Conservative media network Newsmax is in talks with Bill O'Reilly for cable show
Newsmax is discussing a deal for former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly to return to cable television, CEO Chris Ruddy told Politico on Wednesday. O'Reilly's show would air on Newsmax TV, the conservative media company's three-year-old network, which currently reaches 35 million households. The network is also in talks with other cable carriers to expand its viewership.
The New York Times reported last month that O'Reilly had agreed to a $32 million settlement in January with a woman for allegations of "repeated harassment, a nonconsensual sexual relationship, and the sending of gay pornography and other sexually explicit material." This was the sixth settlement made by O'Reilly or Fox News to settle harassment allegations against the former host; O'Reilly was fired from Fox News in April after some of the settlements became public.
But Newsmax remains optimistic about O'Reilly's appeal, Ruddy told Politico: "We don't think Bill O'Reilly's career is over. He does have a market. We're very interested and exploring looking at that. He's a significant talent." Still, Ruddy admitted that "there are obviously issues we'd have to deal with with him and the public to see how that could fit. We're open to having that conversation with him."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In March, The Atlantic published a profile of Ruddy that referred to him as "an unofficial conduit from the inner sanctum of the presidency to the outside world." Ruddy is considered a close friend of President Trump's and has been seen in the past dining with Trump as well as former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon.
A spokesman for O'Reilly declined a request for comment from Politico about the potential deal with Newsmax. Read more at Politico.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kelly O'Meara Morales is a staff writer at The Week. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and studied Middle Eastern history and nonfiction writing amongst other esoteric subjects. When not compulsively checking Twitter, he writes and records music, subsists on tacos, and watches basketball.
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds cap credit card late fees at $8
speed read The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to save households an estimated $10 billion a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published