(John Ransom, Headline USA) CNN anchor Chris Wallace, who left Fox News for the new CNN+ format, is having second thoughts about the decision now that the man who hired him, Jeff Zucker, has resigned over unethical conduct allegations.
“Chris Wallace is ‘irate’ at the ousting of CNN president Jeff Zucker and his future at the news network is uncertain,” said the website Radar.
“In a move that stunned Beltway television circles,” Radar added, “the no-nonsense veteran anchor — son of legendary CBS correspondent Mike Wallace — announced he was leaving Fox News after 18 years for a prized gig at CNN’s new streaming-video outlet CNN+ in December.”
DEFECTION DiSASTER: ‘Irate’ Chris Wallace Has Meltdown Over Zucker Scandal, Said To Be At War With @jaketapper
“Wallace feels he has been stiffed. He’s got no staff, no Executive Producer & the guy he gave up a prized gig for has just walked out the door”https://t.co/5iEqnRtEyC pic.twitter.com/ATBY7mJuvs— johnny dollar (@johnnydollar01) February 5, 2022
CNN+ was supposed to launch in the first quarter of 2022, but the Zucker exit may have put those plans on hold as he was the driving force behind new channel, which will rely on subscription revenues.
“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 when he left Fox News for CNN, according to Newsweek.
It wouldn’t be the first time that a big-time Fox anchor ended up being a sunk cost for a liberal network.
Two years into a $69 million contract, NBC sacked anchor Megyn Kelly after she defended the use of “blackface” for Halloween costumes, according to CNN.
NBC paid the remaining balance of $30 million to Kelly.
“Bowing to the terms of the contract, NBC will pay Kelly the remaining sum of money, believed to total about $30 million,” said CNN.
CNN rating have plunged “an astonishing 77 percent since November, 2020, and MSNBC fell by 59 percent,” said LA Mag.
Maybe that’s why Zucker was anxious to hire some of the Fox News magic that Wallace might bring. But it’s also the reason why Wallace should be crying now.
Radar said that Wallace is currently earning $8-10 million per year at CNN.
