From Jon Friedman's Media Web, Marketweatch.com
As it turns out, Glenn Beck can be just as provocative off-camera as he is in front of it.
Usually, the questions surrounding Beck surface whenever he says something startling or reckless — such as when he accused President Barack Obama of racism during a 2009 appearance on the popular “Fox & Friends” TV show.
Beck can make headlines by uttering unexpected comments. He recently criticized conservative activist James O’Keefe, who caused a frenzy by bugging a conversation with a then-executive of National Public Radio. And remember, Beck drew a huge audience in Washington when he staged his “Restoring Honor” rally last August.
For now, though, the hottest questions center on Beck’s future plans: Will he stay at Fox News Channel, the No. 1-rated cable-news network? If he leaves, could he expect his audience to follow him? Would Fox News miss him much? And who might replace Beck on the tube?
Beck has established himself as TV’s No. 1 provocateur since arriving at the 5 p.m. spot on Fox News Channel a few years ago. (Fox, like MarketWatch, is a unit of News Corp
But how much longer will Beck call Fox home? His contract expires in December, and there is wide speculation that he will leave and either take over a cable channel or widen his Internet subscription video product. He still has a big following and could also continue to flourish by appearing on the radio and writing books.
There is a precedent for TV stars to take greater control of their business affairs. For instance, Oprah Winfrey, the most beloved star on TV, launched the Oprah Winfrey Network. (And that’s just about the only thing that Beck and the very liberal Oprah might ever be accused of having in common.)
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