FOX News To Stream Prime-Time Line-Up

As cable news begins to feel the squeeze from cord-cutting, arch-rivals Fox News and CNN are stepping up efforts to adapt to the trend that poses a long-term threat to their businesses, The L-A times reports.

For the first time, Fox News will make its most popular programming available online to consumers who don’t subscribe to cableTV.

The news network announced Tuesday that its nightly prime-time opinion shows “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” “Hannity” with Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham’s “The Ingraham Angle” will be available to subscribers of its Fox Nation streaming service starting June 2.

The full episodes will be available on demand at 5 a.m. Eastern the day after they air on Fox News.

The move comes amid the steady overall decline in cable and satellite TV subscribers, who provide more than half of Fox News Channel’s revenue. Fox News Media is responsible for most of the profits generated by its parent company, Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Corp.

Fox News, which has never released subscriber data on Fox Nation, replaced its top executive in January, putting cable marketing veteran Jason Klarman in charge. But executives at the parent company say the service — which costs $5.99 a month — is growing.

Fox News is not alone in recognizing the long-term financial pressure that cord-cutting poses. CNN also is ramping up its efforts to launch a direct-to-consumer streaming news channel separate from the feed received by cable customers.

CNN management has been moving slowly in planning a direct-to-consumer service, but activity has picked up since AT&T announced that WarnerMedia will be merged with Discovery Inc. Many people in the TV news business believe CNN President Jeff Zucker will stay with the new company instead of departing when his contract is up at the end of this year.

The Fox News-owned streaming service Fox Nation was launched in November 2018 to give the channel a foothold in the streaming business. It started as a sort of Netflix for conservatives aimed at the Fox News super fan, with hosts such as Tomi Lahren doing live talk programming similar to the opinion shows on the network, and offering polemical programs with correspondent Lara Logan.

About a year in, Fox Nation moved more into taped programming, with celebrations of Americana, historical documentaries and true crime shows. It carries acquired entertainment programs as well, such as Elvis Presley’s 1968 comeback special.

But in recent months Fox Nation has been aligning more with the Fox News Channel, which has the highest ratings in all of cable TV, according to Nielsen.