Cracks may be appearing in the seemingly impenetrable façade of Fox News, as reports circulate of big-ticket names considering parting ways with the network. The heart of this exodus seems to be Tucker Carlson, Fox News’ former top-rated host, who’s hinted at exploring new broadcasting horizons on platforms such as Twitter.
If reports are true, a number of Fox News anchors are ready to jump ship and join Carlson’s venture when their contracts conclude.
Insider reports reveal that Carlson, who presently has a contract with Fox News worth $20 million per annum, may be laying the groundwork for a live show on Twitter. His hands are tied until his Fox News contract lapses post the 2024 election, in January 2025. However, this isn’t dampening the enthusiasm of several Fox anchors who, according to Variety, have expressed interest in joining him in the Twitterverse.
Adding to the narrative, it appears that Carlson’s recent absence from Fox News airwaves was a requirement of the network’s defamation settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. According to multiple sources, one of Fox Corp’s board members communicated this condition to Carlson during a phone conversation in late April. No paper trail exists for this stipulation, rather it was a verbal agreement, allegedly threatening to nullify the settlement if not upheld.
Despite the bulk of Dominion’s defamation accusations being rooted in post-2020 election claims aired on shows hosted by Sean Hannity, Jeanine Pirro, and Maria Bartiromo, the voting systems company seemingly zeroed in on Fox’s star player, Carlson. An insider shared with Variety, “That condition was intended to hurt Fox, and Tucker is just collateral damage… Dominion wanted to punish Fox, and it’s working.” Both Fox and Dominion have since refuted claims of Carlson’s dismissal being linked to the settlement.
Now, Carlson is rumored to be contemplating the establishment of his own direct-to-consumer media platform. Following in the footsteps of his predecessor at Fox News, Bill O’Reilly, Carlson’s large fan base could subscribe to access his content. Several media outlets including Rumble streaming platform, Newsmax TV, and Valuetainment, have already shown interest, allegedly offering a higher annual paycheck than Fox.
In a recent Twitter video, Carlson highlighted the platform’s commitment to free speech, a cornerstone of democratic society. He stated, “There aren’t many platforms left that allow free speech… If you bump up against the limits [in the news business] you will be fired for it.” Underlining the essential nature of free speech, Carlson revealed plans to introduce a new version of his show to Twitter, amongst other things. He concluded, “Free speech is the main right that you have, without it, you have no others. See you soon.”
This series of events reiterates the importance of preserving freedom of speech in the media landscape. Regardless of our political leanings, we must uphold this fundamental right. It seems like Carlson, and others, are realizing this and are ready to break free from the constraining environment at Fox News to explore platforms that uphold this value, like Twitter.
Sources: ConservatiBrief, Variety
