Ashleigh Banfield To Lead True Crime Digital Content for NewsNation

Will Continue to Provide Expert Legal Analysis to the Cable News Network

CHICAGO, IL (December 12, 2025) – NewsNation, America’s fastest-growing cable news network in total day and primetime viewership, and Emmy Award-winning journalist Ashleigh Banfield, today announced  a new partnership in which Ms. Banfield will lead the network’s true crime digital vertical. As part of the new agreement, content from Ms. Banfield’s hit podcast, Drop Dead Serious with Ashleigh Banfield, will be made available on NewsNation.

“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 central to our on-air coverage,” said Michael Corn, President of Programming & Specials.

In recent years, the true-crime genre has surged across streaming and podcast platforms, with fans watching, listening, scrolling, and downloading in record numbers. Audiences increasingly expect to engage with their favorite content whenever and wherever they want.

To dedicate her full attention to Drop Dead Serious, Ms. Banfield will step away from her role producing and hosting NewsNation’s nightly live television true crime program Banfield.  She will remain a regular presence on the network as a contributor, offering expert legal analysis and commentary on significant trials, criminal investigations, and breaking true crime news.

“I’m excited to channel the momentum of my Drop Dead Serious podcast brand towards NewsNation’s growing digital audience,” said Ms. Banfield. “The success of true crime reporting on streaming media platforms has been transformative, and I’m looking forward to helping shape and enhance NewsNation’s multi-platform strategy in this genre.”

Ms. Banfield will anchor her final show in January 2026, after which a slate of rotating anchors will helm the 10 p.m. ET hour until a permanent host is announced.

Ms. Banfield joined the network in the spring of 2021. During her nearly 40-year career in broadcast journalism, she has worked at every major television network in the country. She rose to prominence covering the events of 9/11 and a variety of international conflicts while at MSNBC, and she anchored major legal and breaking news programs at NBC, ABC CNN, HLN, and Court TV. She became known for incisive reporting on high-profile criminal cases ranging from the Casey Anthony murder trial to national investigations that captured the fascination of the public.

Throughout her tenure at NewsNation, Ms. Banfield has conducted countless interviews with people affected by the biggest crime stories across the country. Major exclusives include an interview with a key witness in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal trial, a now-viral segment featuring prison inmates housed with accused murderer Luigi Mangione, and a candid interview with former television personality Wendy Williams amid her court-ordered guardianship. Ms. Banfield also has devoted hundreds of hours of airtime to the horrific quadruple murder case in Moscow, Idaho, and regularly provided a platform for families of the victims, enabling them to keep their experiences at the forefront of the story.

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About NewsNation
NewsNation, a Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST) property, is the country’s source for “News for All Americans.” Validated by independent watchdog groups, the network delivers engaging and unbiased news, reflecting the full range of perspectives across the country.  In addition to its dedicated national staff of reporters, producers, and photographers, NewsNation draws on the local expertise of Nexstar’s 6,000 journalists in 110 newsrooms across the country.  NewsNation is fully distributed on every pay television platform in the United States, online at www.newsnationnow.com, and on the NewsNationNow mobile app, available on Android and iOS.

About Drop Dead Serious
Drop Dead Serious is one of the fastest growing true crime channels in both podcasting and YouTube.  Launched in early 2025, Drop Dead Serious ranked in the top 10 on Apple podcasts and has quickly amassed over 30 million views and close to 300 thousand subscribers in less than a year.  Drop Dead Serious is a division of Banfield Productions LLC.

NewsNation Media Contact:
Carly Shanahan
cashanahan@newsnationnow.com
872-242-9616

Drop Dead Serious Media Contact:
John Goodwin
202-288-6288
JG@foxhoundadvisors.com