Regardless of her future, Greta Van Susteren leaves an impressive legacy

The 63-year-old cable news veteran and former criminal defense attorney is now an alum of CNN, where she rose to prominence during the O.J. trial; Fox News, where she spent 15 years in primetime; and MSNBC, where she lasted only six months before she received the quickest hook seen on national television since Chevy Chase in late night. 

It’s unknown why the network let Greta go without giving her a chance to build a brand and grow the show, but ratings were the most likely cause, as is usually the case.

{mosads}”For the Record with Greta” was almost always the lowest-rated program in total viewers and in the key 25-54 demographic that advertisers covet most. 

Van Susteren was also the lowest rated host in the 25-54 demographic from 5:00 p.m. to midnight, losing audience despite a lead-in from Chuck Todd’s “Meet the Press Daily,” only to see the audience rebound for Chris Matthews’ “Hardball” after her program was over

In contrast, MSNBC has surged since the election of Donald Trump. The network is enjoying its highest-rated year in its 21-year history and has become a serious contender to Fox News for the first time this century while comfortably beating CNN. 

But “For the Record” appeared out of place on the progressive primetime of MSNBC. The show was–for lack of a better term–fair and balanced, and the host wasn’t any different from the one that host on Fox for 15 years: Measured, meticulous, relatively low key. 

“As we continue to grow and evolve as a network during one of the most newsworthy periods in recent history I have important news about our 6p.m. [ET} hour,” MSNBC president Phil Griffin wrote in a memo sent to The Hill and other news outlets. 

“MSNBC and Greta Van Susteren have decided to part ways. Greta is a well-regarded television veteran and one of only a few broadcasters who can say they’ve hosted shows at all three major cable news networks,” he continued. 

“We are grateful to her and wish her the best.” 

Where she goes from here–if anywhere–is anyone’s guess. 

She’s 62 and has hit for the major cable news cycle by hosting shows on CNN, MSNBC and Fox. She wouldn’t come cheap if her Fox contract of a reported $12 million per year is any indication. 

In looking back at her decision to leave Fox after contract re-negotiations fell apart quickly following the forced resignation of Roger Ailes, Greta may not have realized how good she had it at the time. 

In September, this was my observation on Greta’s departure from Fox:

Greta Van Susteren is likable, refreshingly candid on social media and respected by most folks in the industry. She also just engaged in the biggest miscalculation of her career. 
 
In leaving Fox News after attempting to renegotiate her contract by using an out-clause created with the resignation of former Fox News CEO and Chairman Roger Ailes, Van Susteren, 62, is about to discover that no one host in cable news had it remotely as good as she did.” 
 
How so? 
 
Simple: By being wedged in between the third highest rated program on cable news, “Special Report with Bret Baier,” and the perennial top-rated show on cable news, “The O’Reilly Factor,” it pretty much can’t get any better than owning such a coveted time slot that sits between the two.