(SP) – According to multiple reports, Fox is leaning towards filling Bill O’Reilly’s spot on Fox News with FS1 personality Skip Bayless. Network executives believe the combative sports debater.
“Skip has proven he can get people talking and we really think he could do well in a timeslot that already has a built-in audience,” said a 21st Century Fox executive. “If you think his takes on LeBron James are strong, just imagine what he must think about Kim Jong-un.”
While Bayless has worked only in sports media for decades, there is not concern at the network that he does not have the breadth of knowledge to wade into domestic and international affairs.
“If you watch cable news on any network, knowledge is not really the main job requirement,” said a network source. “Bill O’Reilly came from Inside Edition, which is celebrity news. Skip knows sports and still says a lot of ridiculous stuff. Put him with topics he doesn’t grasp and we’re talking ratings gold.”
After Bayless, the other candidate Fox News is seriously considering for the coveted 8:00 p.m. slot is Fox NFL analyst Michael Strahan.
“It very likely will go to Strahan,” said a source. “He gets pretty much every media job. I don’t know how or why, but he does.”
