Lou Dobbs joining Fox Business Network

Just about a year to the day that he left CNN, Lou Dobbs is returning to cable news, this time as host of his own show on News Corp.'s Fox Business Network.

Fox Business Network is expected to announce that it has signed Dobbs as early as Wednesday afternoon. It's the latest high-profile hire for the cable network, which launched a little over three years ago and is in 57 million homes. Although that is far fewer homes than its chief rival, CNBC, Fox Business last week managed to beat CNBC on election night, both in viewers and the key adults 25-54 demographic.

Dobbs' show will premiere in early 2011. He will also appear on other Fox Business programming.

When Dobbs left CNN last November after clashing with management there, he said some leaders had been urging him to "go beyond the role at CNN and to engage in constructive problem-solving as well as to contribute positively to the great understanding of the issues of our day."

At that time, there was speculation that Dobbs would seek some sort of political office. He had become something of a lightening rod on several issues, most prominently illegal immigration. It was his commentary on that topic that often led to fights with CNN brass, including Jon Klein, who was then president of CNN's domestic operations.

Although Dobbs played up the idea that he would enter politics, many within the media industry anticipated that he would find a new home at Fox, either with Fox News Channel or Fox Business.

Dobbs has not been off the radar for the last year. He continued his nationally syndicated radio show after he left CNN and is expected to keep that gig with Fox Business as well.

Dobbs will instantly become one of the biggest names on Fox Business. Neil Cavuto is its most prominent on-air personality. Other high-profile anchors and reporters include Charlie Gasparino and Dennis Kneale, both former CNBC staffers, and Gerri Willis, an ex-CNN correspondent who hosts a show for Fox Business.

-- Joe Flint

For the record: This post was updated to include details on Dobbs show would premiere.

Photo: Lou Dobbs. Credit: Karen Bleier / Getty Images

Comments

[What's a Girl to do]

OMG ---- I like always knew that Lou Lou was Foxy.

[John Petersen-Niedbalski]

Lou Dobbs USED to be my favorite Anchor or News Personality until he took up this illegal alien cause. He is such a HYPOCRITE - his family pays lots of money to illegals for cleaning up horse poop. He certainly belongs to the FOX VIEWS FAMILY but is now on a channel THAT NO ONE, except the employees of that channel, watch! Now the bet is who or what folds first, Lou Dobbs or the Fox Business Network!

[John from the Westside]

Everything that rolls to the right eventually ends up on something with "Fox" in the name.

[Jazz]

The song says "I see Your True Color shining Through". There is nothing wrong with being you Mr. Dobbs.

[Rodriguez]

The cantankerous old man will be right at home.

[pat]

What a bozo, good for Fox, now they have all the stupid ones.

[GoodyTwoShoes]

Whoa!

I'll bet nobody saw this coming.

[Justin]

lou dobbs to fox news? shocker of the century

[vergilius]

I guess being a jingoist liberal makes you a conservative now. And I was so excited to see Napolitano getting his show expanded to air every weekday...

Sigh.

[FighttheAmericanTaliban]

Faux is cornering the market on racists and traitors.

I am not a witch.

[EastHollywood]

He and Meg Whitman should get their own television show. They can rail against the horrible illegal immigrants while during commercial breaks, they gets fanned by them using giant palm leaves.

[Joe]

Cool.

[SDCyclist]

Yet another reason to mock and ridicule the Fox "network." Fox isn't news, folks. It's a safe-haven for extremists and political dim-wits. Lou will fit right in. He can head-up their Department of Xenophobia. He's perfect for it!

[Donald Michael Kraig]

Maybe now someone will actually watch Fox Business Network. As ol' Rupert discovered, if you throw enough money at something (he lost half a BILLION dollars on his so-called "news" network before it made money), eventually someone will pay attention, even if they are all over 60 years old.

[Mitchell]

Don Imus and John Stossel are also pretty big names at FBN.

Geraldo Rivera will not be happy with Lou Dobbs on the sister network.

[progressivesRscum]

You ignorant liberals are amusing. How utterly pathetic can you get? You morons keep complaining about Fox News yet they DAILY destroy your lovers on MSNBC.
Keep throwing your tantrums you little sissys.

[mansterEZ1]

The BIG FAT RAT crawling into the vermin hole. A perfect fit.

[McQueen]

I LIKE LOU DOBBS. NO ONE FORCES HIS EMPLOYEES TO PICK UP HORSE POOP OR SEEK ILLEGAL EMPLOYMENT IN THE USA. LIFE IS A NEGOTIATION.

[Bruce]

Like you liberal bozos expected Lou Dobbs to get his own show on MSNBC?
If FOX is so bad, how come it DWARFS all other contenders in the news business.
FOX NEWS RULES!

[commonman13]

What happened? Did the biker gangs refused to take him?

[Disenchanted]

Is it a part of Fox television's mission statement to leave no demagogue unemployed?

[R Chapman]

Let the libs whine all they want. Mr. Dobbs has a viewpoint and it is up to each of us to decide if he has something to say that is worthwhile or not. If you like it, watch, if you don't, switch off! Simple as that. Anything else is "bravo sierra", if you get my drift.

[Stanley Friedman]

Most comments don't hark back to the days when Lou Dobbs had a show devoted to financial news, with Myron Kandel as a a frequent foil. It was enjoyable then and Lou was an affable host. Where did he go wrong ?

[Johnjon]

it's called........... "I need cash!"

[Macca Doo]

Lou , you are a total hypocrite and a Disgrace to any race.