At present there is better than a 50-50 chance he will be let go due to a mainly New York Times report that the Fox New Channel and Bill O’Reilly personally paid thirteen million dollars to five woman who accuse O’Reilly of sexual conduct while working with them But, there is much controversy surrounding the story. Such as it is old news first reported 2004. And many O’Reilly supporters at the network agree it was consensual. Women seeking advancement of their careers on O’Reilly’s programs and Fox News as well. Big time sponsors have pulled their commercials from the number one cable news program for eighteen years. Often his program is number one on ALL cable channels with as many as close to four million viewers recently even when the scandal news had already surfaced.. Two and a half times the combined ratings of MSNBC and CNN. Some of the payments confirmed. Only one source confirmed and it is a dubious one.
It’s Wendy Walsh, who has publicly accused O’Reilly of sexual advances saying she was coming forward to protect future women. That’s a B.S line. More likely she was paid by competitors. She admits no sex was involved. Just hints. However, her emails to O’Reilly have been shown that praise him for all he did for her being on his program often and getting her work on other programs such as The View. Walsh is the one who kicked this issue into high gear.
Here’s the problem the mammoth New Corp company faces. Bill O’Reilly’s program is the lead in for all Fox News prime time shows. This is critical. For instance, a news program at 10 or 11 PM may just be mediocre, but the entertainment program right before it may have such a huge audience that it keeps viewers tuned to that channel. Finding a replacement for O’Reilly would be extremely difficult. Tucker Carlson just isn’t going to cut it. Nor Hannity. Their prime time dominance would likely be badly hurt if not beaten. Fox News is responsible for 20% of 21st Century Fox profits.
On the other hand, here is likely the reason solidifying his release. 20th Century Fox, headed by the son of billionaire founder Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch has a fourteen billion dollar buyout pending for the remaining interest in European satellite giant SKY. This is European broadcasts that Fox has been coveting to purchase for years. They have failed before due to negative publicity from Murdoch’s newspapers printing false scandal articles. It tainted everything. The O’Reilly issue MAY jeopardize matters. But, it is not clear if O’Reilly is the issue.
Word is Rupert Murdoch wants O’Reilly to stay. His sons Lachlan and James want him gone. The board is scheduled to meet Thursday. It might be decided at that meeting. O’Reilly attorney, Marc Kasowitz says “Mr. O’Reilly is subject to a brutal campaign of character assassination that is unprecedented in post McCathyist America.” “There is evidence that the smear campaign is being orchestrated by far left organizations bend on destroying Fox News and Bill O’Reilly.” Says Claire Enders, London based analysis “Not one broadcast would pass the ‘fit and proper’ test.” Says top PR and marketing wizard Scott Tarter “Some time off maybe the most useful strategy.”
Jacksjargon believes the firing of Bill O’Reilly would be asinine. Fox News slashing their wrist’s. First, this deal with SKY satellite news of Europe is still a POSSIBILITY. No guaranty. Look at it this way…you fire a man who made you and still keeps you on top of all cable news channels by a huge margin. He has made his company billions and would continue to do so. True, nobody is irreplaceable. But, Bill O’Reilly is a rarity. Prime time will be devastated for Fox News. Faithful followers will be furious. Sponsors will return in time. 3.5 to 4 million viewers per night is irresistible. What has actually been proven? Still unclear what has transpired. Would it not have been a terrific idea for CNN and MSNBC to hatch this plan in cooperation with the New York Times. The liberal media will do anything to destroy Fox News. And O’Reilly is the key. Put him out to pasture for a while such as Brian Williams, who we know lied on stories many times. Or Ed Henry was banished after his scandalous affair made Fox News look bad. But, fire him? Lose a huge portion of the 20% profit his program earns for the company? It’s nuts.
Television suicide. If Fox News wants to can someone…be it Shepard Smith. Arrogant, pompous, opinionated on what is supposed to be a straight news show. My mother had a saying…”this guy is in love with himself.” It’s Shepard Smith. Not Bill O’Reilly.
Jacksjargon…stay tuned.