NBC Nightly News and ABC World News Tonight both reported on Gretchen Carlson‘s lawsuit filed against Fox News chairman Roger Ailes today.
The two network newscasts, watched by a combined 14 million viewers on average, produced packages on the case. “A sexual harassment scandal is rocking the world of cable news,” said Lester Holt introducing Cynthia McFadden‘s story, which aired 13 minutes into Nightly News. ABC’s story, reported by Ryan Smith, aired 18 minutes into the World News Tonight.
The network news stories followed limited cable news coverage on the case today. CNN reported the story on air twice. CNN International reported the news as well. CNBC and Bloomberg also reported the story. As of this writing, MSNBC, HLN and Fox News have not reported it.
The evening newscasts aired just as Ailes and Fox News’s parent company released separate statements on the matter.