Fox News Channel Signs Shepard Smith to Multi-year Deal

Veteran Fox News Channel anchor Shepard Smith has signed a multi-year deal to remain at the cable news network.

The deal calls for the network’s chief news anchor and managing editor of breaking news to extend his more than two-decade tenure. Smith, who joined Fox News at its inception in 1996, currently anchors the daily series Shepard Smith Reporting, which averaged 1.6 million viewers and 335,000 in the 25-54 demographic during the month of February, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Smith has previously anchored Fox News shows The Fox Report and Studio B, both of which ranked number one in their respective timeslots. Prior to joining FNC, Smith was a Los Angeles-based Fox News Edge correspondent, reporting on a wide range of stories for the Fox affiliate news service.

“Shepard Smith is an exemplary journalist whose skill in anchoring breaking news is unrivaled,” said 21st Century Fox and Fox News executive chair Rupert Murdoch in a statement. “His powerful storytelling on both television and digital platforms has elevated our entire news gathering process.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.