Rupert Murdoch’s forthcoming Fox News-style television channel will feature a nightly current affairs comedy programme, in a challenge to the BBC’s satirical shows such as Have I Got News for You and The Mash Report.
Rather than copy the expensive 24-hour rolling news model of the BBC and Sky, the as-yet-unnamed new channel will only broadcast during peak evening hours and will be based around three daily programmes aimed at British audiences.
News UK’s decision to stick to evening-only broadcasting suggests its forthcoming channel will avoid the substantial cost of competing with BBC and Sky for small daytime audiences who want rolling news. Instead, it points towards the same model of opinion-heavy evening news commentary that has been a substantial ratings success for Fox News in the US and Sky News Australia.
The new outlet will also be broadcast into homes as a traditional television channel rather than be online-only, meaning it will be subject to the media regulator Ofcom’s broadcasting standards code.
However, this only requires a commitment to “due impartiality”, meaning it is possible for the station have highly opinionated hosts expressing strong views providing audiences are also exposed to alternative viewpoints. This model was pioneered by LBC and has been taken further by the pro-Brexit hosts on News UK’s talkRadio outlet and the headline-grabbing comments made by Piers Morgan on ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
Details of the new television station were revealed in a job advert placed by News UK seeking a series producer for the new “daily factual entertainment studio show” on the channel. It said the successful applicant would have experience in comedy or variety shows, be able to deal with big-name talent, and have a good understanding of Ofcom regulations.
News UK’s move into comedy programming for its new station comes after claims the new BBC director general, Tim Davie, is concerned about alleged leftwing bias in the corporation’s comedy output, although some comedy producers at the public broadcaster insist the issue is a lack of rightwing comedians.
Earlier this month, the Guardian revealed the two rival groups who are competing to launch Fox News-style opinionated news channels in the UK to take on the BBC. The other bid is operating under the working name of GB News, reportedly with the assistance of Theresa May’s former communications chief Robbie Gibb.
According to individuals approached by GB News, the station has been offering salaries above the UK market rate to potential hosts. Although it is far from certain the channel will make it to air – with the company believed to be still in discussions with Discovery about its launch – GB News has already been awarded an Ofcom licence and indicated it intends to launch on Freeview.
The decision by both stations to pursue a traditional television broadcast model will give them more prominence and easier access to older viewers but comes with substantial extra costs. Industry sources with knowledge of the market estimate the current cost of a slot on the Freeview platform is £5-10m before any programming costs are considered – suggesting any new entrant will be spending tens of millions of pounds to get their station off the ground.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/sep/10/fox-news-style-channel-for-tv-in-uk-to-feature-nightly-comedy-show
