CNN Minus

CNN's streaming channel, CNN+, debuted last week, but it doesn't seem like much to write home about.  The programming is mostly documentaries that have been shown on CNN before, special programming  in which Fareed Zakaria interviews famous actors and musicians and Jake Tapper has a book club program, plus an interview show hosted by Chris Wallace.

Meh.

Of course, CNN charges a fee to stream CNN+, but right now  I would say that it's not worth it, though I might have different attitude later (especially if I can afford the service).  As it seems to appear, this "plus" streaming version of the Cable News Network is not cable, not much news, and, as a streaming service, it barely qualifies as a network. 

Oh, Chris!

At eleven o'clock yesterday morning, CNN's Brian Stelter announced that Chris Wallace was leaving Fox News effective immediately, with no plans other than to seek "new challenges."

Then, before Stelter's hour as host of CNN's "Reliable Sources" was up, he announced more breaking news: Chris Wallace was joining the Cable News Network's new streaming service, CNN+, which goes on the "air" in 2022.

Known for his combative questioning of public figures like his dad Mike was, Chris Wallace had long been to Fox News what Jim Cantore is to The Weather Channel; he was the only shred of legitimacy his channel could claim.  Now, with Wallace moving on to work or an offshoot of a real news network, it's becoming obvious that Fox News should rebrand itself Fox Talk.  Wallace had of late been asking tough questions of Republicans on his cable program and on his Sunday morning talk show on the Fox broadcast network (which still has no nightly newscast, thank God for that) and was increasingly showing more journalistic integrity than liberals had once given him credit for.  Now, like Shepard Smith before him, Wallace realizes Fox is no place for a real journalist.  He knows that if he wants to do hard news like his dad did, he can't stay at Fox.  He'd have to be an entertainer like his dad had once been.  But then, his dad had only been a game show host; what Tucker Carlson does probably shouldn't be called entertainment.  Unless he ever does it in an open-air stadium in Rome.

Good fro Chris Wallace.  He'll so just fine on CNN's new streaming service.  As for Fox News, well, sure, they still have Bret Baier.  But he won't be much of a fig leaf, just as no one at The But The Weather Channel could ever compensate for Jim Cantore if he ever leaves.