The word on the street is that NBC News Chairman Andy Lack wants his network to become “the next Fox News.”
According to what an insider told Page Six, Lack “believes he’s building MSNBC and NBC into the next Fox” after he hired former Fox News personalities Megyn Kelly and Greta Van Susteren.
“It seems the network wants to take a more conservative tone,” the insider said Monday. (RELATED: NBC Is Shifting Its Highly Rated ‘Today’ Lineup To Fit In Megyn Kelly)
Kelly, who is reportedly making $12 million a year, will either take over the 9 a.m. hour of the “Today” show this fall, or move into the 10 a.m. time slot and bump Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford to 9 a.m.
She left Fox News after 12 years this earlier this month, but the transition from her to Tucker Carlson has been a seamless one for Fox News. In fact, Carlson has nearly doubled her ratings in the two weeks that he’s hosted the 9 p.m. time slot.
When asked about the rumors, a rep for NBC told Page Six “the only thing Andy Lack is interested in ’tilting toward’ is even more good journalism.” (RELATED: Tucker Has Only Had Megyn Kelly’s Time Slot For 2 Weeks, But He Already Doubled Her Numbers)