U.S.A.
Everyone Else
Health
Science
Business
Technology
Sports
Video Games
Entertainment
Future
Humour
NEWS > EVERYONE ELSE > FOX NEWS COURTING JON STEWART IN EFFORT TO NAB YOUTH DEMOGRAPHIC
FOX NEWS COURTING JON STEWART IN EFFORT TO NAB YOUTH DEMOGRAPHIC
September 13 2010
New York, NY – The news business is like any other; there is no real loyalty. Like athletes, jumping from team to team, news men and women jump to whatever side will pay the most and provide them with the best opportunity. That is a part of the 
nature of news which is designed to remove the person from the story and just present the facts. While much of the latter has been lost in recent years, the loyalty to the pay cheque has not resulting in many surprise defections.
It’s a little early in the negotiations to make say that such is the case with Jon Stewart, who has often been the object of affection for rival broadcasters, one can safely assume that if the deal is right he will jump ship. Though locked into a long term deal, word came late Monday that Fox News was actively pursuing Stewart, trying to draw him from his hit Comedy Central show to a late night slot on the most watched news channel in the country. While at first glance the two might seem an odd fit, Stewart would likely bring with him his audience which is precisely the young viewers that advertisers, and therefore networks, covet should he decide to switch sides.
“It’s been hush-hush for a little while now but they are getting a little more vocal, though still in hushed tones. They have been watching him for a long time and they really want to add him to the line up in some capacity. They feel that Jon would be the perfect fit for the network,” said a Fox insider. “They realize he has poked fun at the network every now and then but they don’t take that seriously. They realize that it’s his job to make jokes and while some of those gags may sting, they know that means he is doing his job really well and that’s what they want. From what I’ve heard they are offering really big dollars, much bigger then what he’s getting right now.”
Stewart was recently signed through 2012. 
“This would be a major coup for Fox that could really turn the tide of the news battle that has been raging for years now. Fox has been at or near the top for a long time but that isn’t going to last forever, particularly as the audience starts to get younger. They realize that and they know they need to diversify and this would be a major step in that direction,” said Scrape TV Media analyst Sarah Piper. “Add to that the huge audience that Stewart has, most of whom would follow him over especially if they keep the show at the same time, and you have a win all around for Fox and a coup that likely would kill the other networks where they stand.”
Some in the network have reportedly been concerned that Stewart is a comedian and has no news background but apparently the majority believes that won’t be an issue.
“News is news and it doesn’t really matter what your experience might be. What matters is that you can deliver the copy presented to you in a compelling way and that is something there is no doubt that Jon Stewart can do. He is a master of delivering copy and that is really enough,” continued Piper. “The only real issue for both sides is getting him out of his contract. If they can jump that hurdle they are going to be able to create magic and that will put Jon Stewart’s name alongside people like Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly, truly a powerhouse team that will knock off all competitors.”
Comedy Central and representatives for Stewart had no comment.
William Ashford, Business Correspondent
NEWS > EVERYONE ELSE > FOX NEWS COURTING JON STEWART IN EFFORT TO NAB YOUTH DEMOGRAPHIC
LINK IT! http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Business/pages-5/Fox-News-courting-Jon-Stewart-in-effort-to-nab-youth-demographic-Scrape-TV-The-World-on-your-side.html |
TWEET IT! http://bit.ly/aid5hD |
BOOKMARK IT!  
|
|---|
Scrape Store
