Tucker Carlson is launching his own streaming service after being ousted from Fox News.
American conservative media personality Tucker Carlson has announced the launch of his own subscription streaming service.
Fox News abruptly announced his resignation in April.
The move marks the beginning of a new chapter for the controversial host, who has spent the past few months posting content and interviews to his roughly 11 million followers on X (formerly Twitter).
“We’re going to be announcing something completely new soon,” he said in the video.
Carlson’s streaming service comes at a time when conservatives are trying to create their own channels and personal brands after becoming dissatisfied with or ostracized by mainstream media and social networks.
“We have been working in secret for several months now, producing a tremendous amount of material,” Carlson said in an announcement video posted to X.
Mr. Carlson directed potential subscribers to his website and promoted a series of interviews with politicians such as Mr. Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is suspected of overseeing the rollback of democracy in his home country. are doing. It also features interviews with right-wing media personalities such as Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate, who have been charged with rape and human trafficking by Romanian authorities.
Both brothers maintain their innocence.
The new service, called TCN, will be a mix of interviews, monologues and other content for viewers who pay $72 (£57) a year, Carlson said on Monday.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, former Trump administration official Neil Patel will become TCN’s chief executive officer, while Carlson’s former Fox News producer Justin Wells will serve as president. He plans to lead the programming of the service.
Carlson was Fox News’ biggest star for years. His show, “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” frequently led broadcast news ratings, fiercely supported former President Donald Trump, and garnered huge amounts of attention over the years by riding a wave of populist anger. gained an audience.
His popularity gave him great influence within the Republican Party, but critics accused him of spreading misinformation and racist ideology during his shows.
He remained at the pinnacle of ratings and political power when Fox News announced his resignation on April 24. The network did not explain Carlson’s departure, saying only that he had “agreed to part ways.”
Days before his resignation, Fox News filed a lawsuit against Dominion Voting Systems to end a defamation lawsuit alleging the network promoted lies about the integrity of the company’s voting machines during the 2020 election. , paid a settlement of $787 million (£627 million).
Carlson claims that his firing was a condition of the settlement, a claim that Fox News and Dominion have publicly denied.
A spokesperson for Mr Wells declined to comment on the recording to the BBC. Harmeet Dhillon, a lawyer who previously represented Mr. Wells, told the Post that the lawsuit was “meritless” and that the television producer “unequivocally denies the allegations.”
