Beloved Fox News personality Neil Cavuto announced this week that he would be leaving the network after 28 years, citing the expiration of his contract — which is up at the end of December — as the reason for his departure. He was allegedly offered a new contract, but he turned it down. With almost 30 years under his belt, it’s understandable Cavuto would be ready for a break. While he hasn’t always been the highest ratings draw, he’s a consistent voice of comfort and reason that folks have been watching since Fox was first established.
Mediaite first reported on Cavuto’s stepping down from his position as a host noting his last broadcast would be on Thursday.
“Cavuto is one of the few remaining on-air talent still with the network after joining at its inception in the late 1990s,” Mediaite revealed in its report. “A beloved presence at Fox, his exit is not the consequence of any bad blood, but rather an increasingly common industry reality: Cavuto was offered a new contract, which he declined to accept his new deal. Fox wanted him to stay on board, but a source explained that he ultimately decided to leave.”
Fox News gave a statement to Mediaite saying, “Neil Cavuto’s illustrious career has been a master class in journalism, and we’re extremely proud of his incredible 28-year run with FOX News Media. His programs have defined business news and set the standard for the entire industry. We wish him a heartfelt farewell and all the best on his next chapter.”
Mediaite also noted that Cavuto’s past tussles with President-elect Donald Trump has nothing to do with this departure. Fox is hardly unique in having personnel turnover, at least in the cable news space. CNN, for instance, has seen a number of high profile names leave recently. While some big names have seemingly left of their own accord (perhaps like Cavuto, they too rejected contracts), others, like Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon, have left under more auspicious circumstances. Most recently, CNN saw longtime contributor Gloria Borger leave. While she doesn’t quite have the 28-year tenure that Cavuto has at Fox, she was at CNN for roughly 17 years before her sudden departure.
Cavuto has always been a voice of reason, incredibly soft spoken but not afraid to ask his guests tough questions, especially as it relates to the economy. There’s no doubt he will be deeply missed. Hopefully, whatever he decides to do next, will bring him and his loved ones much success and happiness.