directly in the path of totality today when the moon covers the sun,” host Dana Perino said during Monday’s broadcast of America’s Newsroom.

Greg Gutfeld hosts the prime-time comedy talk show “Gutfeld!” on the Fox News Channel. (Photo courtesy Fox News Media)

The Fox News Channel was cable television’s most-watched news network for the 36th straight month, notching higher total day and key demographic viewers throughout the month of February when compared to its two closest competitors, according to Nielsen data.

The channel was also the most-watched in prime-time across cable news for the 37th straight month, the Nielsen ratings showed, with programs like “Hannity,” “The Ingraham Angle,” “Jesse Watters Primetime” and “Gutfeld!” drawing millions of viewers to the network during the week.

Fox News grew its television audience 8 percent during the day among total viewers and 5 percent in prime-time among the key demographic of adults ages 25 to 54 years old (A25-54), a group that is most attractive to advertisers, according to Nielsen data. The increases were compared to the prior month.

The United States Presidential Election takes its next step on Saturday, Feb. 24, when the South Carolina primary elections are set to take place. The Democratic incumbent Joe Biden is not facing any organized opposition from his party, but in the Republican field the race has narrowed to two candidates: former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, and former President Donald Trump. Sling TV will offer fantastic coverage, thanks to its carriage of CNN, Fox News and MSNBC; audiences can see the results from their favorite news channel with a subscription to Sling TV.

How to Watch 2024 South Carolina Primary Results When: Saturday, Feb. 24 TV: CNN, Fox News, MSNBC Stream: Watch with a subscription to Sling TV. Get 50% Off $40+ / month sling.com About 2024 South Carolina Primary Coverage

“CNN’s America’s Choice: South Carolina Primary” will begin at 4 p.m. Et with Wolf Blitzer anchoring from DC and Erin Burnett from New York.

A small contingent of journalists gathered near the Canadian border earlier this morning to watch as Dixville Notch, Nh, continued its tradition of casting the first ballots on an election day.

Nikki Haley cleaned Donald Trump’s clock in this hamlet — 6 votes to none.

As the day goes on, network correspondents are fanning out across the state at precincts to talk to actual voters, after months in which the first-in-the-nation primary was judged and assessed by polls. Commentary and analysis is focusing on whether

Haley and her top surrogate, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, blitzed the airwaves on Monday, while Trump held a final rally in Laconia, Nh, where he predicted that Haley would be out of the race after tonight. He was interrupted by climate protesters, who have been a frequent presence at events in recent days.

There is a Democratic race, too. Joe Biden is not on the ballot,...

Have you heard it’s cold in Des Moines? The subzero temperatures are making Monday’s caucuses in Iowa the coldest on record, a running theme of coverage throughout the day and into this evening. It’s not trivial, as the frigid weather may very well impact turnout.

As Iowa’s first votes of the 2024 presidential race come in, expect a lot of analysis, punditry and prediction, even if the results represent just a sliver of the primary electorate. The Hawkeye state’s primacy as the first-in-the-nation often obscures the peculiarities of the caucus system, unless there is some kind of glitch, which is what happened four years ago with the Democrats.

That said, networks see the caucuses as the kickoff of what is hoped a spike in viewer interest in the presidential contest, as was seen in 2020 and 2016. All of the broadcast networks are planning for ongoing coverage of...

The Iowa caucus on Monday will be like no other —- and that was apparent from the start, well before subzero weather raised doubts about turnout, stymied campaigns in the final sprint and left an army of reporters and consultants seeking the warm refuge of Des Moines hotel lobbies.

The expectation is that Donald Trump will win —- but like past caucuses, that will only tell part of the story. In the race for second place, rival Nikki Haley is looking for momentum for a potential victory next week in New Hampshire, and Ron DeSantis wants to defy pundits who have written him off.

The release of the final poll before the caucuses on Saturday night —- one sponsored by the Des Moines Register, NBC News and Mediacom —- helped set expectations for the results, with much coverage framed on whether candidates exceed or under perform. The poll showed Trump...

Christmas is history, but there’s still some holiday celebrating to be done. New Year’s Eve festivities are being broadcast across the country Sunday, December 31 from Puerto Rico to Los Angeles to the famous Times Square ball drop in New York City.

The official Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration will kick off at 6 p.m. Et with the lighting and raising of the nearly six-ton crystal ball atop One Times Square. Performers this year include Enrique Iglesias, Maroon5, Jonas Brothers, Flo Rida, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker and Rod Stewart. The ball drop begins at exactly 11:59 p.m. and makes a 60-second descent down the pole to ring in 2024.

You can watch the livestream here:

Here’s a rundown of how various TV networks will be ringing in the new year:

ABC

Ryan Seacrest is back to host Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, starting at 8 p.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that he had an uneasy feeling about George Santos, facing an expulsion vote this week, before the 2022 election and even predicted to two Fox News anchors that “something is going to come out on this guy.”

In a Q&a at The New York Times’ DeadBook Summit, McCarthy said that he tried to get someone else to run in Santos’ New York district, but “he had already kind of locked down and you couldn’t beat him.” So as the House Republican leader, McCarthy did a fundraiser for him “and I’m doing it for everybody.”

“And I listened to him and I walked back and just say, ‘We shouldn’t fund this race. I don’t know what it is. But we shouldn’t fund this race.” He noted that the House GOP superPAC did not.

Then, a couple days before the election,...

The first Republican debate of the 2024 presidential election primary cycle is Wednesday, August 23 beginning at 9 p.m. Et, airing live from Milwaukee exclusively on Fox News Channel and streaming on FoxNews.com, Fox Nation and Rumble.

Fox News’ Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will moderate the two-hour debate at Fiserv Forum, the site of the 2024 Republican National Convention in July.

Wednesday is the first of two scheduled GOP primary debates so far, with the second set for September 27 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley, CA. That debate will air live on Fox Business.

Related: Donald Trump Confirms Tucker Carlson Interview As Former President Seeks To Upstage First Republican Debate

A total of eight GOP candidates have qualified for the podium at the opening debate Wednesday after meeting polling and fundraising thresholds, as well as agreeing to sign a pledge to support the party’s eventual nominee.

Cable news was again a study in contrasts on Thursday: Fox News carried a big portion of Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s testimony before a House committee, while CNN and MSNBC did not.

Kennedy’s candidacy — which seems to be embraced much more by the right than the left — also was highlighted with an interview later in the day on Fox News’ The Story with Martha MacCallum, while the political scion next week will sit for a town hall with Sean Hannity.

As a star witness before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, Kennedy’s appearance was contentious from the start. After Republicans and Democrats sparred over his testimony and he gave his opening statement, Fox News anchors then gave him high marks for his debut before the panel.

“He dispensed with his written statement. He gave it passionately from the heart.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is running as a Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential race and appeared Wednesday on Fox News, taking aim at the likely Democratic incumbent and current president, Joe Biden.

Christie targeted Biden even after “America’s Newsroom” ran graphics and discussed the fact Donald Trump is not only handily polling ahead of Ron DeSantis but leading a pack of also-rans that include Christie, who was shown as polling at a meager 2% in the Republican race.

“Record inflation, botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, sending the country into an educational tailspin because we’re excluding parents from their children’s education,” Christie reeled off, taking a page out of the DeSantis playbook before show host Bill Hemmer interrupted.

“The border,” Hemmer said, blankly.

Also Read:

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A light bulb then went off for Christie.

Andrew Ross Sorkin is the co-creator of the Showtime series “Billions,” but he isn’t really known for drama in his professional life, just financial reporting.

So it came as something of a surprise on Monday, when the CNBC and New York Times journalist got up on stage at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall to tout some of the dramatic fare that NBCUniversal was able to cobble together for the advertisers and media buyers assembled in the audience. It was all part of the industry’s annual “upfront,” when U.S. media companies try to sell the bulk of their advertising inventory before the release of their next cycle of programming.

In a typical year, audiences gathered for NBC might have expected to see Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon or a few cast members from “Saturday Night Live.” Perhaps an actor like Natasha Lyonne, starring in the Peacock series “Poker Face,...

In a year marked by unusual upfront presentations, Fox Corp.’s event on Monday afternoon might be the most unusual yet. Yes, the writers strike wreaked havoc on the fall schedule (and put a damper on the company’s scripted sizzle reels), but Fox also took the opportunity to look on the bright side, all while picketers circled outside.

“We all hope the writers strike will end soon, but we’re more than prepared to lean in to serve our audiences with a fantastic schedule of original unscripted content,” Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade told the assembled crowd.

And later on, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld referenced the strike by telling the crowd (via a live video feed) “I have the number one late night show. I also have the only late night show going right now. So you don’t have a choice,” he quipped. Gutfeld’s 11 p.m.

Fox made its annual upfront pitch to advertisers at the Manhattan Center on Monday afternoon, pushing the messages of Fox Entertainment, Tubi, Fox News, and Fox Sports, all while promising the audience that don’t worry, we’ll get you hammered soon.

Coming off of presentations hampered by the pandemic in recent years, Fox was back in nearly full force, with the writers’ strike limiting the number of network stars in attendance. The event also featured some football antics courtesy of Rob Gronkowski and some well-placed cursing by Gordon Ramsay.

Read on below for Variety’s five biggest takeaways from the Fox upfront.

A Galaxy of Stars

Most big-name actors have opted to sit out this upfront season in solidarity with the ongoing writers’ strike, so Fox used the occasion to highlight stars from the other divisions of the company. Gordon Ramsay made multiple appearances onstage over the course of the event,...

Fox News Media waved its banner during the Fox upfront Monday afternoon in New York, plugging a wide array of platforms but notably gliding past its main profit center in prime time.

Opinion shows like the one hosted by the recently ejected Tucker Carlson got only a glancing mention during the 7-minute segment. Carlson’s stunning exit earlier this spring has led to a steep and immediate drop in ratings for his former hour, though of course Fox News Channel makes a large share of its profits from distribution fees rather than relying as heavily on advertising as lower-rated rivals.

Jeff Collins, EVP of ad sales for the news division, brought onstage veteran hosts Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino. After touching on the Fox News Channel, they took ad buyers on a briskly paced tour of divisions devoted to business, weather, audio and digital news.

Fox Nation, the subscription streaming...

Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall, who was severely injured in an attack while he was reporting in Ukraine in March, gave an update on his recovery in a video message to Fox Nation’s Patriot Awards.

Hall was the recipient of the ceremony’s Courage Award.

“I wish I could be there in person to pick it up, but I can’t yet. I am doing very well now,” he said. “I’m walking a lot better. I’m seeing better. My injuries are getting better and that is all thanks to the people who came to save me. It’s thanks to the people who put me back together.

Related Story Fox News Provides More Details On How Correspondent Benjamin Hall Was Evacuated From Ukraine Related Story Networks Jump On Reports Of Missile Crossing Into Poland Amid Fears Of Escalation Of Russia-Ukraine Conflict; NATO Says Missile Likely From Ukrainian...

All the usual suspects will be on hand for Fox News Channel’s Tuesday-night coverage of the 2022 midterm elections. Viewers may see some unexpected ones as well.

Yes, Bret Baier, Martha MacCallum and Bill Hemmer will be on hand to guide the Fox News audience through the vote tallies, as will Arnon Mishkin, who leads the network’s Decision Desk. But Harris Faulkner will also take part in the coverage, and in a decidedly non-traditional way.

Most TV networks hope to inform voters about how their ballots affected the course of an election session. Fox News will do more with them. Faulkner will be stationed with as many as 25 to 30 voters from various walks of life and will be ready to quiz them on their reactions as the night proceeds. The “Voters’ Voices” group will be waiting in the studio that normally houses Greg Gutfeld’s late-night show, and Faulkner...

Broadcast networks broke into regular programming to cover the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe V. Wade, while cable networks have been virtually non-stop in providing reaction.

That will continue this evening. Rachel Maddow will host her MSNBC show, breaking from her regular schedule. Norah O’Donnell will anchor CBS Evening News from the Supreme Court. At 8 Pm, PBS will feature The End of Roe: A PBS NewsHour Special Report, with Judy Woodruff looking at the legal and cultural impact. Washington Week, hosted by Yamiche Alcindor, will focus entirely on the Roe decision and feature the Politico reporter who broke the leaked draft opinion.

That leaked opinion gave networks extra time to prepare for a momentous ruling. MSNBC, which ran commercial free for four hours after the decision, had reporters in Jackson, Ms and St. Louis, Mo, capturing the scene outside abortion clinics in two states that have so-called “trigger laws,...

When United Talent Agency revives its annual party this evening around the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., expected guests will hail from the worlds of journalism, politics, entertainment and sports. The tableau might just contain members of the next big set of TV anchors, too.

UTA has in recent months been working to convince some of the nation’s biggest TV-news outlets to consider correspondents and contributors to whom they might not have given a serious look in the past. In a different era, former Ohio Governor John Kasich, a UTA client with a dry demeanor, might not seem like someone destined to get frequent airtime after leaving office. And yet in recent months, he’s been a regular presence on CNN. Symone Sanders, the UTA client who is a former Democratic strategist and counselor to Vice President Kamala Harris, might not seem like a candidate to be an anchor,...

Fox News’ Benjamin Hall, seriously injured this week while reporting from Ukraine, is now out of the country, the network said.

“Ben is alert and in good spirits,” Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott wrote in a memo to staffers. “He is being treated with the best possible care in the world and we are in close contact with his wife and family. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.”

Scott did not provide additional details on his condition.

On Tuesday, the network confirmed that cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and Oleksandra “Sasha” Kuvshynova, who was working as a freelance consultant for the network, were killed when their vehicle was struck by incoming fire near Kyiv. Hall was with them as they reported on the Russian invasion.

A Ukrainian official, Anton Gerashchenko said that they were attacked by mortar or artillery fire by Russian forces.

Anchor Bill Hemmer told viewers that...

Update, 12:43 Pm Pt: Fox News confirmed that Oleksandra “Sasha” Kuvshynova, who was working as a freelance consultant for the network, was killed along with cameraman Pierre Zakrzewsk when their vehicle was struck by incoming fire near Kyiv.

Correspondent Benjamin Hall was in the field with them and was injured.

Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott sent out a memo to staff and wrote that Kuvshynova, 24, “was helping our crews navigate Kyiv and the surrounding area while gathering information and speaking to sources. She was incredibly talented and spent weeks working directly with our entire team there, operating around the clock to make sure the world knew what was happening in her country.”

A Ukrainian official, Anton Gerashchenko, had earlier announced that Kuvshynova had died. He said that they were attacked by mortar or artillery fire by Russian forces.

Scott said that they held off on reporting the news of...

Fox News Channel reporter Benjamin Hall was been injured while reporting outside of Kyiv, Ukraine, the network announced Monday.

John Roberts broke the news during his Monday afternoon broadcast, reading from a memo that Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott sent to the channel’s staff. “Earlier today, our correspondent Benjamin Hall was injured while newsgathering outside of Kyiv in Ukraine. We have a minimal level of details right now, but Ben is hospitalized and our teams on the ground are working to gather additional information as the situation quickly unfolds,” he said. “The safety of our entire team of journalists...

Jesse Watters, the longtime Fox News Channel personality will take over the network’s 7 p.m. hour, extending a lineup of conservative opinion hosts that now starts at 7 p.m. and lasts until midnight.

Watters will continue to serve as a co-anchor of “The Five,” the early-evening program that has recently enjoyed a viewership surge. But he will give up his weekend program, “Watters’ World.” The new 7 p.m. program, “Jesse Watters Primetime,” will launch January 24.

“Jesse’s versatility and hosting acumen has grown exponentially over the last five years, and he has developed a deep connection to the audience through two hit shows ‘The Five’ and ‘Watters’ World,'” said Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News Media. “We look forward to watching him expand his connection even further through this new solo weeknight hour.”

Watters takes over an hour that had previously been lead by Martha MacCallum and identified as news programming.

Richard Leibner, the long-serving agent who has backed some of the best-known news anchors in the U.S., is delivering some headlines of his own: He’s retiring after decades on the job.

The veteran talent representative intends to step away from his role as partner at United Talent Agency at the end of the year, according to a memo sent to staffers by Jay Sures, co-president of the agency. “Throughout his career, Richard has represented one major news figure after another, building them up, helping make them household names and playing an important role ensuring journalism always stood for something meaningful, ethical and about high quality,” Sures said.

His exit from UTA will mark the end of an era. Leibner is a clever and passionate advocate for clients, and has never been shy about delivering his opinion of the latest goings-on in the ever-churning news sector — as long as he isn’t being quoted.

Chris Wallace is leaving Fox News Channel, he announced on his program Sunday morning, and will join the CNN Plus streaming-video outlet, a move that abruptly sunders the cable-news outlet’s connection with one of its most recognized and independent journalists.

Wallace delivered the news himself, in the last minutes of his “Fox News Sunday,” which he has anchored for nearly two decades on the Fox Corporation-owned outlet. “I want to try something new, to go beyond politics to all the things I’m interested in. I’m ready for a new adventure. And I hope you’ll check it out,” said Wallace. The words will be the last he utters on the program.

CNN confirmed Wallace’s jump less than two hours after he announced his departure, and said he would lead a daily show during which he would interview newsmakers from the worlds of politics, business, sports and culture.

Rupert Murdoch’s 90th turn around the sun was feted on Thursday night in New York City as power brokers, longtime lieutenants and family members, with a conspicuous absence, gathered at Tavern on the Green for a long-delayed dinner celebration.

Murdoch, one of the most influential media barons of the modern era who is executive chairman of News Corp. and Fox Corp., turned 90 on March 11, 2021.

Media titans Barry Diller and Peter Chernin, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft, private equity titan Henry Kravis, Disney General Entertainment Content chief Peter Rice, NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell, Warner Bros. Unscripted Television president Mike Darnell, Fox News’ Suzanne Scott and Jay Wallace, Fox Entertainment’s Charlie Collier, Fox TV Stations’ Jack Abernethy, News Corp. CEO Robert Thomson and Fox Corp. chief financial officer Steve Tomsic were among the attendees.

Industry sources said the gathering was kept to about 130 people and...

Apple TV Plus debuted a trailer for “Swagger,” the upcoming drama series inspired by the life and childhood of NBA player Kevin Durant premiering with three episodes on Oct. 29. The following seven episodes will debut weekly on Fridays.

O’Shea Jackson Jr. stars as Ike, a former star player who’s become a youth basketball coach. In the series, his focus is dedicated to Jace Carson (Isaiah Hill), a 14-year-old who is one of the top ranked youth players in the nation. The cast also includes Shinelle Azoroh as Jace’s mother Jenna, Quvenzhané Wallis as another top player named Crystal, Caleel Harris as team point guard Musa, James Bingham as a player from a more affluent neighborhood, Solomon Irama as rival team enforcer Phil Marskby, Ozie Nzeribe as a less talented but more wealthy player named Royale, Tessa Ferrer as a rival coach, Tristan Mack Wilds as a shoe company...

Update, 12:05 Pm Pt: A Pentagon official said that 12 U.S. service members were killed in terror attacks outside the Kabul airport, and 15 were wounded.

Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of the U.S. Central Command, said that an unspecified number of Afghans also were killed. The Associated Press, citing an Afghan official, reported that 60 Afghans were killed and 143 others were wounded.

“The threat from Isis is extremely real,” McKenzie said, adding that the Pentagon believes that the terror group is determined to “continue attacks.”

“Our mission remains,” McKenzie said, adding that they are continuing to fly people out at the airfield.

He also said that they are prepared to take action against those who carried out the attack.

McKenzie said that the attack occurred at a gate where Afghan’s were screened to gain entry to the airfield, where more than 100,000 people had been allowed through until the attack.