Former TV News Personalities Launching Media Startups

After departing MSNBC earlier this year, Mehdi Hasan has announced the launch of a digital media company. His show, The Mehdi Hasan Show, was canceled late last year, leading to his departure from the cable news outlet he called home since 2020. 

Now, he’s back with his own venture called Zeteo, an ancient Greek word that means “to seek out, inquire, and get to the truth.” Hasan has assembled an “Avengers-style team of contributors” for Zeteo, promising podcasts, op-eds, newsletters, and a weekly streaming video show called Mehdi Unfiltered. 

While former cable news hosts like Tucker Carlson and Bill O’Reilly have launched their own digital media startups, Hasan notes that “no one really on the progressive left has been able to pull off anything similar”.

Additionally, the media industry continues to evolve, with startups focusing on privacy and security. For instance, Pluto TV, a leading free streaming television service, boasts over 64 million monthly active users by delivering live linear channels and on-demand content. 

As legacy outlets grapple with shrinking revenues, journalists are increasingly venturing into media entrepreneurship, exploring new opportunities beyond traditional news platforms.

Lemon, Kelly and Carlson

Axios reports on what's driving the news: 

• Mehdi Hasan announced last week he'd be launching a new digital media company following his departure from MSNBC. Hasan's departure followed the cancellation of his show by MSNBC in January. Hasan said he plans to build a digital subscription media called Zeteo — "not just a media company; it's a movement for media accountability."
• Don Lemon in January announced new plans for a show, following his tumultuous firing from CNN last tear. Lemon said his first project, "The Don Lemon Show," will be available first on X.
• Tucker Carlson raised $15 million last year to grow his new media company following his firing from Fox News last spring. His new venture includes video distributed for free on X, but he also plans to charge subscriptions for content he posts eventually to his own website and app.

The big picture: The internet has made it possible for anyone with a loyal TV fanbase to quickly launch their own products, mostly leveraging their social media reach.

• Megyn Kelly launched “Devil May Care Media in 2020 following her exit from NBC.
• Bill O’Reilly created No Spin News, a video subscription site, following his tumultuous exit from Fox News in 2017.
• Katie Couric launched Katie Couric Media in 2018. The outlet publishes newsletters and podcasts and makes money through sponsorships and affiliate marketing programs.