Ashleigh Banfield is leaving NewsNation Primetime in favor of Podcast
Ashleigh Banfield is leaving NewsNation’s primetime lineup to focus on her own true-crime podcast, the Nexstar-backed media outlet announced Friday. She will continue to contribute to the network as well as lead a digital industry with true crime figures.
Under a new and new partnership, content from Banfield’s podcast, “Drop Dead Serious with Ashleigh Banfield,” will be made available on NewsNation. Banfield has hosted an hour on NewsNation at 10 p.m. weekdays since 2021. Her final linear broadcast will take place in January. The network will rely on a rotating slate of anchors to fill the time slot for the foreseeable future.
“Ashleigh is truly one of the best at what she does – her storytelling and credibility make her the perfect partner as we build a digital destination for true crime fans while keeping her voice at the center of our on-air coverage,” Michael Corn, president of programming and specials, said in a statement.
Banfield is the latest of NewsNation’s best-known personalities to test out new relationships with the outlet as the prospects of fortunes tied to personal digital projects beckon. Dan Abrams, one of the first big names to join the network’s lineup, left in early 2025 to focus more energy on other businesses he runs.
The network, which also stars Chris Cuomo, Elizabeth Vargas and Leland Vittert in prominent evening slots, has not named an immediate replacement for Banfield. Her 10 p.m. program, “Banfield,” also spotlights prominent crime and justice stories in the headlines.
NewsNation last renewed Banfield’s contract in 2024, noting that she “covers crime and the justice system better than anyone.”
“I’m excited to channel the momentum of my ‘Drop Dead Serious’ podcast brand to NewsNation’s growing digital audience,” Banfield said in a statement. “The success of true crime reporting on streaming media platforms has been transformative, and I look forward to helping shape and enhance NewsNation’s multi-platform strategy in this genre.”
