History of Fox News
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The Fox News Channel (FNC) is an American
basic cable Cable television first became available in the United States in 1948. By 1989, 53 million U.S. households received cable television subscriptions, with 60 percent of all U.S. households doing so in 1992. with Data by SNL Kagan shows that about 58 ...
and satellite news television channel that was founded by media mogul Rupert Murdoch in 1996. In 2001 Roger Ailes appointed himself as permanent CEO of this news operation that was created as a Republican-centered alternative to CNN. In January 2002, the ratings of the channel surpassed top-rated CNN to become the No. 1 news cable channel. They fell in March 2002, but since then the network has maintained its No. 1 cable rating (as of 2019) with increasing viewership and international access. Fox News' dominant status was challenged in the wake of the
2021 storming of the United States Capitol On January 6, 2021, following the defeat of then-United States President, U.S. President Donald Trump in the 2020 United States presidential election, 2020 presidential election, a mob of his supporters attacked the United States Capitol, U ...
, with CNN taking the No. 1 network place back for the first time since the 2000s, alongside rival MSNBC in second place, with Fox News in third place. It has since regained the top spot.


1990s


Launch

The channel was created by Australian-born American media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who hired Roger Ailes as its founding CEO. The channel was launched on October 7, 1996 to 17 million cable subscribers. Prior to founding Fox News, Murdoch had gained significant experience in the
24-hour The modern 24-hour clock, popularly referred to in the United States as military time, is the convention of timekeeping in which the day runs from midnight to midnight and is divided into 24 hours. This is indicated by the hours (and minutes) pas ...
news business when News Corporation's British Sky Broadcasting subsidiary started Europe's first 24-hour news channel,
Sky News Sky News is a British free-to-air television news channel and organisation. Sky News is distributed via an English-language radio news service, and through online channels. It is owned by Sky Group, a division of Comcast. John Ryley is the hea ...
, in the United Kingdom in 1989. With the success of his
fourth network In American television terminology, a fourth network is a reference to a fourth commercial broadcast (over-the-air) television network, as opposed to the Big Three television networks that dominated U.S. television from the 1950s to the 1980s: A ...
efforts in the United States, experience gained from Sky News, and turnaround of 20th Century Fox, Murdoch announced on January 31, 1996, that his company would be launching a 24-hour news channel to air on both cable and satellite systems as part of a News Corp. "worldwide platform" for Fox programming, reasoning that "The appetite for news – particularly news that explains to people how it affects them – is expanding enormously." In February 1996, after former NBC executive and
Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...
political strategist Roger Ailes left
America's Talking America's Talking was an American short-lived cable television channel focused mainly on talk based programming, created by NBC and spun off from economic channel CNBC. It was launched on July 4, 1994, and was carried in 10 million American house ...
(now MSNBC), Murdoch called him to start the ''Fox News Channel''. Ailes worked individuals through five months of 14-hour workdays and several weeks of rehearsal shows before launch, on October 7, 1996. At launch, only 10 million households were able to watch Fox News, with none in the major media markets of New York City and Los Angeles. According to published reports, many media reviewers had to watch the first day's programming at Fox News' studios because it was not readily available. The rolling news coverage during the day consisted of 20-minute single topic shows like ''Fox on Crime'' or ''Fox on Politics'' surrounded by news headlines. Interviews had various facts at the bottom of the screen about the topic or the guest.


2000s

In the 2000 presidential election, Fox News, which was available in 56 million homes nationwide, saw a staggering 440% increase in viewers, the biggest gain among the three cable news television networks.


2020s

Fox News ended 2020 as the most-watched network in cable news history. However, in January 2021, after the U.S. Capitol attack, it was less watched than CNN and MSNBC for three straight days, which had not happened since September 2000. In August 2021, Fox required compulsory reporting of COVID-19 vaccination status from employees, despite prominent Fox personalities Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity being opposed to mandatory reporting of COVID-19 vaccination status. Fox News host, Tucker Carlson's departure in April 2023 sent shares of Fox News parent Fox Corp. down more than 3 percent. In total, Carlson's show earned $77.5 million in ad revenue in 2022, according to Vivvixx data.


Programming


''The Edge''

Hosted by
Paula Zahn Paula Ann Zahn (; born February 24, 1956) is an American journalist and newscaster who has been an anchor at ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, and CNN. She currently produces and hosts the true crime documentary series ''On the Case with Paula Zahn'' ...
, '' The Edge'' was one of the original programs on the network, focusing on talk between the host and newsmakers, like other programs on the network at the time. During the program's later years, John Gibson became host when the network discovered Zahn was in the midst of contract negotiations with CNN. The show was cancelled in 2002.


''The O'Reilly Factor''

On October 7, 1996, ''The O'Reilly Report'' aired its first episode, hosted by Bill O'Reilly. It was later renamed because of a suggestion by a friend. '' The O'Reilly Factor'', unlike many other Fox News programs, was pre-recorded, or "
live Live may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film * ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film *'' ''Live'' (Apocalyptica DVD) Music *Live (band), American alternative rock band * List of albums ...
-to-
tape Tape or Tapes may refer to: Material A long, narrow, thin strip of material (see also Ribbon (disambiguation): Adhesive tapes * Adhesive tape, any of many varieties of backing materials coated with an adhesive *Athletic tape, pressure-sensitiv ...
," except when covering breaking news or special events. Some guests were interviewed before the "live-to-tape" period and were slotted in the program as appropriate. O'Reilly's producers said that video editing took place only when an interview exceeded the available length in a program, of which the total was 43 minutes (for an hour-long slot, once commercials and news breaks are added), though some critics suggested that interviews were sometimes edited after taping to suit O'Reilly's agenda. O'Reilly and his producers discussed potential topics twice a week. A producer researched the story and booked guests for O'Reilly, and an information packet was produced with possible angles for O'Reilly to explore. The producers would often "pre-interview" the guest so that they know what potential points he or she might make. For each show, O'Reilly, with the assistance of his staff, produced a script with the words for the "Talking Points Memo" and "Most Ridiculous Item of the Day" segments, and points of discussion and questions for the guests that appeared on the program. On February 2, 2009, the show began airing in high definition and moved to the previous set used by the ''Fox Report''. The show ended in 2017 after O'Reilly was dismissed from the network due to sexual harassment allegations, leading to a large advertiser boycott of the show.


''Your World with Neil Cavuto''

Debuting as the ''Cavuto Business Report'' on the network's launch in 1996, ''
Your World with Neil Cavuto ''Your World with Neil Cavuto'' (written on-air as ''Your World Cavuto''), which debuted as ''The Cavuto Business Report'' on the network's launch in 1996, is an American television news and business talk program on Fox News Channel currently ...
'' has become a very popular show, hosted by reporter and commentator Neil Cavuto. The program covers the latest business news stories of the day, in addition to giving analysis on how the
stock market A stock market, equity market, or share market is the aggregation of buyers and sellers of stocks (also called shares), which represent ownership claims on businesses; these may include ''securities'' listed on a public stock exchange, as ...
moved through the day. It also covers political stories, such as how political actions may affect the markets, in addition to analysis of the markets by a group of analysts from one of the ''Cost of Freedom'' business block programs. Closing the program, the show has a commentary segment called "Common Sense," in which Neil gives his point of view on a news story of the day. The program is broadcast live weekdays at 4 p.m. ET.


''Hannity and Colmes''

''
Hannity & Colmes ''Hannity & Colmes'' was a live television show on Fox News in the United States, hosted by Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes, who respectively presented a conservative and liberal perspective. The series premiered on October 7, 1996, and the final epi ...
'' was an American television show on Fox News Channel, hosted by Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes, who respectively presented a conservative and liberal perspective. The series premiered in October 1996, and the final episode aired on January 9, 2009. It was the precursor to the current '' Hannity'' series, which currently airs in the same timeslot.


''Fox Magazine''

''
Fox Magazine Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelv ...
'' was launched in 1997 as a weekly newsmagazine on the Fox News Channel. Hosted by
Laurie Dhue Laurie Walker Dhue (born February 10, 1969) is an American television journalist. She was a Fox News Channel anchor from 2000–2008, reporting for the television show ''Geraldo at Large'' and the host of ''Fox Report'' ''Weekend''. Early life ...
, the program was an almost weekly look into some of the previous week's stories, in addition to special series produced by the program itself, such as its constant series about
Nashville Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and the ...
. These shows mostly consisted of adverts from the Fox News program and the
National Rifle Association The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is a gun rights advocacy group based in the United States. Founded in 1871 to advance rifle marksmanship, the modern NRA has become a prominent Gun politics in the United States, gun rights ...
. Included in the programming were a recap of the previous week's commentaries from a number of the network's commentators. The program would come to an end on September 11, 2005, with Dhue leaving the network to work on '' Geraldo at Large''.


''Fox and Friends''

'' Fox & Friends'' is a morning news show that debuted in 1998. It is currently hosted by
Ainsley Earhardt Ainsley Earhardt (born September 20, 1976) is an American conservative television news journalist and author. She is a co-host of ''Fox & Friends.'' Early life and education Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Earhardt as a young child moved w ...
,
Steve Doocy ''yes'Steve is a masculine given name, usually a short form (hypocorism) of Steven or Stephen Notable people with the name include: steve jops * Steve Abbott (disambiguation), several people * Steve Adams (disambiguation), several people * Steve ...
, and Brian Kilmeade during the week. Weekends are hosted by Rachel Campos-Duffy,
Pete Hegseth Peter Brian Hegseth (born June 6, 1980) is an American television host and author. Hegseth is an Army National Guard officer and former executive director of political advocacy groups Vets For Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America. The la ...
and
Will Cain Charles Williams Cain (born March 28, 1975) He was the host of ''The Will Cain Show'' on ESPN Radio, which ran from January 2, 2018, to June 26, 2020. He has also been a contributor for ''Blaze Media'' and CNN, appearing frequently on Soledad O ...
.


''Drudge''

''
Drudge A drudge is a person who does tedious, menial, or unpleasant work; it can also refer to the work itself, known as drudgery. Drudge can also refer to: * Matt Drudge, American Internet journalist ** ''Drudge'' (TV series), Matt Drudge's former TV ...
'' was a television series on Fox News Channel that was hosted by
Matt Drudge Matthew Nathan Drudge (born October 27, 1966) is an American journalist and the creator/editor of the Drudge Report, an American news aggregator. Drudge is also an author and a former radio and television show host. Early life and education Drud ...
. Drudge left the show in 1999 after network executives refused to let him show a '' National Enquirer'' photograph of a 21-week-old fetus in protest of abortion.


References

{{Television news in the United States Fox News Fox News Fox News Fox News Fox News