Hannity Moving to 10 p.m. Eastern; Greta at 7 p.m.

September 17th, 2013 3:07 PM

Updated below | Starting October 7, Fox News Channel host and friend of NewsBusters Sean Hannity will move to the 10 p.m. Eastern slot. Greta Van Susteren's On the Record program will take over at the 7 p.m. slot.

Reports Mike Allen at Politico:


Greta Van Susteren will officially kick-off the new line-up with her signature On the Record with Greta Van Susteren at 7PM/ET.  From there, Bill O’Reilly will continue hosting the most-watched cable news program The O’Reilly Factor at 8PM/ET.  At 9PM/ET, Megyn Kelly will debut The Kelly File while Sean Hannity will take over the 10PM/ET timeslot with Hannity for his solo hour. Chief News Anchor and Managing Editor Shepard Smith will be available throughout to insert the latest breaking news into the new programming schedule via the FOX News Deck.

As the newest edition to the line-up, The Kelly File (9-10PM/ET) will focus on late-breaking stories in a live format as well as in-depth investigative reports interspersed with newsmaker interviews. While embracing a stronger social media presence, the new program will capitalize on Kelly’s skills as a former litigator, and create a unique platform for developing angles as events unfold.

In making the announcement, Ailes said, “As the network continues to dominate with the top 13 programs in cable news, FOX News already redefined primetime viewing to extend well beyond the antiquated 8-11PM format. We’ve developed a deep bench of engaging and thought-provoking personalities that have grown with FOX News as it has evolved into the most influential and successful cable network in television. These changes will enable the network to continue setting the industry standard for years to come.”

[...]

Marking her 9PM/ET debut after The Factor, anchor Megyn Kelly said, “In 2003, I was an unhappy lawyer, and made a decision to change my life. Ten years later, I've been able to do that thanks in large part to Roger Ailes, a boss who always gives me the same directive:  ‘Be yourself and have fun.’  What a great job.  I am very grateful.”

Moving to the 10-11PM/ET timeslot, Hannity, will continue showcasing Sean Hannity’s provocative style and conservative commentary on politics and the American agenda. The show will also provide a highly interactive viewing experience utilizing tools such as viewer voting and the Hannity Live companion app, a web experience allowing viewers to gain access to exclusive content directly from the show producers in the control room. Hannity will also travel even more across America and expand his studio audience specials like the show’s College Forum.

Hannity held the number one ranking in his previous 9PM/ET timeslot for 56 consecutive months and eclipsed CNN’s Larry King Live in 2003 with Hannity & Colmes becoming the number one 9pm program in cable news. 

In commenting on the move, Hannity said, “I am very happy to be moving to 10PM. The ability to be live or on tape greatly increases the flexibility of the show and offers me, after 17 years, the opportunity to be home at night with my family.”

Update (15:13 EDT): As former NewsBuster Lachlan Markay, now with the Washington Free Beacon,  observed, "Fox News now has more female primetime hosts than any other cable news network." No word yet about the reaction from MSNBC, the network that brought you an obsessive focus on conservatives' alleged "war on women."