Industry News

Talk Media Had a Dynamic Night – FOX and Other Networks Propose Additional Debate in October

Debate Illustration generative AIAcross the nation, talk media hosts from radio, television, cable, podcasting, and YouTube channels were literally working overtime immediately before, during, and after the historic ABC News presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in Philadelphia.  TALKERS received reports from across the talk industry that, unlike so many events of this nature that prove disappointing, this debate delivered an edge-of-the-seat, non-stop drama that evoked comparisons to an emotional sporting event like a 12 round heavyweight championship bout during the golden age of boxing. Legendary WPHT, Philadelphia midday host Dom Giordano was in attendance reporting for his station as well as hundreds of others across America that tapped into his swing state perspective on an ad hoc basis.  Dom GiordanoGiordano tells TALKERS,  “Being in the Spin Room was like being in the middle of multiple simultaneous rugby scrums while trying to discuss the most sensitive issues for our country.”  During post-debate coverage, lead election anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum announced that FOX News Media sent letters to both the Harris and Trump campaigns around 7:30 pm before last night’s debate requesting the opportunity to host an additional debate in October. Here’s an excerpt from the letter:

We propose to host a debate in October while early in-person voting gets underway in multiple battleground states. We’d like to offer the following options:

  • Wednesday, October 9 in Arizona
  • Tuesday, October 15 in Georgia
  • Wednesday, October 16 in North Carolina

 Media critic Brian Stelter of CNN reports, “Multiple TV networks are eager to host a presidential debate in October. The Harris campaign, exuding confidence after Harris baited Trump on stage Tuesday night, immediately said she would agree to a second debate with the ex-president. But Trump is not committing, and his overnight comments suggest he is not serious about a sequel.”  On Fox & Friends this morning Trump rejected Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, the aforementioned anchors that FOX suggested as potential debate moderators in October proposing Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters or Laura Ingraham instead.

The next big event in this World Series of politics will be the VP debate between Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance to be hosted by CBS on October 1.

 

Industry News

FOX News Media to Simulcast Presidential Debate

FOX News Media is presenting live coverage of the CNN presidential debate on Thursday (6/27) from Atlanta. Special programming is being made available across FOX News Media platforms, including FOX News Channel, FOX Business Network, FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio and FOX Nation. At 7:00 pm ET, FNCim will kick off debate preview coverage with an early edition of “Jesse Watters Primetime,” followed by “FOX News Democracy 2024” at 8:00 pm ET with chief political anchor Bret Baier, anchor and executive editor Martha MacCallum, Dana Perino, Jesse Watters, and Sean Hannity from the debate’s spin room in Atlanta. The hosts will be joined by FNC senior political analyst Brit Hume and contributors Kellyanne Conway, Richard Fowler and Karl Rove. After the debate, Sean Hannity will host the 11:00 pm ET hour live on FNC from the spin room in Atlanta to break down the event and the public’s reaction.

Industry News

Salem Announces Presidential Debate Coverage

Salem Media Group announces that its Salem Radio Network and Salem News Channel are presenting aim two-hour special prior to the June 27th presidential debate from Atlanta. From 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Salem talk hosts Mike Gallagher, Dr. Sebastian Gorka, and Hugh Hewitt will “provide scene-setting commentary and analysis” and will interact with a live Atlanta audience. (The debate itself will have no in-studio audience and CNN is not giving Salem permission to broadcast the actual debate.) Mike Gallagher will host a 30-minute debate wrap-up beginning at 10:30 pm ET.