Tucker Carlson continues to receive offers from rival networks, including Newsmax, whose viewership has increased dramatically since Fox News removed him from the air last month.

Now, it appears that Newsmax is altering its programming in order to compete more effectively with Fox as the latter becomes more widely available.

“The niche conservative news channel is still small compared with Fox News, but its viewership has doubled and in some time slots even tripled since Tucker Carlson was dismissed,” The New York Times reported last week, adding that Newsmax is attempting to position itself as the “true home” for conservatives.

“So far, the strategy is showing some promise,” the Times added.

“Newsmax programming has aggressively pushed a narrative that Mr. Carlson’s dismissal was a capitulation to the left by Fox News and the Murdoch family,” the report continued.

“Fox has been moving to embrace more of an establishment position,” Newsmax’s chief executive, Christopher Ruddy, said last week, the Times reported. “They want to renounce some of the Trumpisms and populist MAGA stuff that Tucker was echoing.”

Ruddy, for his part, asserts that he will “embrace all sides of the Republican Party.”

Meanwhile, TMZ reported that in an attempt to entice Carlson, Ruddy made him an incredible offer, including the ability to program the entire network.

“Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … the news channel is doing everything it can to sweeten the deal for Tucker to come on board — including floating the idea of letting him program the whole channel, not just his own show,” the outlet added. “That would be a pretty enticing deal point … in addition to having his own primetime show, Tucker would have a say over what shows lead into and out of his show, which can be key in achieving bigger TV ratings.”

Carlson remains under contract with Fox News, so Newsmax has not yet made a formal job offer, but “network executives have made it clear to people around him that they would basically give him a big say in rebranding their channel,” the outlet reported.

Similarly, Newsmax appears to be endeavoring to replicate Fox News’s success. According to Mediaite, the network is contemplating launching a show similar to “The Five,” which features a panel of co-hosts discussing the day’s most pressing political and cultural issues. The Five is one of Fox News’ most popular programs and features other highly regarded presenters such as Greg Gutfeld and Jesse Watters.

“The network is launching a five-person panel program next week in the 9 p.m. hour, starring radio host Chris Plante, Newsmax host Jenn Pellegrino, and three others. The show is expected to debut Monday, May 8,” Mediaite reported, adding:

The show sounds suspiciously like The Five, a five-person panel program that has been a smash success on Fox News since its conception by Roger Ailes in 2011. Since Donald Trump’s departure from the White House in 2021, The Five has become one of the most-watched cable news programs, frequently surpassing the ratings titans of Fox News’ prime time.

The Daily Beast published a similar story, but Newsmax emailed the publication in advance to deny that the new program was scheduled to air.

“Newsmax is testing a number of shows, as we regularly do, and it would be a mistake to claim we are officially making any program changes at this time,” the outlet said.

Patrick Bet-David, CEO of Valuetainment, a media corporation comprised primarily of online streaming platforms such as YouTube, has also presented Carlson with an attractive offer.

More on this story via Conservative Brief:

“Dear Tucker, I’ll get right to the point. We want you to partner with us in what we feel is a noble and necessary effort to define the future of media,” Bet-David wrote in a letter posted online, adding: CONTINUE READING…