Report: Newsmax Wants Tucker

Newsmax, wants Tucker Carlson  to be more than just the face of the network, and it's putting on a full-court press to land him.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the news channel is doing everything it can to sweeten the deal for Tucker to come on board -- including floating the idea of letting him program the whole channel, not just his own show.

Tucker Carlson

That could be a pretty enticing deal point ... in addition to having his own primetime show, Tucker would have a say over what shows lead into and out of his show, which can be key in achieving bigger TV ratings.

While sources stress Newsmax hasn't formally offered Tucker a job -- he can't have formal discussions due to his current Fox News contract -- we're told the network execs have made it clear to people around him, they would basically give him a big say in rebranding their channel.

Carlson himself left little in the way of clues for his next move in a video posted to Twitter this week. In the video, shot from his home in Florida he railed against the cable news industry he spent his career in.

“The other thing you notice when you take a little time off is how unbelievably stupid most of the debates you see on television are,” he said. “In five years, we won’t even remember that we had them – trust me as someone who’s participated.”

“See you soon,” he concluded. 

The clip has drawn 75 million views since it was posted Wednesday night. Carlson did not respond to Mediaite’s request for comment on whether he has decided on a next move.