ColDayNews 438 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 From the Wall Street Journal: "Fox News is preparing to cut ties with star anchor Bill O’Reilly, according to people close to the situation, after revelations that he and Fox parent 21st Century Fox settled multiple sexual harassment complaints led to an exodus of advertisers from his show and mounting pressure on the network. A final resolution on the fate of Mr. O’Reilly, host of the “The O’Reilly Factor,” could come as early as the next several days, the people said. 21st Century Fox, which will hold a board meeting Thursday, hasn’t finalized an exit agreement with Mr. O’Reilly, the people close to the situation said. Since an April 1 article in the New York Times detailing $13 million in settlements paid to five women who worked on or appeared on Mr. O’Reilly’s program, pressure has been growing on Fox News, both internally and from activists, to remove him. Mr. O’Reilly has denied any wrongdoing, saying he paid settlements to “put to rest any controversies to spare my children.” On Tuesday, an attorney for Mr. O’Reilly said the host has “been subjected to a brutal campaign of character assassination that is unprecedented in post-McCarthyist America” and added that he has “evidence that the smear campaign is being orchestrated by far-left organizations bent on destroying O’Reilly and Fox News for political and financial reasons.” Fox News-parent 21st Century Fox and Wall Street Journal-parent News Corp share common ownership. Mr. O’Reilly’s exit would be a stunning fall for a titan of cable news and would leave a prominent hole in the network’s prime-time lineup of conservative commentators. Fox News already had to replace another star early this year, Megyn Kelly, when she departed for NBC News. Her successor, Tucker Carlson, has fared well. But filling Mr. O’Reilly’s shoes will be especially difficult: His show draws some 4 million viewers a night and is consistently among the highest rated programs across all of cable. Mr. O’Reilly, 67 years old, recently renewed his contract with Fox News at a salary of more than $20 million annually, people familiar with the matter said. Initially, Fox News and parent 21st Century Fox stood by their highly-rated host. However, as advertisers fled the O’Reilly program, internal debate ensued over the pros and cons of keeping Mr. O’Reilly on the air. Since the Times published its initial report, dozens of advertisers have pulled out of “The O’Reilly Factor,” many of them shifting their ad buys to other programs on Fox News. Mr. O’Reilly hasn’t been on the air since April 11, when he ended his show by announcing plans for a vacation. While Mr. O’Reilly had planned to take this week off, the early start to his vacation wasn’t part of the original plan, people familiar with the matter said. The plan was for him to return to his show next Monday. Mr. O’Reilly’s camp said that the advertiser boycott was being driven in large part by liberal media watchdog group Media Matters and Mary Pat Bonner, a fundraiser with ties to Hillary Clinton. Ms. Bonner couldn’t be reached for comment. There were other pressure points on advertisers. Some social media users were attempting to embarrass companies that were airing ads on Mr. O’Reilly’s show, and several media outlets were calling advertisers to ask what their stance was on the matter. The drama surrounding Mr. O’Reilly follows the exit last year of Fox News Chairman and chief executive Roger Ailes, which put a spotlight on the treatment of women at the network. Mr. Ailes resigned in July after he was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women, prompting an internal investigation at the company. Mr. Ailes has denied all of the accusations. 21st Century Fox is being investigated by federal prosecutors, who are probing whether the company made insufficient disclosures about settlements of harassment claims, according to people familiar with the matter. 21st Century Fox said in a November regulatory filing that it made payments of $35 million during the quarter ending Sept. 30 to settle complaints or potential complaints related to Mr. Ailes. The settlements of interest to the investigation by the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York predate those disclosed by the company in November. The company has said it is cooperating with the investigation. Initially, insiders at Fox News and 21st Century Fox thought the revelations about Mr. O’Reilly’s settlements would fizzle out after a day or so. However, a drumbeat of protests about Mr. O’Reilly’s alleged behavior, along with new allegations of harassment and the advertiser pullout, kept the heat on. The law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, which 21st Century Fox retained to help with the Ailes matter, was brought in again to look into some of the allegations against Mr. O’Reilly. Some employees in senior positions at the company have felt it was important for 21st Century Fox and its senior management team—including Co-Chairman Rupert Murdoch and his sons, Co-Chairman Lachlan and Chief Executive James—to send a message regarding Mr. O’Reilly’s alleged conduct to the women of the company, top executives said. Rupert Murdoch took over as chief executive of Fox News after Mr. Ailes’s departure. High-level discussions have commenced about Mr. O’Reilly’s dismissal and top executives were leaning heavily in that direction, the people said. Meanwhile, 21st Century Fox is trying to win regulatory approval in the U.K. to acquire the portion of British TV giant Sky PLC that it doesn’t already own for $14.5 billion. High-profile critics of the deal have seized on the widening sexual-harassment scandal at Fox News in the U.S. as a reason to urge regulators to take a closer look at the overall company’s corporate culture in their review." Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianpr3 178 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 well then mr O'Reilly Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171373 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eat News 4745 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I'm usually one of the first to defend FNC when it comes to these witch hunts and social media shaming. However... When you keep paying off plaintiffs in secret settlements over and over again, then I say we have a problem. If O'Reilly thinks he is innocent , he should have taken it to trial, and prove these women wrong. He didn't. High profile people get sued all the time, but you don't keep paying off unless you want more problems....or unless you are guilty. Spare me the "protecting the children" bull....he could have fought it if he had a good defense. But he didn't. In a criminal case there is a "no contest plea"...it means "Guilty" in every way...it just sounds "nicer"...but it's the same. A settlement is the same in a sexual harassment case...pretty much an admission of guilt. Should O' Reilly lose his job? No... I say let him keep paying millions of dollars in settlements if he wants...sooner or later he will run out of money...or FOX will run out of money and then get rid of him. If the sponsors want to pull out of his show that's fine. Let that be on the advertisers...if the sponsors want to be bullied by social media that's on them also. Let it be a money decision...not a political one. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171403 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFTV 527 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 And he is out! Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171410 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Newsroom 1283 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Good riddance. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171411 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eat News 4745 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Now Alex Jones can take his place. Anyway... The "Outside Counsel" FOX hired felt he would be a continued laibility...meaning he would continue to cost FOX money no matter what. So be it. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171413 Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex979 119 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 OFFICIAL: the new lineup. 5pm: Eric Bolling 6pm: Special Report with Bret Baier 7pm: "The Story" with Martha MacCallum 8pm: Tucker Carlson Tonight 9pm: The Five (Beckel/Williams, Guilfoyle, Gutfeld, Perino, Watters) 10pm: Hannity [MEDIA=twitter]854769960081661953[/MEDIA] Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171415 Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlnews2 591 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 OFFICIAL: the new lineup. 5pm: Eric Bolling 6pm: Special Report with Bret Baier 7pm: "The Story" with Martha MacCallum 8pm: Tucker Carlson Tonight 9pm: The Five (Beckel/Williams, Guilfoyle, Gutfeld, Perino, Watters) 10pm: Hannity [MEDIA=twitter]854769960081661953[/MEDIA] Overall a good lineup for FNC. I just wish they would give shep his old 7pm timeslot back Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171417 Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnya2k6 171 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 And now Glenn Beck (who had a show on FNC years ago) is forecasting that with O'Reilly gone to go along with Roger Ailes' ouster and Megyn Kelly taking her talents to NBC, Fox News' days are numbered. Who knows? CNN may be back on top once again! Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171418 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breaking News 829 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Overall a good lineup for FNC. I just wish they would give shep his old 7pm timeslot back Yeah, Shep should get a primetime spot. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171419 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRolyPoly 2449 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Disappointed. Martha would've been great at 9:00pm and have The FOX Report at 7:00pm. I can't believe they're still not bringing it back. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171420 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrannical bastard 3955 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 How will Bill O'Reilly announce his departure? HE'LL DO IT LIVE!!! Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171423 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColDayNews 438 Posted April 19, 2017 Author Share Posted April 19, 2017 Disappointed. Martha would've been great at 9:00pm and have The FOX Report at 7:00pm. I can't believe they're still not bringing it back. I could see FNC-branded and Shep-anchored news updates airing during Fox network's commercial breaks. Maybe "Fox RealTime"? "Fox News Minute?" If MSNBC revived The News w/ Brian Williams, Fox can (and should) revive FR. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171425 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1537 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 OFFICIAL: the new lineup. 5pm: Eric Bolling 6pm: Special Report with Bret Baier 7pm: "The Story" with Martha MacCallum 8pm: Tucker Carlson Tonight 9pm: The Five (Beckel/Williams, Guilfoyle, Gutfeld, Perino, Watters) 10pm: Hannity Umm....wasn't The Five originally named after its 5:00pm ET time slot? And if it's named after the number of hosts, it's still wrong. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171426 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1537 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Also, do we really need two threads about this? We already have the one on the US Cable News board... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171428 Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex979 119 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Umm....wasn't The Five originally named after its 5:00pm ET time slot? And if it's named after the number of hosts, it's still wrong. Yeah... that's awkward. There will still be 5 hosts at a time (Bob Beckel and Juan Williams will rotate as the liberal voice.) I could see FNC-branded and Shep-anchored news updates airing during Fox network's commercial breaks. Maybe "Fox RealTime"? "Fox News Minute?" If MSNBC revived The News w/ Brian Williams, Fox can (and should) revive FR. Why not do an hour of live news with Shep at 11pm? That would really round out the primetime lineup. [MEDIA=twitter]854775135374626819[/MEDIA] Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171429 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weeters 1916 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Bye, bye, Bill-O! I could see FNC-branded and Shep-anchored news updates airing during Fox network's commercial breaks. Maybe "Fox RealTime"? "Fox News Minute?" We have a whole thread about how many FOX stations are trying to distance themselves from the cable network. The affiliates would never want this nor allow it. Same with a "evening news" type program that only people on this site seem to want. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171439 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyHarry 727 Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 And now Glenn Beck (who had a show on FNC years ago) is forecasting that with O'Reilly gone to go along with Roger Ailes' ouster and Megyn Kelly taking her talents to NBC, Fox News' days are numbered. Who knows? CNN may be back on top once again! One of the rare times Beck is correct. 1. Bolling - Annoying and Boring. 2. Tucker Carlson - Boring; He should have a Sunday morning show or a PBS show; I know his ratings are good but talk to me in a year or two. 3. Martha MacCallum - Fading beauty due to the ravages of age and plastic surgery; Comes across as nice (who knows if its an act or not), but can't hold my attention for an hour; Boring may be harsh, but at the end of the day that's what she is - Boring. 4. The 5 - Five stooges with nothing unique to say; Boring. 5. Sean Hannity - Annoying, talks all over the guests, but the only show that provides juicy information. Say what you want about O'Reilly, but he has the kind of presence that brings the show to life. None of them provide enough entertainment value or broadcast skill to do that. I would give the job to Geraldo or to somebody else who has that kind of a theatrical presence. I did used to like Shep, but he's been looking a little haggard lately. Besides, he's a Roger Ailes man so his days may also be numbered. The Murdoch boys seem to want to turn Fox into the Milquetoast Climate Change Channel. If they do that, they will find their viewers will slowly shrivel away. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171441 Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex979 119 Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 "The Factor" still aired tonight... but O'Reilly's name was completely scrubbed from the show graphics. Dana Perino offered a short statement wishing Bill, "the undisputed king of cable news," the very best. http://www.mediaite.com/tv/we-wish-him-the-very-best-the-factor-and-fox-news-bid-farewell-to-bill-oreilly/ Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171454 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Newsroom 1283 Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 Tucker Carlson - Boring; He should have a Sunday morning show or a PBS show; I know his ratings are good but talk to me in a year or two. He is #1 on Fox, but nobody likes him here in primetime. So who would want to wake up to him on the quietest morning of the week? lol And he's way too inept for PBS. Hell, PBS Kids is smarter than him. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171455 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 We have a whole thread about how many FOX stations are trying to distance themselves from the cable network. The affiliates would never want this nor allow it. Same with a "evening news" type program that only people on this site seem to want. This. I mean, c'mon. If there was ever a time that Fox News programming should have ran on the broadcast side, it would have been as filler for rural affiliates that hadn't set up news departments of their own in the late 1990s. But that was then, and this is now. Fox News is more likely to rebrand itself as SkyNewsUSA. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171465 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Muck 4378 Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 OFFICIAL: the new lineup. 5pm: Eric Bolling 6pm: Special Report with Bret Baier 7pm: "The Story" with Martha MacCallum 8pm: Tucker Carlson Tonight 9pm: The Five (Beckel/Williams, Guilfoyle, Gutfeld, Perino, Watters) 10pm: Hannity [MEDIA=twitter]854769960081661953[/MEDIA] Bob Beckel and Juan Williams as the neutered token liberals... still the same old groupthink mentality. Tucker keeps failing upward and the dreadfully unfunny and tasteless AF Jesse Watters gets the promotion he doesn't deserve (taking Eric Bolling's slot on "The Five" as Bolling gets to launch a clone of Tucker's show, which is a clone of both O'Reilly and Hannity). Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171466 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgie56 3307 Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 I could see FNC-branded and Shep-anchored news updates airing during Fox network's commercial breaks. Maybe "Fox RealTime"? "Fox News Minute?" If MSNBC revived The News w/ Brian Williams, Fox can (and should) revive FR. Fox Report is still on. It just airs on weekends and has been since 2013. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171468 Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Salter JR 66 Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 why not geraldo for the 8pm slot? Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171484 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mre29 1537 Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 This. I mean, c'mon. If there was ever a time that Fox News programming should have ran on the broadcast side, it would have been as filler for rural affiliates that hadn't set up news departments of their own in the late 1990s. But that was then, and this is now. Fox News is more likely to rebrand itself as SkyNewsUSA. Or Sky News America. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/15667-21cf-preparing-to-cut-ties-w-oreilly/#findComment-171488 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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