Chris Wallace To Depart CNN After Almost Three Years At Network

Chris Wallace is departing CNN after almost three years, the network confirmed today.

Wallace joined the network in 2022, as an on-air commentator and host of a weekly talk show, Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?

Wallace told The Daily Beast that he planned to find a new home on an independent platform such as streaming or podcasting.

Mark Thompson, CNN’s CEO and chairman, said in a statement, “Chris Wallace is one of the most respected political journalists in the news business with a unique track record across radio, print, broadcast television, cable television and streaming. We want to thank him for the dedication and wisdom he’s brought to all his work at CNN and to wish him the very best for future.”

Wallace was coming to the end of a three year contract, which he signed after abruptly exiting Fox News Sunday in 2021. He had been lured to CNN by then-CEO Jeff Zucker, who saw him as one of the signature personalities on a soon-to-launch subscription streaming service, CNN+. That venture lasted just a few weeks, but Wallace’s show was moved to HBO Max and was replayed on CNN.

His departure also comes at what is seen as the end of the era of high-salaried news anchors and personalities, as networks grapple with declining budgets. While all cable networks saw a spike in audience this election cycle, they did not match some of the blockbuster numbers of 2020 and 2016.

More to come.