Star business journalist Maria Bartiromo, jumping to Fox Business Network from CNBC, may also help energize the Sunday morning talk show sector at Fox News Channel, The Post has learned.
It’s unclear what time slot a Bartiromo-helmed show might occupy but sources said Tuesday the aim is to put its new star on Sunday mornings to weaken NBC’s “Meet the Press,” hosted by David Gregory.
Bartiromo is no stranger to Sunday mornings — her syndicated “WSJ Report with Maria Bartiromo” ran until December 2012.
Agents for the 46-year-old Brooklyn native are also discussing with Fox Business Network brass a weekday morning show — as well as having her appear as a back-up for Neil Cavuto’s show, sources said.
Cavuto also oversees business coverage at both Fox outlets.
Fox News is yet to confirm Bartiromo is moving to the network, though CNBC was quick to announce her departure once word leaked to the Drudge Report.
Bartiromo’s contract with NBCUniversal-owned CNBC runs until Nov. 24, and that could be one possible hold-up with Fox confirming her hiring.
Fox News declined comment.
Meanwhile, Bartiromo’s new contract is worth between $5 million and $6 million a year, sources said.
CNBC boss Mark Hoffman decided to pull the plug on its biggest brand name in order to save NBCU boss Steve Burke a big line item, a source close to the situation said.
Bartiromo expected Burke to step in and re-sign her but he, a source said, decided to defer to Hoffman, saying: “It’s on your shoulders.”
Ironically, Bartiromo’s exit deal was negotiated by agent Olivia Metzger, who had worked at NBC for 29 years in talent relations, according to her LinkedIn page.
Now the internal jockeying begins at CNBC to fill Bartiromo’s shoes. CNBC announced Kelly Evans as an interim fill-in with a roster of other CNBC anchors.