After being ousted from his position at Fox News, Tucker Carlson has been offered a potentially lucrative opportunity to join rival network Newsmax. Not only would Carlson be given his own show, but he would also have programming control over the entire network – the latter being a particularly enticing prospect. With this level of control, Carlson would even have a say in which shows lead into and out of his own, which could result in higher ratings across the board.
While Newsmax has not formally offered Carlson a position, sources claim that they are doing everything in their power to sweeten the deal. In addition to being given significant control over the network, Newsmax executives have also indicated that they would be interested in rebranding their channel with Carlson at the helm. If this deal were to go through, it is anticipated that Carlson would create a seismic shift in the conservative media landscape.
Although his departure from Fox News was originally reported as a termination, it has since come to light that he is still technically employed by the network. However, he has been told that he cannot do any more shows and has been denied access to the company email. Carlson is still under contract, which means that he cannot yet negotiate with other employers or launch his own show or podcast. It appears negotiations are ongoing with Fox News to formally end his contract.
Many in the industry have expressed their disappointment with Carlson’s departure from Fox News. Having helped the network flourish during a tumultuous period, it remains unclear why he was treated with such “disdain”, as noted by former colleague and fellow Fox News star, Megyn Kelly. Overall, it remains to be seen where Carlson will end up next, but it is certain that his next move will be significant and potentially disruptive to the conservative media landscape.