Donald Trump prepares for an interview following the CNBC Republican Presidential Debate. (Getty)
Donald Trump has dominated the news cycle since announcing his GOP candidacy in the summer.
The mention of his name alone can stir heated debate. However, most can agree on one thing: Trump knows how to make headlines.
TV and digital media companies have seen spikes in viewership and readership during his presidential run. Could Trump now want a piece of that audience?
According to a Vanity Fair report Thursday, the presumptive Republican nominee is thinking about capitalizing on his candidacy by creating his own cable network.
Trump is exploring a “mini media conglomerate” to monetize his appearances in the press, unnamed sources told Vanity Fair.
Here are five fast facts you need to know:
1. Vanity Fair Reports That There Already Are Plans to Create ‘Trump TV’
Donald Trump sits with his wife, Melania Trump while appearing on the Today Show on April 21, 2016. (Getty)
By running for president, Trump may have gained a built-in audience for his own network.
Trump has been consulting with his daughter, Ivanka and her husband, New York Observer owner Jared Kushner, to expand Trump Productions LLC, Vanity Fair reports, citing several unnamed people briefed on Trump’s conversations.
It isn’t clear in the article what sort of media company Trump would start, although it is implied that it could be a cable channel, which would cater to his supporters.
The Vanity Fair article says:
The presumptive Republican nominee is examining the opportunity presented by the “audience” currently supporting him. He has also discussed the possibility of launching a “mini-media conglomerate” outside of his existing TV-production business, Trump Productions LLC. He has, according to one of these people, enlisted the consultation of his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who owns the The New York Observer. Trump’s rationale, according to this person, is that, “win or lose, we are onto something here. We’ve triggered a base of the population that hasn’t had a voice in a long time.
This comes as Trump’s relationship with the press is increasingly strained. Trump has revoked press credentials from The Washington Post, Politico among others.
Fox News rose to prominence during the 2000 election by branding itself as a trusted alternative to current news sources. A potential “Trump TV” could position itself in a similar way to Trump’s loyalists.
“Even old Fox News didn’t have the right read on what the base is,” a person briefed on the matter told the publication. “And we do.”
2. Trump’s Spokesperson Initially Denied the Story
Donald Trump appears at an NBC Town Hall in New York City. (Getty)
Trump’s spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, issued two denials that the presumptive nominee was even considering this possibility.
“There is absolutely no truth to this whatsoever,” she told Vanity Fair. “This hasn’t been even uttered. Not even thought about.”
Hicks clarified her statement in a later message, which seems to leave the door open for the possibility of a network in the future: “While it’s true Mr. Trump garners exceptionally high ratings, there are absolutely no plans or discussions taking place regarding a venture of this nature.”
3. Trump Hinted at a Future in Cable News on Twitter
The press is so totally biased that we have no choice but to take our tough but fair and smart message directly to the people!
Trump tweeted on Wednesday: “The press is so totally biased that we have no choice but to take our tough but fair and smart message directly to the people!”
Could this indicate his own cable network? It certainly leaves room for speculation.
Trump frequently boasts about the ratings he has prompted and the money its bringing to media outlets.
“This is the ultimate reality show,” Trump strategist and campaign manger Paul Manafort said to MSNBC’s Chris Matthews back in May, about the race and upcoming GOP convention. “Donald Trump understands media. He’s a television star. And he’s connected with America.”
Trump also recently tweeted out a link to an article by the Washington Post, which calls Trump a “one-man ratings machine.” The article points out a boost in ratings for the Republican presidential debates on cable TV outlets last year.
The prime-time viewership for the three main cable news networks improved in 2015 to an average of 3.1 million, from a 2014 average of 2.8 million, according to a new Pew Research Center State of the News Media report.
Pew assesses that the increase resulted “in part” from interest in the 2016 campaign.
4. Trump Reportedly Is Upset That Media Networks Have Been Able to Monetize His Candidacy
Donald Trump speaks with Fox News reporter John Roberts following a press conference in March. (Getty)
According to Vanity Fair, Trump gripes at the way media have been able to make money off his campaign without him getting a cut.
He believes “he has the business acumen and the ratings for his own network,” the source told Vanity Fair.
However, some media outlets are questioning whether his campaign was a “scheme” to launch a TV network all along.
5. Trump Is No Stranger to TV
Donald Trump attends the “Celebrity Apprentice” Red Carpet Event at Trump Tower in January of 2015. (Getty)
In 2004 Trump took advantage of his high-profile persona when he began starring in the NBC reality series “The Apprentice”, which quickly became a hit.
The success of the show resulted numerous spin-offs, including one that featured well-known figures as contestants, airing under the revised name The Celebrity Apprentice.
Following Trumps controversial remarks about Mexicans and immigration, NBC cut their ties with him.
NBC said in a statement:
Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump,” NBC responded in a statement. “To that end, the annual Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants, which are part of a joint venture between NBC and Trump, will no longer air on NBC.
Trump will not be participating in “The New Celebrity Apprentice” on NBC, in his place will be Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In response to NBC, Trump filed a $500 million dollar lawsuit against the company, with his daughter, Ivanka stating that her father’s comments were distorted by the media.
According to the Vanity Fair report, in 2011 NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke and Trump, who was considering a run for president at the time, agreed that if Trump ran for president and won, he’d continue starring in his NBC reality series, “The Apprentice,” as commander-in-chief should he win the office.