Newsmax TV might be much smaller in size than Fox News; however, Fox’s loss is shaping up to be Newsmax’s gain.
Dumping Tucker Carlson has caused many to tune into Newsmax TV. Mainstream media outlets, including The New York Times and The Daily Beast, noted that Newsmax TV has experienced an increase in viewership since the cancellation of Tucker Carlson Tonight was announced on Monday.
Newsmax CEO Speaking to 19FortyFive
“It’s pretty clear that millions of Tucker fans are tuning into Newsmax. We’re a natural home for them because we’re asking the tough questions The establishment hates. The ratings are clearly showing this trend,” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy exclusively told 19FortyFive.
Newsmax shared a tweet on Friday crowing about how it has benefited from Fox ousting Carlson.
“Bye bye Fox — hello NEWSMAX! Millions making ‘The Switch’ to NEWSMAX, Eric Bolling! More: https://newsmaxtv.com/bolling,” Newsmax tweeted along with a graphic that stated that Newsmax TV’s total Primetime audience had increased by 220%, its female audience had increased by 270%, improved in the adults 35-64 category by 261%, and among males 35-64 by 219%.
Newsmax TV has run On Air polls asking viewers if Fox was wrong to cancel Carlson’s program. It also asked if viewers wanted to see Carlson back on TV.
Tucker Carlson told 19FortyFive that he still is employed by Fox, and former Fox host Megyn Kelly noted earlier this week that Carlson has to negotiate his way out of his contract.
Carlson cannot negotiate with new employers or start his own operation until he gets free from the contract.
Newsmax noted that its audience nearly doubled on Monday, reaching 531,000 viewers and reaching 562,000 viewers on Tuesday, according to Nielsen numbers.
The channel was recently restored to Direct TV after viewer outcry. It also is found on the PlutoTV on the Internet and cable systems across the country.
Could Tucker Carlson Join Newsmax?
Ruddy told The New York Times that he would be open to discussing with Carlson about joining Newsmax TV.
“We would definitely be open to having a conversation with him,” Ruddy said, though he speculated to The Times that Carlson may follow the likes of Joe Rogan and pursue an independent podcast. “He’s one of the most influential and significant voices in conservative media, and he shouldn’t be ignored.”
TMZ reported that Newsmax was considering offering Carlson the idea of running its entire TV division; however, Ruddy told 19FortyFive that report was false.
Carlson will have no shortage of offers, whether it’s with Newsmax or another channel.
One America News (OAN) CEO Robert Herring Sr. posted a pitch to talk to Carlson $25 million per year to join his San Diego-based conservative news network on OAN’s website and on its social media.
“It would be great if we could get Tucker! I might give him around $25 million. And he would be well worth that!” Herring told the Times of San Diego.
Since last year, OAN has been Internet-only after the last cable networks dumped his channel.
Glenn Beck offered Carlson a home at The Blaze, the media company he founded after being fired by Fox.
Carlson’s departure could not only transform Fox but the entire conservative media ecosystem.
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John Rossomando’s work has been featured in numerous publications such as The American Thinker, Daily Wire, Red Alert Politics, CNSNews.com, The Daily Caller, Human Events, Newsmax, The American Spectator, TownHall.com, and Crisis Magazine. He also served as senior managing editor of The Bulletin, a 100,000-circulation daily newspaper in Philadelphia, and received the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors first-place award in 2008 for his reporting.
