Fox News has been making many deals lately, as Thursday's New York Times notes: Bill O'Reilly was just signed for over $10 million a year, Sean Hannity recently signed a multi-year contract renewal, Shep Smith re-upped for $8 million/year last year, and the network just lured Headline News' Glenn Beck.
But amidst this dealmaking, Huffington Post hears that one Fox News personality was left in the dust: "Fox & Friends" co-host Brian Kilmeade, whose recent contract negotiations didn't go quite as smoothly as the others.
According to sources, Kilmeade attempted to play hardball in his latest contract renewal negotiations and overplayed his hand with a series of ridiculous demands. We're told Fox News executives called his bluff and shut down negotiations with his agent, CAA's Alan Berger (who also represents Katie Couric and Erin Burnett). Within hours, Kilmeade and Berger returned with their tails between their legs and their hat in their hands, and Kilmeade signed on to another contract with only a nominal raise.
When reached for comment, a Fox News spokesperson would not confirm the report, citing the network's policy of not commenting on contract negotiations, but said, "Brian continues to be a valued member of the top morning show on cable." "Fox & Friends" is drawing more viewers than its two cable competitors, CNN's "American Morning" and MSNBC's "Morning Joe," combined.
Kilmeade is perhaps most widely known for walking off the "Fox & Friends" set after a heated exchange about Barack Obama in March.