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Blaze Media

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"The Blaze" redirects here. For other uses, see The Blaze (disambiguation).

Blaze Media
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaUnited States
HeadquartersIrving, Texas
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerBlaze Media LLC
History
LaunchedDecember 3, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-12-03)
Links
Webcastblazetv.com
Websitetheblaze.com
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Blaze Live
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaUnited States
HeadquartersIrving, Texas
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080p
Ownership
OwnerBlaze Media
History
LaunchedJuly 8, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-07-08)
Links
Webcasteu-landing.corp.pluto.tv

Blaze Media is an American conservative[1][2] media company. It was founded in 2018 as a result of a merger between TheBlaze and CRTV LLC. The company's leadership consists of CEO Tyler Cardon and president Gaston Mooney.[1] It is based in Irving, Texas, where it has studios and offices, as well as in Washington, D.C.

TheBlaze was a pay television network founded by Glenn Beck. Originally, it was called Glenn Beck TV, created after Beck's departure from Fox in 2011. In 2012, the network took the name of Beck's popular website, TheBlaze. From 2014 to 2017, the company had four different CEOs, followed by Beck himself. Months after Beck took the position, the company laid off over a fourth of its staff. CRTV LLC, which operated the Conservative Review and CRTV (Conservative Review Television), was an online subscription network.

History

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On August 31, 2010, three days after his Restoring Honor rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., conservative political commentator Glenn Beck launched the TheBlaze website, describing it as an alternative to "mainstream media outlets".[3] TheBlaze headquarters are located in Irving, Texas, at the Mercury Studios (formerly the Studios at Las Colinas).[4][5]

Beck announced the creation of an online-only network replacing Insider Extreme as a result of his Fox News departure on June 7, 2011. On September 12, 2011, Beck launched GBTV (Glenn Beck TV) as an exclusive internet streaming network, produced and operated by Mercury Radio Arts. GBTV would air a television adaptation of his radio show, his television show, and other original programming, including Real News from TheBlaze, a nightly news program hosted by former CNN personality Amy Holmes.[6] On June 18, 2012, Mercury Radio Arts announced the consolidation of all of its outlets under the "TheBlaze" brand, thus renaming the internet television station from GBTV to TheBlaze.[7]

In 2012, Dish Network placed TheBlaze on its channel lineup. As a result of the "Get TheBlaze" campaign (a movement led by supporters to have other supporters call their cable or satellite television provider and ask them to carry the channel), several smaller, regional cable operators also have recently picked up TheBlaze—including Cablevision (also known as Optimum TV – Channel 828), a major cable provider in the New York metropolitan area.[8][9]

Betsy Morgan was named CEO of TheBlaze on December 9, 2014, replacing Chris Balfe, who had been CEO since the beginning. Morgan left the company in June 2015.[10] Chief Revenue Officer Kraig Kitchin replaced Morgan until he resigned in January 2016, taking the position of Interim Head of Sales and being replaced by Stewart Padveen, a digital startup entrepreneur, who resigned in February 2017. Beck took over as CEO of the company in May 2017.[11]

In November 2015, Beck sent an open letter to the Republican National Committee, requesting permission for TheBlaze to host a Republican presidential debate; this offer was not accepted.[12][13]

TheBlaze was dropped by Cablevision on August 31, 2016.[14] A year later, on August 31, 2017, TheBlaze laid off nearly 60 employees, which cut its personnel by almost 30%.[15]

On December 28, 2018, Verizon Fios removed TheBlaze from its lineup.[16] TheBlaze is available as Blaze Live on ad-supported streaming service Pluto TV with 24 hours a day programming.

Merger with CRTV

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On December 3, 2018, TheBlaze Inc. television arm merged with CRTV LLC, combining resources, personalities, personnel, subscribers, and programming. The merged entity, named Blaze Media, retained TheBlaze's channel slot and incorporated two of CRTV's programs into the channel's schedule (Steve Deace Show and Wilkow!).[17][18]

Gavin McInnes, the co-founder of Vice Media and Vice magazine,[19][20] founder of the Proud Boys,[21] was expected to host his programs Get Off My Lawn and CRTV Tonight for the new company, whose co-president, Gaston Mooney, called McInnes "a comedian and provocateur, one of the many varied voices and viewpoints on Blaze Media platforms." Less than a week after the merger, however, it was announced that McInnes was no longer associated with Blaze Media, with no details given as to why.[22][23] Former contributor Michelle Malkin likewise followed McInnes out the door after CRTV's merger with TheBlaze in December 2018.[24]

TheBlaze Dallas studios at the Studios at Las Colinas looking into the television control room

Notable program hosts for television, and radio and podcasts

[edit]
TheBlaze Radio Network
Broadcast areaWorldwide via Internet streaming and smartphone apps
FrequencyInternet (iHeartRadio, TheBlaze apps, web)
Programming
FormatConservative libertarian talk radio
Ownership
OwnerBlaze Media LLC
History
First air date
September 5, 2012
Technical information
ClassInternet radio station
Links
Websitewww.theblaze.com/st/Radio

Frequent guests

[edit]

Former hosts and contributors

[edit]

Additional outlets

[edit]

Radio

[edit]

TheBlaze Radio Network was launched on September 5, 2012, and is available for free online via the company's website, iOS and Android apps, and the iHeartRadio app. TheBlaze Radio Network is the only host airing conservative talk-show host Pat Gray.

Website

[edit]
TheBlaze.com
show screenshot
Homepage screenshot on May 14, 2016
Type of site
Online newspaper
Available inEnglish
OwnerBlaze Media LLC
EditorLeon Wolf
URLtheblaze.com
CommercialYes
LaunchedAugust 26, 2010; 14 years ago (2010-08-26)
Current statusActive

TheBlaze website launched on August 26, 2010. According to Beck, the site took two months to design.[3] At launch, the site's chief editor was Scott Baker, with its associate editor-video producer Pam Key and with Jon Seidl and Meredith Jessup as reporters. Key is known for her blog, Naked Emperor News: Smoking Gun Video and Images. Baker is a former Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, broadcast journalist who previously worked at The Huffington Post and Breitbart TV. Seidl, of the Manhattan Institute, previously worked at The American Spectator. Jessup previously worked at Townhall. Journalists joining TheBlaze later included S. E. Cupp and David Harsanyi.

In January 2011, Betsy Morgan became president and Kraig Kitchin director of sales. Morgan had helmed The Huffington Post until 2009. Kitchin had formerly been the president of Premier Radio.[32]

In March 2011, the site was noted for its critique of James O'Keefe's NPR sting video.[33]

Magazine

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TheBlaze (entitled Fusion prior to September 2012) was a monthly news magazine published by Mercury Radio Arts and TheBlaze in New York City and circulated throughout the United States. Its former title, Fusion, was taken from Beck's talk radio program's slogan, "The Fusion of Entertainment and Enlightenment." The editor-in-chief was Scott Baker.[34] The magazine was sixteen pages and was published monthly except for February and August. It was available digitally and in print.[35] The last edition of TheBlaze magazine was published in April 2015.

References

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  1. ^ a b Hayes, Dade (December 3, 2018). "TheBlaze And CRTV Merge To Create Blaze Media, Uniting Glenn Beck With Fox News Host Mark Levin". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  2. ^ Fields, Michelle (October 5, 2016). "Conservative News Darling Is Falling Apart, Staff Says". HuffPost. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Barr, Andy (August 31, 2010). "Beck launches news site". Politico. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  4. ^ DeLong, Matt (August 31, 2010). "Glenn Beck launches conservative news site The Blaze". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  5. ^ Ember, Sydney (August 8, 2017). "Sinclair Deal Draws Unlikely Opponent: Conservative News Media". The New York Times. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  6. ^ "Amy Holmes Joins Glenn Beck's GBTV Network As Anchor". The Huffington Post. August 9, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  7. ^ Krakauer, Steve (June 18, 2012). "Glenn Beck drops his name from Web network, promises media 'revolution'". CNN. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  8. ^ Morgenstern, Madeleine (March 28, 2013). "TheBlaze TV Launching on 4 More Cable Operators". TheBlaze. Archived from the original on March 28, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  9. ^ Adams, Becket (May 1, 2013). "TheBlaze Extends Its Reach, Announces TV Deal With Tri-State (NY, NJ, CT) Cable Provider". TheBlaze. Archived from the original on May 3, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  10. ^ Joyella, Mark (June 18, 2015). "Betsy Morgan, CEO of Glenn Beck's The Blaze, Steps Down". Adweek. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  11. ^ Beck, Glenn (July 12, 2017). "Another really long day. Got in around six..." Retrieved October 28, 2020 – via Facebook. I took over as the CEO of my entire company (all divisions) about 8 weeks ago because I wanted to change direction.
  12. ^ Haraldsson, Hrafnkell (November 3, 2015). "Glenn Beck Wants to Host a GOP Debate and Bill O'Reilly Hopes They Let Him". PoliticusUSA. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  13. ^ "Republican Debate Schedule (2016 Primary Debates)". Central Election. October 14, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  14. ^ "The world isn't ending". TheBlaze. August 16, 2016.
  15. ^ Grove, Lloyd (September 1, 2017). "After Mass Layoffs, Can Glenn Beck Still Save 'The Blaze'?". The Daily Beast. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  16. ^ Concha, Joe (December 28, 2018). "BlazeTV dropped from Verizon Fios". The Hill. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  17. ^ Darcy, Oliver (December 3, 2018). "Glenn Beck's TheBlaze and CRTV merge to create conservative media compa". CNN. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  18. ^ Breuninger, Kevin (December 3, 2018). "Glenn Beck's The Blaze and Mark Levin's CRTV merge to form right-wing outlet Blaze Media, which could rival the new Fox News streaming service". CNBC. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  19. ^ Pareene, Alex (January 23, 2008). "Co-Founder Gavin McInnes Finally Leaves 'Vice'". Gawker. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  20. ^ Pareene, Alex (November 19, 2007). "The 'Vice' Boys Are All Grown Up And Working For Viacom". Gawker. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  21. ^ Sommer, Will (June 18, 2019). "Police Stop Far-Right Proud Boys From Reaching Anti-Trump Protest in Orlando". The Daily Beast. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  22. ^ Bowden, John (December 8, 2018). "BlazeTV breaks off relationship with founder of the Proud Boys". The Hill. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  23. ^ Stelloh, Tim (December 10, 2018). "'Proud Boys' founder Gavin McInnes out at Blaze Media". NBC News. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  24. ^ Levine, Jon (December 10, 2018). "Blaze TV Hosts Michelle Malkin, Gavin McInnes Out After CRTV Merger". TheWrap. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  25. ^ m.youtube.com/@SaraGonzalesUnfiltered
  26. ^ "Blaze News Tonight". YouTube.
  27. ^ "Liz Wheeler". YouTube.
  28. ^ "Kibbe on Liberty". BlazeTV. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  29. ^ "In the Woods with Phil". BlazeTV. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  30. ^ Smith, Ben (September 5, 2024). "Blaze fires contributor linked to alleged Russian operation". Semafor. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  31. ^ "Something's Off with Andrew Heaton". Archived from the original on May 3, 2019.
  32. ^ Lang, Brent (January 5, 2011). "Glenn Beck Hires HuffPo's Morgan for His Fledgling Website". TheWrap. Archived from the original on January 8, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  33. ^ "Analysts, NPR: Video edit of executive misleading". East Bay Times. Associated Press. March 14, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  34. ^ "Scott Baker". TheBlaze. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  35. ^ "FAQ". TheBlaze. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
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