Former Fox News anchor Shepard Smith, who abruptly departed Fox News in October, 2019, is joining CNBC, where he will become “chief general news anchor” and host a one-hour evening newscast.
CNBC announced on Wednesday that Smith is joining the network. In its announcement, the network said, in part:
Smith will anchor a new one-hour evening news program titled “The News with Shepard Smith,” airing Monday through Friday at 7pm ET. The newscast, which will launch in the Fall, will cover the most significant news stories of the day and will feature the well-respected, fact-based storytelling that has been the hallmark of his 30-year career. Smith will also assume the new roles of CNBC’s Chief General News Anchor as well as Executive Editor of “The News with Shepard Smith.”
“I am honored to continue to pursue the truth, both for CNBC’s loyal viewers and for those who have been following my reporting for decades in good times and in bad,” Smith said in a press release.
Translation: “Hey all you Fox viewers who are just as fed up with Fox News as I was! C’mon over! The news is fine on NBC and its various left-leaning networks! Golly gee folks, c’mon over!”
CNBC Chairman Mark Hoffman echoed Smith’s statement, focusing on the ex-Fox host’s “honest fight” to report “the truth.”
We aim to deliver a nightly program that, in some small way, looks for the signal in all the noise. We’re thrilled that Shep, who’s built a career on an honest fight to find and report the facts, will continue his pursuit of the truth at CNBC.
Former Fox News anchor Shepard Smith joins CNBC as chief general news anchor with a new evening show. https://t.co/rc7ZtZZPnl
— CNBC (@CNBC) July 8, 2020
Prior to Smith’s abrupt departure from Fox News, his relationship with Donald Trump — back and forth in the media — had deteriorated to the point of both guys taking shots at the other on a regular basis.
As we reported in September, a feud erupted between Smith and Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson over Trump’s call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which he asked the Ukrainian to “look into the Bidens” — which ultimately led to Trump’s impeachment by the House.
During a segment on his show, Carlson, along with contributor and lawyer Joe diGenova, blasted both Smith and Fox News contributor Andrew Napolitano over their comments about the Trump-Zelensky call. 15 days later, Smith announced he was leaving the network.
Fox News’ Tucker Carlson and lawyer Joe diGenova blast leftist Fox News host Shepard Smith and Fox News contributor Andrew Napolitano pic.twitter.com/2M86K0MR8O
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) September 26, 2019
Smith was all smiles as he announced his departure from Fox News at the end of his final show on Friday, October 11, 2019.
It should be interesting to watch the developments as they unfold on Smith’s new show, as well as on the entire CNBC nighttime lineup. The New York Times reported in May that NBCUniversal’s new chief executive, Jeff Shell, is weighing a “right-turn” for the network.
How shocked would Smith be if he one day discovered that he had jumped out of the frying pan, only to land in the fire? Bummer, dude.
