Signing off at the Struggling News Nation

NewsNation, the cable news outlet owned by Nexstar Media Group, continues to show signs of difficulty in capturing a consistent audience, following the announcement that anchor Ashleigh Banfield will end her news program to transition to a full-time digital content role.

Banfield's departure from the daily lineup highlights the network's ongoing struggle for viewership since its 2020 launch. The anchor's final show is scheduled for January. Her program, which originally launched in 2021 with the aim of replicating the talk format of the late CNN host Larry King, later shifted its focus to true crime content.

Banfield will now concentrate on her podcast, “Drop Dead Serious,” which will be integrated into the NewsNation brand. This strategic move emphasizes Nexstar's attempt to leverage digital platforms where content genres like true crime have demonstrated strong audience engagement.

In a statement, Banfield acknowledged this shift: "I’m excited to channel the momentum of my Drop Dead Serious podcast brand towards NewsNation’s growing digital audience. The success of true crime reporting on streaming media platforms has been transformative, and I’m looking forward to helping shape and enhance NewsNation’s multi-platform strategy in this genre."