Donald Trump is reportedly thinking about launching his own TV network

Even if Donald Trump doesn't win the presidential election, there's a good chance we'll still be seeing a whole lot more of him on TV. Vanity Fair reported Thursday that the presumptive GOP nominee is eyeing the possibility of launching his very own media company — possibly a cable news network — after discovering just how powerful a hold he can have on the news cycle:
According to several people briefed on the discussions, the presumptive Republican nominee is examining the opportunity presented by the "audience" currently supporting him. He has also discussed the possibility of launching a "mini-media conglomerate" outside of his existing TV-production business, Trump Productions LLC. He has, according to one of these people, enlisted the consultation of his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who owns the The New York Observer. Trump's rationale, according to this person, is that, "win or lose, we are onto something here. We've triggered a base of the population that hasn’t had a voice in a long time." [Vanity Fair]
Sources told Vanity Fair that Trump's interest in creating his own media empire grew out of his frustration over "his ability to create revenue for other media organizations without being able to take a cut himself."
Trump's spokesperson, Hope Hicks, denied the rumors, saying that there are "no plans or discussions taking place regarding a venture of this nature." However, she was sure to note that "it's true Mr. Trump garners exceptionally high ratings."
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Read the full report on the possibility of Trump TV over at Vanity Fair.
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