With the announcement of its subscription streaming service "Fox Nation" on Tuesday, Fox News is tapping into its base of Trump supporters and providing loads of right-wing content specially designed for the "Fox superfan."
The new service was described by The New York Times as a "stand-alone subscription service available without a cable package." It's expected to launch by the end of the year and "would focus primarily on right-leaning commentary, with original shows and cameos by popular personalities like Sean Hannity."
More money for more Sean Hannity, who Fox News fans can already listen to for three hours a day on the radio in addition to the hour they spend watching him on TV.
"Fox Nation is designed to appeal to the Fox superfan," John Finley, a senior vice president at the network told the Times. "These are the folks who watch Fox News every night for hours at a time, the dedicated audience that really wants more of what we have to offer."
Part of it is more Tomi Lahren, who will "create programming for the streaming service," CNN reported. When Lahren was hired, it was announced that she would have a "signature role" on an FNC product that was currently being developed. After all, Lahren built her brand and on-screen personality through conservative political rants that frequently went viral on Facebook. Most of her content was already consumed via mobile devices, and she has almost 5 million followers on Facebook, so she is a near perfect match with a streaming service.
The Times has more on what Fox news officials have planned:
Fox News already commands the attention of President Trump and many voters in his base. The digital product would bring viewers an additional dose of opinion programming beyond staples like “Hannity” and “Fox & Friends.” Live events, like question-and-answer forums, would encourage more direct interaction with anchors and commentators.
Details about the cost for the service have not yet been released, but similar services have failed in the past, such as Glenn Beck's "The Blaze" — which started in 2011, and last year cut 20 percent of its workforce.
Other networks have been hesitant to jump into a subscription streaming service, but Fox has long performed well in the ratings department and has built a brand with notable firebrand personalities.
"Fox Nation" was the name of its conservative opinion site, which now just reads "coming soon," CNN noted.
The market for paid streaming services is a tough one to compete in, but this is evidently geared towards people who consume copious amounts of Fox News each day. People like President Donald Trump.
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