Eric Burns on Fox News Watch…
The New York Times’ Brian Stelter writes about Eric Burns departure from Fox News Watch…
Although Mr. Burns said he was surprised by his termination, he acknowledged that he had seen changes coming. Fox’s executives had recently decided that the network’s weekend ratings were not high enough, especially in the 25- to 54-year-old demographic.
Perhaps in an effort to draw younger viewers, Mr. Burns said he expected the modified show to cover Internet trends in more detail.
“But I don’t know because I don’t think anybody at Fox knows, except in general terms, that somehow they must catch up with new information sources,” he said.
Mr. Burns said Fox News had never actively promoted the show, despite pledges that it would be advertised in print.
“If that’s not evidence that they don’t want this show to be seen, I don’t know what it is,” he said.
Ms. Klinghoffer of Fox said that Mr. Burns’s assertions about advertising were “not true,” adding that “not having a contributor agreement renewed is something that’s very difficult to accept.”
“not having a contributor agreement renewed is something that’s very difficult to accept.”
Typical snipping from FOX PR
Comment by Mike Beckham — February 11, 2008 @ 3:17 am
Typical sniping? The man is talking to The New York Times, the paper that trips over itself to bash FOX. That does not make Eric Burns the credible one in this exchange.
Comment by Haile Welde — February 11, 2008 @ 5:01 am
And he acts surprised that he was let go, when in fact he was reduced from ’staff’ to ‘contributor’ a year ago? What clearer sign do you need you’re on your way out?
What makes more sense is that FOX decided a year ago to change the program, and kept him on until making plans for a replacement show.
Personally, I’ve said this before, I wouldn’t be surprised if FOX simply wanted to be rid of a host that didn’t sufficiently challenge Gabler to substantiate all his FOX-bashing. Changing the show’s focus to new media would be a plus.
Comment by Haile Welde — February 11, 2008 @ 5:08 am
Haile, do you by chance know any website design? Because word has it, FNC has one of the absolute worst in cable news. And I think if we “translate” your long posts into “code” FNC could be completely rewritten in a matter of weeks.
Comment by Terance — February 11, 2008 @ 5:23 am
Oh God, I can’t wait to see what this replacement show is going to be. I suppose while “the current talent” is unable to cover new media topics, Courtney Friel is?
And could Burns be any more right about the zero promotion the show got? In the past couple of years I can remember exactly two promos that aired. And every single time that Jane Hall appears on the Factor’s weekly media segment, does O’Reilly ever mention her regular status on News Watch? No. But he will spend five minutes reading off the long title of Bernie Goldberg’s several-months-old book. Even when Cal Thomas and Hall appeared on that segment together — which would have been the perfect time to mention their show — nothing.
Comment by SuperNoxic — February 11, 2008 @ 6:14 am
Sad. I loved “Fox News Watch” but was never quite able to figure out when it aired.
Comment by david — February 11, 2008 @ 8:22 am
I admit I have never seen the show promoted and it was by accident that I discovered it….and then became a regular viewer
Comment by wenchie — February 11, 2008 @ 8:35 am
I personally think weekend Fox News at any time (except for
Brian Wilson) is awful. Greg Jarrett, Julie Bandaras, and Jaime Colby are unwatchable for me and whoever thinks that Griffin guy with the black horn-rimmed glasses is a good mix is nuts. He is awful, just plain silly. They have had such good people in the past that they let go and have good talent now that they don’t use that I cannot figure out why they can’t figure out why their weekend news is so bad. I fall closer to the older end of the demographics they want but I find it impossible to watch these people. Bridget Quinn doesn’t need Jaimie Colby to share the reading of the news as she is fine on her own. What’s next to go - The Beltway Boys?
Comment by sophia — February 11, 2008 @ 9:05 am
I remember reading that Fox News Watch did quite well in the ratings as opposed to Howard Kurtz/Reliable Sources. So in that respect, it was a success.
I always found it entertaining and don’t see how they can’t allow it to remain on the schedule when they have hour after our of Jarrett, Courtney, Julie and the guy with the glasses, as sophia mentions above. 30 minutes of a different format like that really added a lot to Fox’s sometimes monotonous format.
Comment by Missy — February 11, 2008 @ 9:14 am
Fox News Watch and the Beltway Boys was the only tolerable hour on weekends. With the check-out line taking over the couch for what seemed like forever was too much. Now there’s no reason at all for me to watch Fox on weekends.
Comment by Dee — February 11, 2008 @ 9:41 am
Beltway Boys won’t be going anywhere, IMO. Those two guys are too valuable on other programs, so they won’t risk upsetting them by canceling their show.
I like that show… although those two guys are easily the least TV friendly people on the network. Lots of stuttering, stammering, falling over their words. Good content, not a great presentation… but not going anywhere just yet.
Comment by ImNotBlue — February 11, 2008 @ 10:38 am
They can carp about the demo all they want…I’m in the demo, and News Watch was my favorite show on FNC. This isn’t about ratings, because they weren’t all that bad, even in the demo. This is about profit, this is about advertisers not properly matched with the right show…and instead of fixing the problem and either promoting the show properly to draw in the target audience or changing the sponsors, they screw with the format and content of the show. BOR griping on air at Burns for not glove slapping Gabler and challenging him to a duel really didn’t help matters any either.
Comment by sivart — February 11, 2008 @ 10:39 am
“Typical sniping? The man is talking to The New York Times, the paper that trips over itself to bash FOX. That does not make Eric Burns the credible one in this exchange.”
So the fact that he talked to the NYT makes him all of a sudden less credible? Are you serious?
Wait ’til his contract ends, you know they’ll bury him on his way out like they do most of their talent.
Comment by notmyrealname — February 11, 2008 @ 10:45 am
And he acts surprised that he was let go, when in fact he was reduced from ’staff’ to ‘contributor’ a year ago? What clearer sign do you need you’re on your way out?
Haile: And this relates to his Friday on-air stint being dropped.
However, I do agree with Burns that in recent months the show was not actively promoted. And the shift in the time slot, plus no having re-airs also did not help.
Comment by Ira — February 11, 2008 @ 12:22 pm
KO went to bat for him earlier this week.
Comment by randy — February 11, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
KO went to bat for him earlier this week.
Comment by randy — February 11, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
Well, I’m sure that’ll help!
Comment by ImNotBlue — February 11, 2008 @ 1:59 pm
“Haile: And this relates to his Friday on-air stint being dropped.”
ira: Good point.
“However, I do agree with Burns that in recent months the show was not actively promoted. And the shift in the time slot, plus no having re-airs also did not help.”
I also agree with that. The part where I’m doubtful of Burns’ claims is, I don’t think Fox promised to promote that show in recent months. It seems to me they’ve been planning it’s demise for quite some time.
Note to Burns… if you’re going to burn your former employer, don’t do it in the New York Times. That just looks low and desperate.
Comment by Haile Welde — February 12, 2008 @ 6:28 am
Eric Burns was a far better host for News Watch. I am sorry to see Fox fill its time with trash like Red Eye and some silly female hosts like E.D. Hill who giggle all the time. Also, Fox and Friends has stooped to having females shorten their skirts and the camera spends more time of their legs than their faces. I am a conservative and hate seeing Fox follow the national trend of being too wrapped in selling good looks and sex instead of newsworthy discussions.
Comment by Marian Boone — May 31, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
PLEASE~Bring Eric Burns back ASA
P !!! “News Watch” WAS my #1 week-end news program !!!
Comment by Vicki — June 19, 2008 @ 10:30 am
Up: The Beltway Boys and Eric Burns as the moderator of Fox News Watch
Down: The weekend crew of Garrett, Banderas, Courtney, and the fellow with the glasses. The whole lot is BORING!
I agree with the previous comments stating that the Beltway Boys is the only segment worth watching on the weekends.
And why does Martha McCallum have to share the spotlight on the Live Desk? She’s a super host on her own.
Comment by Jan — September 20, 2008 @ 7:20 pm