Shepherd Smith, who for years has dominated the cable news ratings, was rewarded with a contract, which executives close to the deal say is worth between $7 to $8 million; something unheard of in the cable news business. It approaches the pay of major network news anchors Charles Gibson and Brian Williams. Smith's contract is for a period of a little over three years.
Smith's news program airs at 7 p.m., and averages around 1.4 million nightly viewers. He usually doubles the number of people watching other cable news programs that compete against him.
Andrew Tyndall says that Smith has been “a trendsetter in bringing presentational techniques seen in nonserious TV journalism — think ‘Entertainment Tonight’ or ‘SportsCenter’ — and applying them to hard news.” Tyndall analyzes newscasts for his online Tyndall Report.
Chairman of the Fox News Channel (NWS-A), Roger Ailes said Smith is the one he wants to be in leadership whenever news breaks, saying he's his “go-to guy.”
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