“Their brand is all about extreme conservatism, anger, outrage, and there is very clearly an appetite for that,” says Pone.

Read article Fox future: Can Fox News maintain its momentum after losing Bill O’Reilly?

Toronto-based branding expert Andris Pone agreed with Bonner that Ghomeshi is in a really difficult spot because while he has been acquitted in the legal sense, he’s been convicted in the court of public opinion.

“It’s hard for people to move forward without some kind of redemption story.”

Pone said he doesn’t believe Ghomeshi’s apology would likely amount to much in the public’s view as some might question its sincerity, considering it was part of the terms of the charge against him being dropped.

Read article Jian Ghomeshi now faces court of public opinion in trying to rehabilitate image

Andris Pone, a brand consultant, told Roumeliotis that he was surprised at the speed of the dismissal — and also surprised that Solomon “would get himself in that kind of situation.”

The allegations, he said, could lead to the perception “that he might be going lighter or be enticed … to go lighter in his line of his questioning on major figures if there is a financial gain on the line,” Pone said. “I’m not suggesting for a second that Evan Solomon would actually do that — it’s the perception that he might do that that is damaging to his brand and the brand of the CBC.”

Read article Evan Solomon review led to ‘decisive’ action, CBC president says