Bret Baier has signed a new multi-year deal with Fox News Channel. This in advance of what should be a humdinger of an August 6 GOP debate on the cable news network, which Baier is moderating. Baier will continue as the anchor of Special Report and the cable news net’s chief political anchor.
“We are proud that his strong journalistic instincts and political expertise will be a part of Fox News throughout our 2016 election coverage and for many years to come,” division chair/CEO Roger Ailes said in today’s announcement.
Since January 2009, Baier has served as the anchor of Special Report, airing weekdays, 6-7 PM ET, averaging nearly 2 million viewers. For the 2Q15, Special Report ranked as the third highest-rated program in cable news among total viewers and was up nearly 10% overall.
As part of his role as chief political anchor at FNC, Baier will co-anchor all 2016 election coverage and will co-moderate the first Republican presidential primary debate in Cleveland, OH, along with all subsequent primary debates. Baier served as co-anchor of America’s Election HQ during the 2012 presidential election and 2014 midterm election, and also co-moderated five Republican presidential primary debates leading up to the 2012 election.
He took over Special Report from veteran anchor Brit Hume, who is now a senior political analyst. Prior to anchoring, he was FNC’s Chief White House Correspondent, covering President Bush from 2006-2009 and served as National Security Correspondent from 2001-2006. On September 11th, he notably traveled from Atlanta to cover the attacks from the Pentagon and has remained in Washington ever since. He began his career at PBS’s WJWJ-TV, in Beaufort, SC.
Must Read Stories
Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.