Fox News primetime host Tucker Carlson will develop two new video projects for the channel’s Fox Nation streaming service, the company said Wednesday.
Carlson will host a video podcast for Fox Nation, and will host a series of “in-depth specials” called Tucker Carlson Originals. Both programs are in addition to his 8 p.m. show on Fox News, and will start running on the service in April.
Carlson’s video podcasts will include interviews and in-depth discussions, while his documentary originals series will each focus on a single topic, diving into more detail than can typically be done on the linear channel. A trailer for Tucker Carlson Originals opens with Carlson shooting a rifle at a range, with quick cuts of future subjects and topics.
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“Tucker Carlson Originals gives Tucker the platform to expound on a particular topic, whatever he is interested in, and also spend a little bit more time with some of the guests that he has on the program,” Fox Nation president Jason Klarman tells The Hollywood Reporter.
The programming will be produced by the Tucker Carlson Tonight team including senior ep Justin Wells, who has ben named “vp of Tucker Carlson Digital Products” for Fox News, suggesting that other Carlson fare could be forthcoming to the streamer.
“This is my twelfth year at Fox News and I’ve never been more grateful to be here,” Carlson said in a statement. “As other media outlets fall silent or fall in line, Fox News Media’s management has redoubled its commitment to honesty and freedom of speech. I consider that heroic at a time like this.”
Fox Nation initially launched as a hub for conservative commentary and a place for Fox “super fans,” but has more recently shifted its focus toward lifestyle programming, including cooking shows, travel programming and even scripted Christmas movies.
Last month, Fox News Media named Jason Klarman president of the streaming service, in addition to his role leading the cable channel’s marketing efforts.
The Carlson programming underscores how important Carlson has become to the Fox brand. Carlson’s program was, for a time last fall, the most watched show in all of TV. The expansion into digital suggests that Fox sees him not only as a ratings draw, but as a potential subscription lynchpin. Fox Nation launched over two years ago, but has still not broken out subscriber numbers.
“This is a great beginning for expanding the Tucker Carlson brand for us,” Klarman says. “We are always interested in more, but this is a great place to begin.”
