Fox News prizes stability. But right now the proverbial ground there is shaking as a result of the Roger Ailes sexual harassment scandal.

Greta Van Susteren's sudden departure from the network is just the latest aftershock. Uncertainty abounds -- not so much about the business, which remains rock solid, but about its broadcasters.

Fox's parent company has settled with Gretchen Carlson and several other women who accused Ailes of harassment. But at least one lawsuit is still outstanding.

The network has holes to patch at 2 p.m., Carlson's old time slot, and 7 p.m., Van Susteren's hour. Several other reporters and commentators are also heading for the exits. And the contracts of Fox's biggest stars are coming due soon.

One of those stars, Megyn Kelly, just hired a personal publicist to help her navigate through a book launch and a contract negotiation. Kelly will surely be asked about Ailes during her book tour in November.

That's just one of many reasons why the Ailes aftershocks will continue to be felt after the presidential election.

This is the most tumultuous time in the history of the network, which turns 20 next month.

Two longtime executives, Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy, were named co-presidents last month. The two men, along with their boss Rupert Murdoch, are figuring out what a post-Ailes Fox News looks like.

So far it's been mostly about subtraction. Van Susteren is just the highest profile departure; weekend "Fox & Friends" co-host Anna Kooiman said goodbye on Sunday, citing her husband's impending move to Australia.

"Fox & Friends" meteorologist Maria Molina signed off on Tuesday, citing a move to Michigan to pursue her Ph.D.

More than half a dozen Ailes lieutenants have also left since July 21, the day Ailes resigned under pressure.

Such turnover, both on air and off air, is highly unusual at Fox.

Some of the departures would have happened anyway -- political analyst Kirsten Powers, for instance, moved from Fox to CNN last month. But other talent changes are connected to the end of Ailes' tenure. Ailes' successors decided to let longtime contributor Bo Dietl's contract expire over the summer.

Dietl, the founder of a private investigations firm, reportedly conducted P.I. work for Ailes.

Other hosts and commentators who were especially close to Ailes are also likely to leave in the coming months.

In a strange twist, lawyer and Fox News contributor Susan Estrich is one of Ailes' personal lawyers in the harassment suits. Estrich's bio is still listed on Fox's web site.

Van Susteren's bio and blog were deleted just as soon as Fox announced her departure on Tuesday. The swift and bitter breakup was the result of a failed negotiation by Van Susteren and her husband John Coale.

Coale said Tuesday that there is "possible litigation in the future" between Van Susteren and Fox.

By removing her from the airwaves immediately, Fox News executives were sending a message: that no one host or commentator or reporter is bigger than Fox as a whole.

"We have a deep bench" is a mantra among the bosses. And it is accurate. But the network faces a big challenge next year when the contracts for all three prime time hosts -- Kelly, Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity -- are set to expire.

Even before then, Shine and Abernethy have to find a new host for Van Susteren's pivotal time slot, which leads into O'Reilly and the rest of prime time. Veteran anchorman Brit Hume is taking over the time slot, but only through Election Day.

On the bright side for Fox, the talent revolt by Ailes loyalists that was rumored back in July never actually transpired.

Van Susteren is the only host known to have exercised the "key man clause" in her contract that allowed her to follow Ailes out the door.

But many Fox hosts and reporters are still eager to find out what's going to change -- and what won't -- at the network.

Fox's high ratings and even higher profits depend on a consistent editorial tone and a loyal audience.

There was, at least, one bit of good news for Fox on Tuesday. Longtime 4 p.m. host Neil Cavuto, who had to take a medical leave in June for open heart surgery, returned to the airwaves.</s>Greta Van Susteren is out as a nighttime host on Fox News Channel, replaced temporarily by Brit Hume starting Tuesday.

Fox did not publicly explain Van Susteren's abrupt exit after 14 years, although a person close to the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity described it as a financial disagreement. Van Susteren was not immediately available for comment, and the news wasn't reflected on her popular blog or Twitter feed.

The Washington-based lawyer came to Fox from CNN 14 years ago. For several years, her "On the Record" program aired at 10 p.m. ET, but moved to 7 p.m. when Fox gave a prime-time show to Megyn Kelly.

Hume is a senior political commentator for Fox. He said he's taking on Van Susteren's show through the election.

Fox's co-presidents, Jack Abernethy and Bill Shine, said in a statement that "we are grateful for Greta's many contributions over the years and wish her continued success."</s>Brit Hume, a veteran journalist who spent more than a decade as a senior news executive in Fox News' Washington bureau, will take over her 7 p.m. slot on the 21st Century Fox-owned cable-news network at least through the election. He will appear this evening, the network said Tuesday.

Van Susteren could not be reached for immediate comment. Her husband, John Coale, an attorney who has worked as her agent in the past, could also not be reached for immediate comment." In a statement released on Twitter, Van Susteren said "Fox has not felt like home to me for a few years now, and I took advantage of a clause in my contract which allows me to leave now. The clause had a time limitation, meaning I could not wait." Van Susteren last revised her contract with Fox News in May of 2013. A person familiar with the situation came about as the result of a "financial disagreement."

Her departure takes place as speculation rises that 21st Century Fox, the network's parent, is eager to distance the outlet from the culture instilled there by Roger Ailes, its former chief, who departed in the wake of an internal investigation spurred by charges of sexual harassment levied in a lawsuit by former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson. Van Susteren was one of several Fox News anchors who initially rose to Ailes' defense, noting that she had not encountered any sort of harassment while working at the outlet. "Let's first get something straight: I did not sexually harass anyone (of course.). And second, I did not know about any sexual harassment and keep it secret (of course.)," she said on her Fox News blog, "Gretawire," in August.

A Fox News report stated that Van Susteren had asked to renegotiate her contract with the network in the wake of Ailes' departure. Some on-air staffers have a "key man" clause that tied their employment with the network to Ailes' tenure there. Van Susteren's departure creates the first big programming challenge for Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy, the network's new co-presidents, who were elevated to those roles after Ailes left. During Ailes' tenure, Fox News rarely made big shifts in its primetime lineup. One of the few involved launching Megyn Kelly at 9 p.m. in 2013.

Van Susteren rose to prominence as a criminal defense attorney and civil trial lawyer who parlayed appearances as a legal analyst on CNN during the infamous trial of former football player and actor O.J. Simpson into a hosting stint. Van Susteren co-hosted the show "Burden of Proof" with Roger Cossack between 1995 and 2001. She also anchored a primetime program, "The Point," on CNN starting in 2001.

She joined Fox News Channel in 2002, and began anchoring "On The Record." In 2013, her Washington D.C., based primetime program was moved to 7 p.m. in the wake of a primetime shuffle that welcomed the launch of Megyn Kelly's program in Van Susteren's original time slot. She held forth there ever since, until Tuesday's announcement.

"We are grateful for Greta's many contributions over the years and wish her continued success," Abernethy and Shine said in a prepared statement.

Hume is expected to focus on political coverage through November and the end of the current race for U.S. President. Hume previously served as the anchor of "Special Report," and stepped down in December 2008 after more than 10 years anchoring the program. Hume also served as the Washington managing editor and was responsible for overseeing news content for Fox News' Washington bureau. He anchored all network coverage for every presidential election from 1996 to 2008. Before joining FOX News in 1996, Hume was with ABC News for 23 years, serving as chief White House correspondent from 1989 through 1996.

As for Van Susteren, she may have another stop to make in her career trajectory. "I hope to continue my career in broadcasting," she said.</s>Veteran Fox News anchor Greta van Susteren is leaving the network after more than 14 years.

Van Susteren, who hosted shows for the network across different time-slots since 2002, will be replaced by senior political analyst Brit Hume immediately on On the Record, a statement read.

The network's co-presidents Jack Abernethy and Bill Shine said in the statement: 'We are grateful for Greta's many contributions over the years and wish her continued success.'

The statement went on to describe Hume, who will be at the helm of the show until the end of the election, as 'the ideal choice to host a nightly political program'.

Van Susteren's abrupt departure is the result of a 'financial disagreement', Variety reports.

A Fox News report says the host tried to renegotiate her contract with the network after disgraced former president Richard Ailes left the network, however they were deadlocked so van Susteren decided to depart.

However, sources close to the situation told New York Magazine the hasty exit was due to van Susteren becoming 'troubled by the culture' Ailes created at the network.

Yes, I have left the Fox News Channel. On Thursday night, I made my decision and informed Fox News of my decision that I was leaving Fox News Channel per my contract. Fox has not felt like home to me for a few years and I took advantage of the clause in my contract which allows me to leave now. The clause had a time limitation, meaning I could not wait. I love my staff, I love my colleagues, and I love the crews. That is the hardest part of this decision as they are wonderful people. And most of all? I love the viewers -- even the ones who have gotten mad at me over the years and taken swipes. I hope to continue my career in broadcasting.

Van Susteren herself released a statement on Tuesday shortly before noon, explaining her exit.

'Yes, I have left the Fox News Channel,' it read. 'On Thursday night, I made my decision and informed Fox News of my decision that I was leaving Fox News Channel per my contract.

'Fox has not felt like home to me for a few years and I took advantage of the clause in my contract which allows me to leave now.

'The clause had a time limitation, meaning I could not wait. I love my staff, I love my colleagues, and I love the crews. That is the hardest part of this decision as they are wonderful people.

'And most of all? I love the viewers -- even the ones who have gotten mad at me over the years and taken swipes.

'I hope to continue my career in broadcasting.'

The 62-year-old's departure was announced on Tuesday morning, the same day it was revealed Fox News will pay $20 million and issued a public apology to settle former Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson's lawsuit against Ailes.

'We sincerely regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect that she and all our colleagues deserve,' the statement from 21st Century Fox read.

Carlson issued a public statement through 21st Century Fox, saying she was 'gratified' with the 'decisive action' on Ailes.

'I’m ready to move on to the next chapter of my life in which I will redouble my efforts to empower women in the workplace,' she said.

FOX News Channel's (FNC) senior political analyst Brit Hume will take over as anchor of On the Record (7PM/ET) starting Tuesday, September 6th and running through the election, announced the network's co-presidents Jack Abernethy and Bill Shine. Current host Greta Van Susteren will depart the network after 14 years. In making the announcement, Abernethy and Shine said in a joint statement, 'As one of the best political analysts in the industry, Brit is the ideal choice to host a nightly political program while the most dynamic and captivating election in recent history unfolds. Having Brit at the helm of this show will enable FOX News to continue on track to have its highest-rated year ever as the network dominates the cable news landscape.' Commenting on Van Susteren's departure, Abernethy and Shine jointly said, 'We are grateful for Greta's many contributions over the years and wish her continued success.' Hume added, 'I am happy to take on this assignment for the balance of this extraordinary election. My FOX News colleagues have set a high standard for political coverage which I'll do my best to uphold. I'm honored to be asked.' As FNC's senior political analyst, Hume has provided in-depth coverage and analysis of all major political events and covered every presidential election since assuming the role in 2008. Previously serving as the anchor of Special Report, Hume stepped down in December 2008 after more than 10 years anchoring the program. Under his leadership, Special Report was the highest-rated political program on cable television. In this capacity, Hume also served as the Washington managing editor and was responsible for overseeing news content for FOX News' Washington bureau. He also anchored all network coverage for every presidential election from 1996-2008. Before joining FOX News in 1996, Hume was with ABC News for 23 years, serving as chief White House correspondent from 1989 through 1996. During his tenure, he contributed to World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, Nightline and This Week, as well as various specials for the news division. Hume joined ABC in 1973 as a consultant for the network's documentary division, moving on to the role of Washington correspondent in 1976, and later Capitol Hill correspondent and reported on Congress until 1988. Earlier, Hume reported for United Press International, beginning his career as a newspaper reporter with The Hartford Times and the Baltimore Evening Sun. He has received numerous honors and awards, including the 2003 Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism from the National Press Foundation and a 1991 Emmy Award for his coverage of the Gulf War. The author of two books 'Inside Story' and 'Death and the Mines,' Hume was named 'The Best in the Business' by the American Journalism Review for his extensive news coverage of the White House. FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service dedicated to delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. A top five cable network, FNC has been the most-watched news channel in the country for more than 14 years and according to a Suffolk University/USA Today poll, is the most trusted television news source in the country. Owned by 21st Century Fox, FNC is available in more than 90 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top ten programs in the genre.

In exchange, Carlson has agreed to drop the lawsuit against Ailes and will not bring up any new suits against the company or any of its employees.

The announcement of van Susteren's departure comes after the former host stood by comments she made about the ex-Fox News CEO in an interview shortly after he was hit with a sexual harassment lawsuit, but denied ever defending the man.

'I did not defend Roger Ailes nor did I condemn him. I just stated what I knew or did not know. Period,' said Van Susteren in a statement posted to her personal website.

However, Van Susteren had earlier discredited Carlson's claims in an interview with People.

'People come to me because I've been there so long,' said Van Susteren, speaking less than 24 hours after Carlson's lawsuit was filed in a New Jersey court.

'That's why this doesn't have any ring of truth to me. I would have heard it. People don't keep things silent.'

Van Susteren also described Carlson as 'a disgruntled employee' and said that after seeing that Carlson's show had been cancelled she, as a lawyer, 'thought she got angry.'

She then added: 'I deal with Roger Ailes often. I've often been alone with Roger Ailes in his office over the course of 15 years and I've never seen anything like what I'm reading about in the papers and the magazine.'

Later in the interview Van Susteren paint Carlson as ungrateful, saying 'most people, man or woman, would give anything to have had the air time [Carlson] had on Fox & Friends.'

Van Susteren closed out the interview by saying: 'If Roger Ailes were how he's described, there's no way I would've stuck around. I don't feel like putting up with that stuff and I wouldn't.'

Her replacement as host of On the Record has also tweeted his support of Ailes in recent months.

'Here's another suggestion. Why didn't she quit & sue instead of suing only after she got fired?' Hume tweeted on July 7.</s>Fox News prizes stability. But right now the proverbial ground there is shaking as a result of the Roger Ailes sexual harassment scandal.

Greta Van Susteren's sudden departure from the network is just the latest aftershock. Uncertainty abounds -- not so much about the business, which remains rock solid, but about its broadcasters.

Fox's parent company has settled with Gretchen Carlson and several other women who accused Ailes of harassment. But at least one lawsuit is still outstanding.

The network has holes to patch at 2 p.m., Carlson's old time slot, and 7 p.m., Van Susteren's hour. Several other reporters and commentators are also heading for the exits. And the contracts of Fox's biggest stars are coming due soon.

One of those stars, Megyn Kelly, just hired a personal publicist to help her navigate through a book launch and a contract negotiation. Kelly will surely be asked about Ailes during her book tour in November.

That's just one of many reasons why the Ailes aftershocks will continue to be felt after the presidential election.

This is the most tumultuous time in the history of the network, which turns 20 next month.

Two longtime executives, Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy, were named co-presidents last month. The two men, along with their boss Rupert Murdoch, are figuring out what a post-Ailes Fox News looks like.

So far it's been mostly about subtraction. Van Susteren is just the highest profile departure; weekend "Fox & Friends" co-host Anna Kooiman said goodbye on Sunday, citing her husband's impending move to Australia.

"Fox & Friends" meteorologist Maria Molina signed off on Tuesday, citing a move to Michigan to pursue her Ph.D.

More than half a dozen Ailes lieutenants have also left since July 21, the day Ailes resigned under pressure.

Such turnover, both on air and off air, is highly unusual at Fox.

Some of the departures would have happened anyway -- political analyst Kirsten Powers, for instance, moved from Fox to CNN last month. But other talent changes are connected to the end of Ailes' tenure. Ailes' successors decided to let longtime contributor Bo Dietl's contract expire over the summer.

Dietl, the founder of a private investigations firm, reportedly conducted P.I. work for Ailes.

Other hosts and commentators who were especially close to Ailes are also likely to leave in the coming months -- not necessarily by choice.

In a strange twist, lawyer and Fox News contributor Susan Estrich is one of Ailes' personal lawyers in the harassment suits. Estrich's bio is still listed on Fox's web site.

Van Susteren's bio and blog were deleted just as soon as Fox announced her departure on Tuesday. The swift and bitter breakup was the result of a failed negotiation by Van Susteren and her husband John Coale.

Coale said Tuesday that there is "possible litigation in the future" between Van Susteren and Fox.

By removing her from the airwaves immediately, Fox News executives were sending a message: that no one host or commentator or reporter is bigger than Fox as a whole.

"We have a deep bench" is a mantra among the bosses. And it is accurate. But the network faces a big challenge next year when the contracts for two of its remaining prime time hosts -- Kelly and Bill O'Reilly -- are set to expire.

Fox's 10 p.m. host, Sean Hannity, is under contract until 2020.

More urgently, Shine and Abernethy have to find a new host for Van Susteren's pivotal time slot, which leads into O'Reilly and the rest of prime time. Veteran anchorman Brit Hume is taking over the time slot, but only through Election Day.

On the bright side for Fox, the talent revolt by Ailes loyalists that was rumored back in July never actually transpired.

Van Susteren is the only host known to have exercised the "key man clause" in her contract that allowed her to follow Ailes out the door.

But many Fox hosts and reporters are still eager to find out what's going to change -- and what won't -- at the network.

Fox's high ratings and even higher profits depend on a consistent editorial tone and a loyal audience.

There was, at least, one bit of good news for Fox on Tuesday. Longtime 4 p.m. host Neil Cavuto, who had to take a medical leave in June for open heart surgery, returned to the airwaves.

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that Sean Hannity's contract was set to expire in 2017. It actually extends through 2020.</s>NEW YORK (AP) — Greta Van Susteren is out as a nighttime host on Fox News Channel, replaced temporarily by Brit Hume starting Tuesday.

Fox did not publicly explain Van Susteren's abrupt exit after 14 years, although a person close to the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity described it as a financial disagreement. Van Susteren was not immediately available for comment, and the news wasn't reflected on her popular blog or Twitter feed.

The Washington-based lawyer came to Fox from CNN 14 years ago. For several years, her "On the Record" program aired at 10 p.m. ET, but moved to 7 p.m. when Fox gave a prime-time show to Megyn Kelly.

Hume is a senior political commentator for Fox. He said he's taking on Van Susteren's show through the election.</s>A sharp knock on the door signaled that Greta Van Susteren's time on Fox News Channel was over.

A courier arrived at Van Susteren's Washington, D.C. home at 9 a.m. Tuesday, hand-delivering two letters that said that Van Susteren "was being taken off the air" immediately, according to her husband, John Coale, who is a high-profile Washington lawyer.

Van Susteren was already planning to leave, but she thought she would be hosting her 7 p.m. program "On the Record" for a few more weeks.

Yanking her off the air without a chance to say goodbye was "a bit immature," Coale remarked.

It was also a message from Rupert Murdoch.

Van Susteren has been one of the top anchors at Fox News for the past 14 years.

Murdoch, the patriarch of Fox's parent company 21st Century Fox, disliked her recent attempt to renegotiate her contract, and the unusual courier visit was a result of that, said one of the sources interviewed for this story.

The messy breakup is the latest sign of tension -- "chaos," according to Coale -- behind the scenes at Fox News.

Coale said Tuesday afternoon that there's "possible litigation in the future" between Van Susteren and Fox. He declined to elaborate.

The network announced her departure less than an hour after the courier arrived. Van Susteren was not quoted in the press release.

Fox then deleted the "On the Record" web site, Van Susteren's biography, and her pioneering Gretawire blog -- essentially erasing her from FoxNews.com.

So Van Susteren took to Facebook to explain her exit.

Fox "has not felt like home to me for a few years and I took advantage of the clause in my contract which allows me to leave now," she wrote.

That clause is known as a "key man clause." It was triggered by Fox News chief Roger Ailes' resignation in late July amid a sexual harassment scandal. Once Ailes left, Van Susteren had a chance to leave too.

The sources said Van Susteren sought to renegotiate the terms of her contract -- and asked for a big bump in pay -- after Ailes resigned.

Fox executives refused to negotiate, one of the sources said.

There was a "financial disagreement," another one of the sources said.

Van Susteren was motivated to leave in part because she had been unhappy and uncomfortable with the way Ailes ran the network the past few years, and with the way the network was perceived, two of the sources said.

Even while vocally defending Fox in public, she had concerns in private.

"It didn't appear it was getting better" after Ailes left, one of the sources said, so she looked to the exit.

Van Susteren had a 60-day period of time to invoke the escape clause after Ailes resigned. With time running out, Van Susteren sent a letter to Fox last Thursday night, informing the network of her decision.

The goal, Coale said, was to arrange a graceful exit. He said Van Susteren expected to continue hosting for weeks "to help them sort things out and have a smooth transition."

Indeed, television hosts normally have some time on the air after it is known that they're leaving. But not this time.

Brit Hume, the former 6 p.m. host who now serves as a Fox political analyst, is taking over Van Susteren's 7 p.m. time slot until election day.

Van Susteren said on Facebook that she hopes "to continue my career in broadcasting." A former criminal defense and civil trial lawyer, she joined Fox News from CNN in 2002 and has hosted "On The Record" ever since.

She cannot leap to a new network right away, however, due to the terms of her Fox contract. It is unclear how long the waiting period is supposed to last.

Fox News announced Van Susteren's departure just a few minutes after the channel's parent company, 21st Century Fox, confirmed a $20 million settlement deal with Gretchen Carlson, the anchorwoman who sued Ailes in July, starting the chain of events that led to his ouster.

Van Susteren was not quoted in the announcement. But Fox News co-presidents Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy jointly praised Van Susteren.

"We are grateful for Greta's many contributions over the years and wish her continued success," the two executives said.

Hume said, "I am happy to take on this assignment for the balance of this extraordinary election."</s>Greta Van Susteren is out as a nighttime host on Fox News Channel, replaced temporarily by Brit Hume starting Tuesday.

Fox did not publicly explain Van Susteren's abrupt exit after 14 years, although a person close to the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity described it as a financial disagreement. Van Susteren was not immediately available for comment, and the news wasn't reflected on her popular blog or Twitter feed.

The Washington-based lawyer came to Fox from CNN 14 years ago. For several years, her "On the Record" program aired at 10 p.m. ET, but moved to 7 p.m. when Fox gave a prime-time show to Megyn Kelly.

Hume is a senior political commentator for Fox. He said he's taking on Van Susteren's show through the election.

Fox's co-presidents, Jack Abernethy and Bill Shine, said in a statement that "we are grateful for Greta's many contributions over the years and wish her continued success."</s>NEW YORK (AP) — Greta Van Susteren is out as a nighttime host on Fox News Channel, replaced temporarily by Brit Hume starting Tuesday.

Fox did not publicly explain Van Susteren’s abrupt exit after 14 years, although a person close to the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity described it as a financial disagreement. Van Susteren was not immediately available for comment, and the news wasn’t reflected on her popular blog or Twitter feed.

The Washington-based lawyer came to Fox from CNN 14 years ago. For several years, her “On the Record” program aired at 10 p.m. ET, but moved to 7 p.m. when Fox gave a prime-time show to Megyn Kelly.

Hume is a senior political commentator for Fox. He said he’s taking on Van Susteren’s show through the election.</s>Brit Hume, a veteran journalist who spent more than a decade as a senior news executive in Fox News' Washington bureau, will take over her 6 p.m. slot on the 21st Century Fox-owned cable-news network at least through the election. He will appear this evening, the network said Tuesday.

Van Susteren could not be reached for immediate comment. Her husband, John Coale, an attorney who has worked as her agent in the past, could also not be reached for immediate comment." In a statement released on Twitter, Van Susteren said "Fox has not felt like home to me for a few years now, and I took advantage of a clause in my contract which allows me to leave now. The clause had a time limitation, meaning I could not wait." Van Susteren last revised her contract with Fox News in May of 2013. A person familiar with the situation came about as the result of a "financial disagreement."

Her departure takes place as speculation rises that 21st Century Fox, the network's parent, is eager to distance the outlet from the culture instilled there by Roger Ailes, its former chief, who departed in the wake of an internal investigation spurred by charges of sexual harassment levied in a lawsuit by former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson. Van Susteren was one of several Fox News anchors who initially rose to Ailes' defense, noting that she had not encountered any sort of harassment while working at the outlet. "Let's first get something straight: I did not sexually harass anyone (of course.). And second, I did not know about any sexual harassment and keep it secret (of course.)," she said on her Fox News blog, "Gretawire," in August.

A Fox News report stated that Van Susteren had asked to renegotiate her contract with the network in the wake of Ailes' departure. Some on-air staffers have a "key man" clause that tied their employment with the network to Ailes' tenure there. Van Susteren's departure creates the first bog programming challenge for Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy, the network's new co-presidents, who were elevated to those roles after Ailes left. During Ailes' tenure, Fox News rarely made big shifts in its primetime lineup. One of the few involved launching Megyn Kelly at 8 p.m. in 2013.

Van Susteren rose to prominence as a criminal defense attorney and civil trial lawyer who parlayed appearances as a legal analyst on CNN during the infamous trial of former football player and actor O.J. Simpson into a hosting stint. Van Susteren co-hosted the show "Burden of Proof" with Roger Cossack between 1995 and 2001. She also anchored a primetime program, "The Point," on CNN starting in 2001.

She joined Fox News Channel in 2002, and began anchoring "On The Record." In 2013, her Washington D.C., based primetime program was moved to 6 p.m. in the wake of a primetime shuffle that welcomed the launch of Megyn Kelly's program in Van Susteren's original time slot. She held forth there ever since, until Tuesday's announcement.

"We are grateful for Greta's many contributions over the years and wish her continued success," Abernethy and Shine said in a prepared statement.

Hume is expected to focus on political coverage through November and the end of the current race for U.S. president. Hume previously served as the anchor of "Special Report," and stepped down in December 2008 after more than 10 years anchoring the program. Hume also served as the Washington managing editor and was responsible for overseeing news content for Fox News' Washington bureau. He anchored all network coverage for every presidential election from 1996 to 2008. Before joining FOX News in 1996, Hume was with ABC News for 23 years, serving as chief White House correspondent from 1989 through 1996.

As for Van Susteren, she may have another stop to make in her career trajectory. "I hope to continue my career in broadcasting," she said.
Fox News On The Record host Greta Van Susteren leaves the channel after 14 years.