It appears that President Donald Trump has decided what he wants to do after he leaves the White House next year, and his decision could wind up being very bad for Fox News, according to Mike Allen of Axios:
“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.
“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.”
For months, there’s been speculation that Trump would try to start a cable channel. But trying to get such a channel carried on cable and satellite systems could be incredibly expensive and take years before it came to fruition.
Instead, it’s believed that Trump will angle to start a “digital media channel” that would be accessed via online streaming. Such a channel would be considerably cheaper and quicker to get up and running.
How would such a digital channel work? It would require that those who want to access it pay monthly subscription fee:
“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% conversion rate from free trials to paid subscribers — as their top destination.”
One key advantage Trump would have if he started such a service is his email and cell phone contacts, which would allow him to target potential subscribers. Such lists are considered the Holy Grail of any internet startup service and would give Trump’s digital channel a way to instantly compete with Fox and other right-wing media sites:
“Trump’s lists are among the most valuable in politics — especially his extensive database of cellphone numbers for text messages.”
Axios also notes that Trump plans to spend lots of airtime taking aim at Fox in other ways:
“‘He’s going to spend a lot of time slamming Fox,’ the source said.”
Criticism of Fox has already begun, with the president promoting Newsmax and One America News. He also took aim at the network during his most recent appearance on “Fox & Friends,” remarking:
“Fox has changed a lot. Somebody said: What’s the biggest difference between this and four years ago? And I say Fox.
“I’m not complaining — I’m just telling people. It’s one of the biggest differences this season compared to last.”
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