Fox News Is Launching a New Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Service

By A.J. Katz 

Fox News is bringing its highly popular opinion programming straight to the “superfan.”

Today, the network announced the launch of a new over-the-top opinion streaming service named Fox Nation, which will provide “live exclusive daily streaming content and long-form programming.”

The service is set to launch in Q4, and in addition to live, daily programming and events, subscribers will receive access to 20 plus years of archival FNC programming.

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Fox News’s opinion hosts and personalities, including Sean Hannity, will be featured on the new service, and a price point will be announced at a later date.

“With our traditional cable viewership at an all-time high, we are proud to announce a new digital offering geared entirely toward the Fox News superfans, who represent the most loyal audience in cable, if not all of television,” said Fox News svp of development and production John Finley. “This initiative will capitalize on providing that viewer, who is among the most affluent and well educated in cable, with a highly specialized content experience on a platform they can watch anytime, anywhere.”

The New York Times was first to report news of the launch.

Fox News will staffing the new network in Q2 2018, and Fox Nation staff will utilize the network’s new studio.

It appears Fox News is not the only cable news network launching an OTT service in 2018 as an attempt to reach the increasing number of cord-cutting Americans. Bloomberg reported last June that rival CNN would invest $40 million in its Great Big Story social video startup over the next two years, and turn it into a 24/7 streaming network debuting in summer 2018. Andrew Morse, gm of CNN’s digital operations told Bloomberg last year that GBS will use the $40 million to develop live programming and feature-length films, and distribute it on OTT services like Dish Network’s Sling TV or AT&T’s DirecTV Now.

Adweek’s Jason Lynch writes that Fox News, and the other media companies who are set to launch or have already launched OTT services (ie. Viacom, CBS Corp., Disney) are targeting younger viewers. CBS chairman and CEO Les Moonves said the average age for its streaming services CBSN and CBS All-Access is “nearly 20 years younger” than the median age of the CBS linear viewers.

Fox News undoubtedly hopes Fox Nation will attract younger viewers as well.

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