Report: Fox News reduces Rove's role

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NEW YORK, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Fox News chief Roger Ailes has directed the U.S. broadcasting outlet to limit Republican strategist Karl Rove's on-air appearances, New York magazine reported.

Citing multiple Fox sources, the magazine said Tuesday Ailes has been taking steps to reposition Fox News following President Barack Obama's re-election victory over Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

A representative for Fox News confirmed the cable channel is changing its customary booking practices, and the magazine said multiple sources confirmed Ailes has directed that faces associated with Fox's election coverage -- including Rove and pundit Dick Morris -- be given less air time.

Fox News Senior Vice President of Programming Bill Shine issued an order requiring producers and bookers not to book appearances by Rove or Morris with getting permission, the report said.

The magazine's sources said Ailes was angered on election night when Rove pushed back on the air at Fox's call of Ohio for Obama. A representative for Ailes said there is no rift between Ailes and Rove and the two plan to meet this week, New York reported.

Rove and Fox drew criticism from liberals and media ethicists during the campaign, when Rove appeared on Fox as an analyst, often without disclosing his role as a Republicans fundraiser and campaign consultant.

Morris is routinely subjected to ridicule on left-wing blogs for making political predictions that turn out to be wrong -- and the magazine report said Morris is even ridiculed within Fox News itself.

Citing a source, the report said Fox anchor Megyn Kelly chuckled as she told colleagues someone had told her: "I really like Dick Morris. He's always wrong but he makes me feel good."