Topline
Elon Musk invited MSNBC host Rachel Maddow and former CNN anchor Don Lemon to follow former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and broadcast a primetime news show on Twitter and promised “full support” from the platform, the latest effort by the Twitter owner to draw high profile content creators to the site as ad-revenues reportedly declines.
Elon Musk wants other news anchors to follow in Tucker Carlson’s footsteps and bring their show to … [+]
Key Facts
In a tweet that is pinned to the top of his timeline, Musk shared the second episode of Carlson’s new show and said it would be “great to have” Maddow, Lemon and “others on the left” to follow suit and “put their shows” on Twitter.
The billionaire said Twitter is not seeking exclusivity over the content adding that no legal documents are needed.
Without elaborating, Musk said the anchors would have “full support” from his company and reiterated his stance that Twitter’s “digital town square is for all.”
Tangent
Carlson aired the second episode of his new show on Thursday where he veered into conspiracies about former president Barack Obama’s personal life. The second episode was aired despite a legal threat from Fox News a day earlier where the network accused him of breaching his contract with them by broadcasting his show on Twitter.
Key Background
Musk’s invitation is the latest in a series of efforts by the billionaire to draw more content creators to the platform. This has included the addition of new features such as support for long-form text, video uploads up to two hours long and allowing creators to monetize their content with subscriptions. In February, the billionaire also promised to share a slice of Twitter’s ad revenue with creators, although this is yet to be implemented. The reason behind the delay is unclear, but it was reported earlier this week that the company’s ad revenue in the U.S. was down 59% in April, compared with the previous year. According to the New York Times, Twitter estimated its May ad revenue would be down by a similar 56% over last year. Amid Twitter’s ad struggles, it is still unclear how Carlson plans to make money off the show as it has included no ads so far and is not paywalled behind a subscription. Musk has stated that Twitter has not signed any deal with Carlson and he has access to the same monetization features as any other creator.
News Peg
Musk’s appeal to news hosts “on the left” to join Twitter comes weeks after speculation and commentary that he was attempting to transform the platform into a Fox News challenger and a conservative media powerhouse. This was brought up after Carlson’s Twitter show announcement and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to launch his 2024 campaign in an interview with Musk on Twitter instead of traditional outlets like Fox News. That event, however, was marred by severe technical issues.
Further Reading
Tucker Carlson Launches New Twitter Show Weeks After Fox News Ouster—And Talks Ukraine And UFOs (Forbes)
Twitter’s U.S. Ad Sales Down 59% Despite Musk’s ‘Breaking Even’ Claims, Report Says (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/06/09/musk-asks-rachel-maddow-and-don-lemon-to-put-their-shows-on-twitter-after-tucker-carlson/