Donald Trump's hiring Tuesday of Breitbart News executive chairman Steve Bannon has rekindled talk of the developer creating a media venture should he lose the November election — a web channel or even a cable network that could challenge Fox News.
"Trump has all of the necessary ingredients" for a web channel, Jonathan Klein, chief executive of Tapp, told CNN's Brian Stelter.
Tapp powered former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's online channel, which kicked off in 2014 and charged subscribers $9.95 a month. "The Sarah Palin Channel" shut down the following year.
"He's got something to say," Klein, a former CNN president, told Stelter. "He enjoys saying it and repeating it. He lives an authentic social media life. He's a natural-born tweeter — and he seems to have a very tribal audience."
Trump's supporters will want "a way to stay in touch with him, his message and each other," if he lost to Hillary Clinton, he said.
"He can provide the vehicle to do that," Klein added. "He could be up and running in a matter of weeks" after the election "if he starts thinking about this now."
Besides Bannon, Trump would have at least one other close adviser in any media venture: Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and owner of The New York Observer.
In June, Vanity Fair reported that Trump was "considering creating his own media business," Stelter reports, but that was denied by a campaign spokeswoman.
However, The New York Times reported Wednesday that Trump and Kushner have recently been "quietly explored becoming involved with a media holding, either by investing in one or by taking one over."
Stelter pointed to other articles hinting at a possible "Trump TV" — even a column Bannon himself wrote two weeks ago saying that "Breitbart is on the rise, and Fox is in decline."
In addition, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld said on his "The Five" show this week that Bannon's arrival "isn't about the election," Stelter reports.
"It's about the day after the election, when you have Bannon and you have Trump and you have the 'invisible hand' creating a new network."
Gutfeld's four other co-hosts appeared to be uncomfortable "with the veiled reference to Ailes," Stelter reports, referring to former Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes.
Ailes resigned last month amid allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination, though his severance package includes a non-compete clause, according to Stelter's report.
Gutfield then looked into the camera and said: "You know I'm right. They know that I'm right.
"This is not about the election, this is about after."
And Glenn Beck, the conservative radio talk-show host, told Don Lemon on CNN on Thursday that "I believe Donald Trump is going to lose.
"I believe he's going to start his own network," added Beck, who has repeatedly slammed Trump during the campaign. "I believe it's going to be run by Bannon."
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