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The new media company that Tucker Carlson founded after leaving Fox News has signed its first significant advertising contract.
According to PublicSq. CEO Michael Seifert, the deal with the conservative-friendly shopping app was reached on Friday and is worth at least $1 million.
CNBC first reported in July on the agreement between Carlson’s new media company and PublicSq., days before PublicSq. began trading on the New York Stock Exchange. According to The Wall Street Journal, Carlson’s new venture is called Last Country.
With the presidential election of 2024 less than a year away, PublicSq. is the first of likely several other advertisers to move to partner with Carlson at this crucial time in national politics. According to Seifert, the PublicSq. commercials will begin airing in November on Carlson’s show on X (formerly Twitter) and continue through the end of the campaign year.
Seifert noted that the advertisements will also appear on Carlson’s other platforms, such as his website.
The app’s founders and leaders have opposed corporate efforts to improve the environment, society, and governance through financial investments. Seifert said that the product pitches will be integrated into Carlson’s show.
“People are going to be paying attention,” Seifert said. “Tucker is going to speak very candidly of the importance of patriotic small businesses, and if viewers want to support it, go to Public Square.”
Since its debut earlier this year, following Carlson’s contentious departure from Fox News, the show has reportedly amassed millions of views. Former President Trump and 2024 Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy are just two of the prominent conservatives who have been interviewed on the show.
After Fox News’ parent company paid Dominion Voting Systems $787.5 million to settle a defamation lawsuit, Carlson left the network. The host was a key player in the suit’s public fight.
PublicSq. has stacked its board with Republicans since going public, including former Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff Nick Ayers. Kelly Loeffler, a former Republican senator from Georgia, has joined PublicSq.’s board of directors.
Carlson’s longtime business partner and executive at his company, Neil Patel, told CNBC in a statement that the PublicSq. app can balance out the likes of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the business lobbying giant, and the e-commerce behemoth, Amazon. After the Chamber endorsed several Democrats for seats in the House of Representatives, Republican leaders blasted the usually GOP-friendly organization.
“PublicSq. is a key company in the parallel economy, specifically countering the Chamber of Commerce and Amazon,” Patel said. “There is a wave of disruption coming to the media and economic establishment, and our companies will help accelerate this overdue shift.”
The company released a sneak peek of its third-quarter financial results earlier this month, revealing a 300% increase in revenue from the previous quarter. EveryLife, which PublicSq. calls a “direct-to-consumer pro-life baby care brand,” is credited as the driving force behind the expansion. The app is expected to have 400 thousand items for sale when it launches on November 1 and the company plans to introduce its “e-commerce shopping experience” on that day. On November 14th, PublicSq. will release their financial results.
After opening at $35.57 in early July, the company’s stock has since settled at around $5. PublicSq. went public after merging with Colombier Acquisition Corp., an acquisition company with a specific focus.
In July, CNBC reported that Omeed Malik, CEO of Colombier Acquisition, had invested eight figures in Carlson’s new business. Malik also serves on the board of directors for PublicSq.
