Neil Kabuto, the anchor originally hired by Fox News in 1996, is leaving the network, another casualty of cost-cutting efforts in the TV news business.
Mr. Kabuto, 66, will make his final appearance on the network Thursday on his long-running business-oriented daily show “Your World.” His current contract ends at the end of this month.
Mr. Kabuto chose to leave after being offered a new contract, likely with a lower salary, said the people, who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
“Neil Kabuto’s illustrious career has been a masterclass in journalism, and we are extremely proud of his 28 years at Fox News Media,” the company said in a statement confirming the anchor’s departure. mentioned in. “His shows defined business news and set standards for the entire industry.”
Prominent anchors in the TV news industry are being asked to take pay cuts due to declining ratings and income. NBC’s Today’s Hoda Kotb and CNN’s Chris Wallace both chose to leave their positions rather than take new contracts at lower pay.
Mr. Kabuto presented 12 hours a week on Fox News and its sister channel, the Fox Business Network, where he also served as managing editor. He was a popular person among his colleagues.
Kabuto was one of the few Fox News anchors to frequently criticize President-elect Donald Trump, but that didn’t necessarily please the station’s conservative audience, which makes up a large portion of its audience.
The anchor had a sense of humor about viewers’ love-hate relationship with him. When he returned after a long sick leave, he read messages from viewers who were disappointed in his return.
Throughout his career, Kabuto has battled many health issues over the years. He has multiple sclerosis, underwent open heart surgery in 2016, and is also a cancer survivor.
He was a former anchor at CNBC when it launched in 1989. He bonded with Roger Ailes while running the NBCUniversal-owned business news network, and followed the executive to Fox News when CNBC launched in 1996.
Mr. Kabuto became the lead anchor for the Fox Business Network when it launched in 2007. In addition to Fox News’ daily and weekend programming, he helmed the network’s daytime show “Kabuto: Coast to Coast.”
No replacement for Mr. Kabuto has been named and the program will continue. A permanent replacement will likely emerge from within the network.
Kabuto moderated the second Republican presidential primary debate in 2015, which drew the largest audience in Fox Business Network history.
