NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FOX News Channel (FNC) will debut a new Saturday primetime line-up beginning January 29th with programs hosted by Lawrence Jones and Brian Kilmeade, announced Suzanne Scott, CEO of FOX News Media. Jones will host a new one-hour show entitled Lawrence Jones Cross Country airing at 10 PM/ET, while Brian Kilmeade will helm his own program from 8-9 PM/ET and Unfiltered with Dan Bongino will move to 9 PM/ET. The 8 PM/ET hour was formerly hosted by Jesse Watters who was named solo host of the weeknight Jesse Watters Primetime (debuting on Monday January 24th), while the 9 PM/ET Saturday evening timeslot was previously hosted by Jeanine Pirro who was named co-host of The Five.
The promotion renders Jones, 29, the youngest Black solo host of a program in cable news. In addition to this new role, he will continue as the enterprise reporter for the FOX & Friends franchise. Lawrence Jones Cross Country will focus on newsmakers from across the political and cultural spectrum, spotlighting the leading concerns facing Americans nationwide. Jones will frequently travel across the country to showcase a multitude of key topical stories from the issues at the border and crime in cities to the impact of Covid policies, providing an in-depth look at underserved communities.
Kilmeade will remain a co-host of FNC’s unrivaled morning franchise FOX & Friends while also hosting the three-hour daily Brian Kilmeade Show on FOX News Audio and What Made America Great on FOX News Media’s streaming service FOX Nation, which is now in its eighth season with the latest installment of the program dropping on January 26th. His new FNC weekend show will provide perspective and context to the week’s major stories with power players throughout the news landscape and an overall theme of placing country before party.
In making the announcement, Ms. Scott said, “Lawrence has been an impact player since joining the network in 2018 and we are thrilled to add his critical insights to our weekend lineup. Whether reporting from the border or diners across America to hosting primetime specials, his perspective has added depth to our programming while resonating with the audience. As one of our homegrown stars, Brian has been a wildly popular mainstay for millions of Americans across multiple platforms — from our number one rated morning franchise FOX & Friends to his hit shows on FOX News Audio and FOX Nation. We’re thrilled to add him to weekends to further expand his unique connection with our viewers.”
Jones added, “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that Suzanne has provided me over the last four years, encouraging me to travel the country and seek out the stories of everyday Americans, many of whom have been overlooked by the rest of the media. I look forward to delivering insightful, thought-provoking coverage on the key issues that really matter to the heartland of the nation.”
Kilmeade commented, “I am truly honored that Suzanne has given me another incredible opportunity at FOX News Media. My ultimate goal is to create a program that will always seek solutions rather than sow division.”
Since joining the network in 2018, Jones has become known for his signature storytelling and “man-on-the-street” segments focusing on the impact of various issues on local communities, most often in primetime on Sean Hannity’s eponymous top-rated program. He was later named enterprise reporter for the FOX & Friends franchise in May 2021 and has filled in as guest-host for the top-rated cable news morning show on both the weekday and weekend editions. Throughout 2021, Jones also served as a regular host for the nightly FOX News Primetime at 7 PM/ET.
In the summer of 2020, Jones hosted a one-hour primetime weekend special entitled One Nation which examined the state of race relations from the perspectives of civil rights activists, law enforcement officials and religious leaders. Notably, he conducted an emotional interview with the family of Davell Gardner, Jr., the one-year-old child who was shot and killed by a stray bullet while asleep in his stroller at a cookout in Brooklyn, New York. He also reported extensively from Chicago on the city’s spike in gun violence, interviewing the family of Natalia Wallace, a seven-year-old girl who was killed in a drive-by shooting on the Fourth of July. Later that year he also conducted a wide-ranging interview for FOX Nation with NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace from his home in North Carolina which spanned the start of his career in racing to his activism in the Black Lives Matter movement. A native of Garland, Texas, Jones attended the University of North Texas where he studied Criminal Justice.
Kilmeade joined FNC as a sports reporter in 1997. He was soon named to the FOX & Friends (6-9 AM/ET) role in 1998 which he has been co-hosting alongside Steve Doocy and Ainsley Earhardt. The show quickly climbed to the number one morning program in cable news within three years of his tenure and has remained there for 20 consecutive years. His nationally syndicated 9AM – 12 PM/ET radio program, The Brian Kilmeade Show, is among the most popular offerings on FOX News Audio with over 250 terrestrial radio affiliates nationwide, along with his daily show podcast which just notched its best year ever in unique downloads with 180% year-to-year growth and nearly 2 million unique listeners in 2021. He also guest hosted the weeknight FOX News Primetime throughout 2021.
During his television and radio tenure, Kilmeade has conducted long-form interviews with hundreds of newsmakers in politics, as well as celebrities and athletes, including: former President Trump, former President George W. Bush, former Republican presidential candidate Senator Mitt Romney, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Paul McCartney, Sylvester Stallone, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dana White, Mark Cuban, Drew Brees, Mike Tyson, Sammy Hagar, Lee Brice, Tilman Fertitta, Miranda Kerr and Simon Cowell, among many others. Kilmeade has also covered 20 Super Bowls throughout his career with FOX News Media.
He is the author of multiple New York Times bestselling books, including “The President and the Freedom Fighter,” "Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers," "Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans: The Battle That Shaped America's Destiny," "George Washington's Secret Six," "The Games Do Count: America's Best and Brightest on the Power of Sports," and "It's How You Play the Game: The Powerful Sports Moments that Taught Lasting Values to Americas Finest."
FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. The number one network in basic cable, FNC has been the most watched television news channel for nearly 20 consecutive years. According to Nielsen Media Research, FNC currently attracts more than 50% of the cable news viewing audience. Notably, a 2021 Nielsen/MRI Fusion report showed the network garners the largest independent audience in cable news, while FNC’s primetime hours deliver the second largest liberal audience in cable news. Additionally, a 2021 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report stated FOX News leads the news industry in both brand loyalty, engagement, and expectations. Owned by FOX Corp, FNC is available in 80 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top 10 programs in the genre.
