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Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has been lying low since the network took his program off the air two weeks ago, but that’s all about to change, according to a Sunday report.
Axios reports that Carlson remains under contract with Fox News at a salary of around $20 million per year, and the contract runs through January 2025. Fox’s plan is to keep Carlson under contract, which would prevent him from catching on with a rival network or even starting his own and taking his massive audience with him.
But that isn’t sitting well with the former top-rated host, the report said.
“Carlson is preparing to unleash allies to attack Fox News in an effort to bully the network into letting him work for — or start — a right-wing rival, sources close to him,” told the outlet, the report said.
High-powered Hollywood attorney Bryan Freedman told Axios: “The idea that anyone is going to silence Tucker and prevent him from speaking to his audience is beyond preposterous.”
As such, Carlson is “preparing to unleash allies to attack Fox News” with the objective of forcing the network to let him out of his contract sooner.
The report added:
Tucker vs. Fox could reshape the conservative news world. Fox, which has seen its ratings plunge in Carlson’s slot since he was let go 13 days ago, wants to sideline him by paying him $20 million a year not to work.
Axios has learned Carlson is busy plotting a media empire of his own. But he needs Fox to let him out of his contract, which expires in January 2025 — after the presidential election.
In addition, the report noted that “Carlson and Elon Musk had a conversation about working together, but didn’t discuss specifics.”
The report comes as other networks have already lobbed hefty offers at Carlson.
According to TMZ, Newsmax has not only offered Carlson his own show, but he would also be in charge of programming for the entire network, which has seen a bump in viewership following Carlson’s ouster from Fox.
“Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … the news channel is doing everything it can to sweeten the deal for Tucker to come on board — including floating the idea of letting him program the whole channel, not just his own show,” the outlet reported.
“That would be a pretty enticing deal point … in addition to having his own primetime show, Tucker would have a say over what shows lead into and out of his show, which can be key in achieving bigger TV ratings,” the report added.
“While our sources stress Newsmax hasn’t formally offered Tucker a job — he can’t have formal discussions due to his current Fox News contract — we’re told the network execs have made it clear to people around him, they would basically give him a big say in rebranding their channel,” TMZ said.
“Our sources acknowledge it’s too early to know for sure where Tucker will pop up next, and it might not even be at a TV network … but we’re told whatever he does, it’s going to be big, disruptive, and will create a seismic shift in the conservative media landscape,” the outlet noted further.
Other media outlets, including Valuetainment, which is mostly available on streaming platforms, have made similar offers: Tens of millions of dollars per year and near-full editorial control.
Another former Fox News star, Glenn Beck — who went on to start his own successful media company, The Blaze — has also made an offer to Carlson.
“We would love to have you here. You won’t miss a beat. And together, the two of us will tear it up. Just tear it up. I think that will kill Fox, I really do. I know so many people that – you know – still kind of like Fox. And they watch the other shows. But they’re like, ‘Tucker, Tucker is the only one that I really trust,” Beck said on his radio show late last month.
