Trump launched 'Trump TV' while everyone was watching the debate

A shot of Trump TV.
(Image credit: Facebook/Donald J. Trump)

There has been abundant speculation about Donald Trump possibly starting his own media organization or television channel if he loses the presidential election, but it looks like he may have gotten a head start Wednesday during the final presidential debate.

Trump aired live coverage of the debate with the message "if you’re tired of biased, mainstream media reporting (otherwise known as Crooked Hillary’s super PAC), tune into my Facebook Live broadcast." Pundits on his "channel" included retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn and former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, with an Ivanka Trump message and anti-Clinton ads running as "commercials." Trump also added a #TrumpTV section to his YouTube page, in case there was ever any question about what such a venture might be called.

At its peak, around 200,000 people were watching the Trump TV broadcast, BuzzFeed News reports, although that number leveled off to between 120,000 and 170,000 while the debate was underway. "The streaming infrastructure looks to be provided by Ride Side Broadcasting, a conservative video streaming network based out of Auburn, Alabama," BuzzFeed News also pointed out.

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Recently it was revealed that Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, reportedly investigated financial possibilities for launching a Trump TV channel; Trump has so far denied he is considering creating a media organization. Jeva Lange

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.