Posted on 11/12/2020 5:29:35 AM PST by springwater13
President Trump has told friends he wants to start a digital media company to clobber Fox News and undermine the conservative-friendly network, sources tell Axios.
The state of play: Some Trump advisers think Fox News made a mistake with an early call (seconded by AP) of President-elect Biden's win in Arizona. That enraged Trump, and gave him something tangible to use in his attacks on the network.
"He plans to wreck Fox. No doubt about it," said a source with detailed knowledge of Trump's intentions.
With loyal viewers and longtime dominance, Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch said on a Nov. 3 earnings call:
"We love competition. We have always thrived with competition. ... Fox News has been the number one network, including broadcast networks, ... from Labor Day through to Election Day."
Here's Trump's plan, according to the source:
There's been lots of speculation about Trump starting a cable channel. But getting carried on cable systems would be expensive and time-consuming.
Instead, Trump is considering a digital media channel that would stream online, which would be cheaper and quicker to start.
Trump's digital offering would likely charge a monthly fee to MAGA fans. Many are Fox News viewers, and he'd aim to replace the network — and the $5.99-a-month Fox Nation streaming service, which has an 85% conversation rate from free trials to paid subscribers — as their top destination.
(Excerpt) Read more at axios.com ...
Clearly, again, you do not understand media distribution.
Trump could not look to make a nickel. Do you think ANYONE is going to carry his programming for “free?”
If you think I am a mercenary pr*ck when it comes to business, I am Christmas Morning Scooge compared to these guys.
I know you believe I am simply trying to be disagreeable, but I am not. I ran a large region of a major cable operator for many years. I negotiated carriage for channels every year for about half a million customers. This was back in the day when “adding” a channel was a huge deal.
Technically speaking, from the operator’s end the costs are relatively small. But the signal still needs to get from A to B before we can transmit it to C.
And the tolerance for crappy product is minimal now. Production values matter. Talent matters. All of that stuff is expensive.
Part of what I did was oversee our commercial production group—we produced things like sporting events (Volvo Tennis, Basketball Hall of Fame events for ESPN, etc.). We did some studio stuff—but it was more like cooking shows and public affairs stuff. Our team was great—but its expensive and it hasn’t gotten cheaper.
The ONLY way he would be able to pull it off is with partners who already own the facilities and the talent—and who have it under contract because once they find out its Trump the talent will run for the hills. They will do that because they know working for him is the kiss of death in the business.
So, you see... I know a bit about this stuff. I might not have been Major League...but I played in the AAA for many years.
He would be better off contracting a show on the internet and building from a “one off” rather than trying to build as network.
You can go back to calling me names now.
Don’t kid yourselves...the guys that own those systems/channels make plenty of money.
I guess it depends on how you define “money.” If you define it as being able to buy a mansion in the Hamptons...they are very well off. If you are talking IRS profits...they are poorer than a bartender who’s been locked down for six months.
But do not ever mistake that in the media world anyone does it for charity. If you had ever met that group of sharks, check your wallet before and after the meeting. All sorts of stereo types come to mind.
Hey! You stole my idea!! LOL
Great minds think alike. ;^)
You are absolutely correct. Creating a cable TV network is a dead end. Trump isn’t stupid and won’t invest hundreds of millions to fail. He also doesn’t have hundreds of millions liquid. It is all tied up in real estate now and commercial is depressed because of COVID. He will need to wait a few years for a rebound to sell assets if he wanted to but he doesn’t.
The only path for Trump is quick and cheap. Digital streaming with maybe negotiating 1 or 2 nationwide carriage on Dish or DirecTV for his rural customers as a premium channel since broadband for streaming is limited in rural areas where his base is.
Charge $9.99 a month. Get his buddies like O’Reilly, Hannity, Levin to provide exclusive content in exchange for a percentage of revenue. But he’s going to need some big names for a network.
If Trump just wanted a way to talk to his base, he should go the podcast route and charge $2.99 a month for a daily talker. The margins on that would be enormous with no risk at all. Just Trump yapping in a microphone for an hour a day.
Un-named source? Probable NOT....
Connect it to OAN...but leave them in their current state of ownership. IF OAN needs capital to grow-—loan it to them.
But, let that happen after a second term.
Both are at huge disadvantages to Fox News in regard to financial resources and infrastructure.
OAN, from an on-air talent and production level looks like the TV stations from Iowa my relatives watch. Some of the anchor look like they are straight out of college.
Newsmax has pretty seasoned and quality on-air talent but no ability to cover news stories with reporters at various locations nationwide. It's more like a TV version of talk radio.
I’ve noticed that, too.
Trump’s a man of action - not words.
For example - there are men who could describe creating an intensely beautiful hotel from an old post office... who would NOT be able to build a decent dog house.
Trump talking about building the same hotel would only be interesting because HE ACTUALLY CAN BUILD IT. And has built one in DC..
https://assets.trump.com/website/general/hotels_mm.jpg
Biden could hire speech writers who could wax on about buildings to the point you’d want to BE a builder - the same people wouldn’t know a hammer from a screwdriver...
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