Liz Claman and Jeff Kepnes, a high-profile media couple in the television industry, have decided to end their 24-year marriage.
The separation of the Fox News and MSNBC personalities unfolds against a backdrop of shifting viewership trends and upcoming structural changes at their respective networks, as the Daily Mail reports.
Claman, known for anchoring The Claman Countdown on Fox Business, and Jeff Kepnes, a managing editor at MSNBC, tied the knot in Beverly Hills in 1999.
At that time, Kepnes was contributing to The News With Brian Williams on CNBC/MSNBC. Over the years, Kepnes built an impressive resume that includes a senior producer role at CNN from 2003 to 2017 and a brief stint at Fox News.
Claman has made a name for herself by interviewing notable industry leaders like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Meanwhile, Kepnes's extensive career in journalism has involved producing at major networks, enhancing his reputation as a veteran in the field. The couple, who have two teenage children, last publicly appeared together in a photograph taken in 2018.
Their separation, while recent, is confirmed to have occurred quietly in 2023, with Page Six breaking the news. Despite their decision to part ways, friends of the couple describe the split as amicable, stating that they "had simply drifted apart" due to the passage of time.
The changes in their personal lives coincide with significant fluctuations in television ratings. Fox News has seen its viewership climb by 50 percent, achieving an impressive average of 3.09 million viewers during primetime hours. Conversely, MSNBC faces a downturn with a 25% decline in its audience. One notable casualty of this decline is the show ReidOut, which suffered a staggering drop in viewership, plummeting by approximately 45 percent from its 2024 performance.
In addition to viewer statistics, looming structural reorganizations may further impact media landscapes. NBCUniversal (NBCU) and Comcast are moving forward with SpinCo, a new entity intended to revamp networks such as MSNBC and CNBC. The launch is anticipated later this year and promises to usher in strategic shifts within the industry.
For Claman and Kepnes, the choice to separate after more than two decades underscores the personal and professional dynamics intertwined in their lives. Both have maintained profiles as influential media figures, illustrated by a friend who referred to them as an "award-winning media power couple."
Society's fascination with prominent personalities often extends beyond their professional achievements to encompass interest in their private lives. Media couples like Claman and Kepnes, under public scrutiny, face the unique challenge of balancing personal relationships in an exacting environment.
Observers of the media industry will be keen to see how Kepnes and Claman navigate their individual futures following the separation. Although their paths diverge personally, their professional endeavors are likely to continue impacting their respective networks.
The separation of Claman and Kepnes, viewed through the lens of their careers, presents a broader perspective on the challenges faced by those in high-stakes industries. Amidst evolving media ecosystems and shifting viewer allegiances, keeping professional and personal lives intact remains a nuanced endeavor.
As SpinCo prepares for its operational debut, industry stakeholders and audiences alike will be watching closely for its potential to reshape broadcast structures. The marriage of personal stories and professional narratives continues to captivate the attention of the public. For Liz Claman and Jeff Kepnes, their legacy in the media realm remains distinct, but their forward paths have become individual journeys.
