Fox News Inks Licensing Deal With Ruthless Podcast in Push Toward New Media

Fox News announced a licensing a deal with the Ruthless podcast on Tuesday, marking a shift toward new media from the cable news giant.

Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News Media, announced the deal along with the expansion of Porter Berry’s role at the company. The president and editor-in-chief of Fox News Digital will now add ‘New Media’ to his title – overseeing Ruthless and other properties in the changing media landscape.

“The Ruthless deal is a natural extension of our powerhouse brand as audiences reshape how they consume quality content,” Scott said in a statement from the network. “We have cultivated an unrivaled bench of successful personalities who are well-positioned to excel in today’s evolving media landscape, where podcasting offers the kind of deep engagement our platforms are known for.”

The “variety progrum” is co-hosted by Josh Holmes, Michael Duncan and John Ashbrook, as well as Shashank Tripathi, the social media personality known as “Comfortably Smug.” The group comprises the founding partners of public affairs consulting firm Cavalry.

They started the podcast ahead of the 2020 election, providing listeners with a conservative political talk show sometimes regarded as the “Pod Save America” of the right.

“There is a growing appetite for authentic political and cultural conversations, and our podcast delivers with no-holds-barred, irreverent takes that deeply resonate with our dedicated audience,” the co-hosts said in a joint statement.

The deal marks a shift for the cable news industry, which has long grown talent within its own studios — particularly Fox News, which has for years turned young broadcasters into stars. Now, Fox is also looking to add talent to their roster from the booming podcast world.

“As the creator economy continues to evolve — a spirit that Ruthless has championed from the start — we are expanding our reach to meet audiences wherever they engage with Fox News Media content,” said Berry.