Fox News unveiled its new streaming service "Fox Nation" this week. For $5.99 a month, subscribers can enjoy programming from the likes of popular Fox contributors like Tomi Lahren, Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld, and the duo of the "Benson and Harf" radio show, former Obama State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf and Townhall's own Guy Benson. It will offer plenty of exclusive content as well. You can read more about the new streaming service here.
CNN's Brian Stelter surmised why the network decided to introduce the new service. His analysis began with the subhead, "Birth of a Fox Nation," (which I hope was not a reference to "Birth of a Nation.") Stelter predicts the streaming service will be a hit and be a huge revenue stream, or "undermine the core business."
He also sounded off on how Fox is becoming a "filter prison."
A purer form of the drug
"When Fox News isn't Fox News-y enough for you." That's not the slogan for Fox Nation, but perhaps it could be. As Michael Grynbaum put it in this New York Times story, "Fox Nation may be the id of Fox News." There will be documentaries about Robert Bork and Benghazi. Twice a day segments by Tomi Lahren. Cameos from Sean Hannity and others. Fox says the service is for "superfans" -- a/k/a the viewers most committed to the cause.
I understand the business rationale, but I wonder how the people in charge -- including, or perhaps especially, the Murdochs -- justify actually going through with that business rationale. Throwing fuel on a fire might make good business sense for the Murdochs right now; that doesn't mean they should do it.
I worry that this streaming service is yet another step into a tribalized, fragmented society. The filter bubble is feeling more and more like a filter prison...
As you might expect, Stelter's assessment was met with social media users who accused him of being blind to his own network's bias - particularly this week.
As for Trump, he suggested the government have its own news network.
While CNN doesn’t do great in the United States based on ratings, outside of the U.S. they have very little competition. Throughout the world, CNN has a powerful voice portraying the United States in an unfair....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2018
....and false way. Something has to be done, including the possibility of the United States starting our own Worldwide Network to show the World the way we really are, GREAT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2018