When Megyn Kelly left Fox News in 2017, she figured her association with the network was over.
But then Kelly got surprised by one headline.
And Megyn Kelly was mad as hell over this deal with Fox News.
Fox News buys company that produces popular podcasts
A story in TheWrap, headlined “Fox Acquires Red Seat Ventures, Home to Megyn Kelly and Other Fox News Alumni,” gave readers the impression that a reunion between Fox News and hosts like Kelly, Tucker Carlson, and Bill O’Reilly – all of whom produce popular podcasts under the Red Seat Venture banner – was in the offing.
Red Seat Ventures CEO Chris Balfe claimed that through this deal, “we will be able to build upon that investment and expand the services we provide to our creators, while continuing to maintain the independence and integrity of their brands, which is truly the best case scenario.”
Red Seat Ventures will now operate under the Fox’s Tubi Media Group with Paul Cheesbrough as CEO.
Tubi is Fox Corps’ streaming service, which houses television shows and movies.
Cheesbrough declared that there is “tremendous opportunities” for Red Seat Ventures to expand beyond political podcasts into the entertainment genre.
“The creator economy is one of the fastest growing media categories worldwide by measure of reach and influence, and consumers are increasingly looking to get their information, insights and entertainment directly from the voices and brands they trust across these platforms,” Cheesbrough stated.
Megyn Kelly wasn’t happy with how the deal was portrayed in the media.
The headline on TheWrap story made it appear like Fox bought the rights to Kelly’s show.
That wasn’t the case at all.
Kelly angrily replied to the story on social media, stating that all Fox bought was the company that sold ads for her podcast.
“Look at this misleading BS. No one has acquired my show’s ‘home.’ The 3d party firm that sells my ADS has been acquired. Thats all. The @MegynKellyShow is NOT controlled or owned by anyone other than ME,” Kelly posted on X.
While Fox didn’t acquire Kelly’s podcast, the prospect of licensing shows like hers could be the future for news outlets like Fox.
Cable television continues to decline as more Americans migrate to streaming, the idea of a programming schedule where shows only air at specific times is fading into irrelevance.
Streaming is on demand content consumption, which fits the podcast format where hosts record shows that the audience can listen to at their leisure.
Fox buying Red Seat Venture is dipping their toe in the content creator waters.
And while Fox may never make a deal to bring back Kelly, O’Reilly, and Carlson, the template is out there.
ESPN licensed the Pat McAfee show to anchor their midday programming.
As ESPN rolls out its direct-to-consumer streaming service over the next year, Pat McAfee’s show will serve as a selling point for younger Americans.
The average age of a Fox News viewer is 68 years old.
Outlets need to attract younger viewers so advertisers will spend money.
And the future of Fox News likely looks more like Megyn Kelly’s podcast than the current primetime lineup.
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