Despite Executive Changes at Fox Nation, Streaming Service Will Remain Focused on Lifestyle Programming
Lauren Petterson becomes president of the streamer, while Jason Klarman is moved to chief digital officer, but no content changes are currently in the plans.
The winds of change are blowing at Fox News. As the cable news network prepares for the 2024 presidential election, it has made some changes on the executive front that could also have big implications for the channel’s sibling streamer Fox Nation. However, even though much of the country will be tuned into the election in 2024, a Fox News spokesperson has confirmed to The Streamable that Fox Nation will continue to focus on lifestyle, comedy, and entertainment programming throughout next year, including many titles with big-name stars that have yet to be announced.
- Fox Nation is swapping presidents, from Jason Klarman to former “FOX & Friends” producer and Fox Business head Lauren Petterson.
- Klarman, who sat down for an interview with The Streamable recently, will become Fox News’ chief digital and marketing officer.
- While one could presume that the shake-ups could indicate that Fox Nation is moving away from lifestyle programming, that does not appear to be the case.
On Wednesday, Fox News announced that former Fox Nation president Jason Klarman has been elevated inside the network’s hierarchy and will now be the Chief Digital and Marketing Officer for Fox News, reporting to Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott. Taking over the day-to-day helm of Fox Nation will be outgoing Fox Business Network president Lauren Petterson. She will assume Klarman’s former role as president of Fox Nation while also continuing as president of talent development. Petterson will report to Klarman for all things Fox Nation.
Klarman’s new role will have him also overseeing Fox News Books and all of the network’s digital platforms, in addition to Fox Nation. Fox News has also promoted Porter Berry to president of Fox News Digital and Editor-In-Chief; he will report to Klarman on the digital side of his responsibilities.
‘Reimagining the Roles’ for Klarman and Petterson
As The Streamable learned in a sit-down interview with Klarman last month, the executive was incredibly proud of the work he did as president of Fox Nation. Under his guidance, the streamer transformed from a news-focused platform designed to provide shoulder content for the news network into a lifestyle and entertainment service featuring content like “Top Combat Pilot,” hosted by Dennis Quaid, and rebooting the “COPS” franchise which has become the most-watched show on the service.
In a statement made to The Streamable, a Fox News spokesperson indicated that there was no shift away from lifestyle and entertainment content for Fox Nation, despite the leadership changes and the upcoming election. The rep pointed to the statement made by Scott when the executive reorganization was announced on Wednesday.
“As we move our thriving business forward, we are reimagining the roles of some of our most talented executives to solidify our incredibly successful digital platforms for further growth and expansion,” the company’s CEO said. “Jason, Lauren and Porter are each uniquely suited for these positions, and I am confident they will grow each of their respective areas of FOX News Media to new heights.”
While “COPS” has been an important part of Fox Nation, the unscripted series also features prominently in the Fox Business Prime lineup. During primetime hours, FBN airs programming that more closely resembles the lifestyle and entertainment shows found on Fox Nation than the more financial content that airs on the network during the day. Having overseen Fox Business for four years, Petterson has been instrumental in the channel’s evening series, including “How America Works” with Mike Rowe, “Kelsey Grammer’s Historic Battles for America,” “Duck Family Treasure,” and more.
In addition, Petterson oversaw “FOX & Friends” for 11 years, which — while it does air on Fox News — is a morning show that focuses on opinion and pop culture more than it does journalism and reporting. Between her “FOX & Friends” and FBN experiences and her time as the head of talent development, Fox News believes that this will be a seamless transition as Petterson takes over Fox Nation. Despite her time on the news side of the network, the incoming president of Fox Nation will remain focused on lifestyle and entertainment content, even with the election coming next year.
In January, Fox Nation will launch its latest original show “A History of the World in Six Glasses,” in which Dan Aykroyd and a host of other iconic comedians will chronicle the history of beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and soda and how each has impacted the world at large. This will be the first of many new specials and series arriving on the service in 2024 with announcements slated to be made in the new year.
Fox Nation Is Diversifying While Competitors Try to Catch Up
Once the calendar turns to 2024, the Republican primaries will immediately heat up as the race to the 2024 election gets underway. While that will undoubtedly be the focus of Fox News, the network’s streaming sibling appears committed to the non-news path that it has been on in recent years. However, that does not mean that there are no other media entities of varying sizes looking to cut out a share of the conservative streaming space.
This week, former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson announced that he is launching his own streamer. Carlson was fired by Fox earlier this year, and struck out on his own, posting interviews with conservative figures on social media until creating a news-focused service of his own. Additionally, fledgling news network Newsmax has launched its own streaming platform for conservative news-watchers as it tries to outflank Fox News to the right.
Despite these challengers to Fox News’ top spot in the conservative news market, it appears that the network is committed to maintaining a fairly strong line of demarcation between the types of programming that it airs on its cable channel and its streaming service. However, with Petterson’s experience at Fox News, Fox Business, and as a two-time local Emmy Award-winning producer, if executives ever feel the need to return to the service to its roots, it is set up with an executive who is more than capable of straddling that line.
Fox Nation
Fox Nation is an entertainment streaming service created by Fox News and gives subscribers access to full, commercial-free episodes from well-known right-wing personalities like Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham, as well entertainment from Kevin Costner, Kelsey Grammer, Sharon Osbourne, Roseanne Barr, and Rob Schneider. Fox Nation service can be accessed as a standalone streamer or as an add-on to the live TV streaming services DIRECTV STREAM and Fubo. Start streaming today with a 60-day free trial.