Fox News has announced a sweeping shake-up of its weekend programming, a move that both surprised audiences and signaled a bold new direction for the network. At the center of the changes is the cancellation of MediaBuzz, the long-running media criticism program hosted by Howard Kurtz for more than a decade. In its place, Fox is ushering in fresh faces and new formats, with former White House Press Secretary and Outnumbered co-host Kayleigh McEnany set to launch Saturday in America and White House correspondents Peter Doocy and Jacqui Heinrich rotating as anchors of The Sunday Briefing. The decision marks the end of an era for media criticism on television while hinting at a larger strategic overhaul still waiting to be revealed.
For Kurtz, the cancellation closes a significant chapter in his career. Joining Fox in 2013 after leaving CNN, where he had hosted Reliable Sources, Kurtz quickly became one of cable news’ most recognizable media critics. Under his stewardship, MediaBuzz was the top-rated media program for over 12 years, earning a loyal following for its straightforward approach to sensitive topics and balanced critiques of the press. “I’m extraordinarily proud of the program,” Kurtz said in a statement, emphasizing its independence and loyal audience before acknowledging that “time marches on.” Though his show is gone, Kurtz will remain at Fox News as a political media analyst, continuing to host his Media Buzzmeter podcast and contributing to Fox News Digital.
The cancellation of MediaBuzz leaves television without a single dedicated media criticism show. CNN’s Reliable Sources, Kurtz’s former program, was axed in 2022, leaving Brian Stelter out of the network before he returned as CNN’s chief media correspondent. With Fox now removing its own program, the space for televised media accountability has vanished entirely. Some see this as a troubling trend, a reflection of the broader industry’s reluctance to critique itself. Others argue it is part of a calculated pivot by Fox News, one that prioritizes more personality-driven content over traditional analysis. The absence of a media watchdog on air creates both a vacuum and a sense of mystery about what Fox’s true strategy may be moving forward.
In place of MediaBuzz, Fox is doubling down on star power and audience familiarity. Kayleigh McEnany, who joined the network in 2021 after serving as President Donald Trump’s press secretary, will now lead Saturday in America, airing from 10 a.m. to noon. Doocy and Heinrich, both fixtures in the White House press corps, will rotate as anchors of The Sunday Briefing, providing viewers with direct political insights on Sunday mornings. The network is also solidifying other parts of its weekend lineup: correspondent Griff Jenkins becomes a permanent co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, while Johnny Joey Jones and Tomi Lahren are confirmed as anchors of The Big Weekend Show, which expands to three hours on both Saturdays and Sundays.
These moves suggest Fox is leaning into a strategy of leveraging strong personalities with established followings, expanding panel formats, and creating more appointment television on weekends. McEnany, Lahren, Doocy, and Heinrich bring both political credibility and a loyal fan base, qualities that align with Fox’s brand of blending news and opinion. The decision to expand The Big Weekend Show to three hours also underscores Fox’s focus on panel-driven discussion, a format that has proven successful across the network’s weekday programming. Yet amid this reorganization, the removal of MediaBuzz still looms large, leaving observers to question what deeper motivations might be driving the network’s weekend shuffle.
Fox executives framed the shake-up as part of a long-term vision to “expand and innovate” the weekend schedule. “As we expand and innovate our weekend programming, we are proud to bring our audience unrivaled depth and expertise,” Fox News Media president Jay Wallace said. His statement highlighted Kurtz’s contributions and praised the “dynamic roster” of new weekend hosts. While the words projected confidence, they did little to dampen speculation that Fox may be preparing for an even bigger shift, possibly tied to upcoming political cycles or a rethinking of how the network engages with its audience in an era dominated by streaming and digital platforms.
Ultimately, the cancellation of MediaBuzz feels less like a conclusion and more like a prologue. The show’s absence leaves a void in media criticism, but Fox’s new slate of programming suggests the network is not merely trimming but reinventing. Kayleigh McEnany and Peter Doocy’s ascension represents a bet on familiar conservative voices who can deliver both news and opinion with equal force, while Kurtz’s move to an analyst role ensures his expertise remains within reach. Yet the unanswered question lingers: is this weekend overhaul simply about refreshing the lineup, or is it the first step in a much larger transformation? For now, Fox News has left its audience with both a sense of loss and the tantalizing hint of something more ambitious waiting just around the corner.
