On Thursday, it was announced that chief legal correspondent and Fox News @ Night anchor, Shannon Bream will be the new anchor of Fox News Sunday after the former host Chris Wallace left the network for a gig at CNN+, which lasted a month before the streaming platform folded.
In a press release, the CEO of FOX News Media, Suzanne Scott announced that Bream would be taking the “helm [of] FOX News Sunday beginning September 11th.” “Shannon is an outstanding journalist, reporter, and anchor who has cultivated a strong and enduring relationship with the FOX News Media audience,” she added, noting Bream is “the first woman to anchor the program in its 26-year history.”
The press release made a point of noting that, when Bream was part of the rotational hosts that filled in after Wallace left for CNN, she “over-delivered” and brought in significantly higher ratings than Wallace did in his last year. This included a whopping 20 percent increase in viewers compared to the 2021 average.
“In January, she netted double-digit increases across the board on FNS, up 32% in total viewers (1.35 million) and 45% over the previous in the advertiser-friendly 25-54 demo (343,000), marking the highest-rated FOX News Sunday episode of 2022,” the statement said.
Adding: “In June, she ushered in week-to-week gains of 37% in the 25-54 demo, a 53% increase in the 18-49 demo along with 8% growth in total viewers. Bream also notched a 10% increase in the 25-54 demo compared to the same show last year, and the FNC airings outpaced every single CNN and MSNBC Sunday program in total viewers.”
While Wallace did make headlines with his CNN+ show Who's Talking to Chris Wallace by confronting New York Times race baiter Nikole Hannah-Jones and then-Press Secretary Jen Psaki, he put on an embarrassing display once it was announced CNN+ was being taken out back by parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.
During an interview with Hollywood producer Brian Grazer, Wallace begged him to make a movie about his interviews with former President Trump:
WALLACE: So, I have to ask a question. When we got to know each other a little better, you said to me on time that you thought there was a possible project in Trump/Wallace.
GRAZER: I did. Wow, I didn’t know you’d bring that up. Umm—
WALLACE: Well, I’m just – Did you really believe that?
GRAZER: I really believe that. Your interviews with him were perfect.
WALLACE: Well, okay. Thank you.
GRAZER: They – Because you were able to, without any chip on your shoulder, you were able to talk directly and get direct answers like a little version of that.
WALLACE: So, maybe we’ll talk after the—
GRAZER: Yeah.
WALLACE: -- the thing about going to do it.
But back to Bream, the press release says she’s still Fox News Channel’s chief legal correspondent, but a “rotation of journalists will guest anchor FOX News @ Night until a permanent replacement is named.”
