One of the most successful hosts to jump from cable TV to the news and politics creator ecosystem is launching a podcast network of her own.
Former Fox News primetime star Megyn Kelly says that she is launching MK Media, a video and audio podcast network that will work with creators and journalists in the news and entertainment space. The first three shows will be hosted by journalist and 2Way founder Mark Halperin, Daily Mail culture columnist Maureen Callahan, and influencer and political commentator Link Lauren, and others will follow.
“I’m thrilled to launch MK Media and to use our platform to help sane, reasonable, good-humored people build their own followings in this new media space,” says Kelly. “I am a huge fan of Mark’s, Maureen’s and Link’s and I know our audience will be as excited as I am to hear more from them.”
Kelly adds that she expects to have other names joining MK Media soon, as it contemplates expanding into other genres beyond news and entertainment.
Halperin, a veteran of ABC News and Bloomberg, will host Next Up, a news show.
“America is filled with quality sandboxes; I can say without fear of contradiction that the Megyn Kelly sandbox is as good as it gets these days,” Halperin said in a statement. “I’d point out that I’m thrilled to play Dr. Phil to Megyn’s Oprah, but that metaphor might be lost on some.”
Callahan previously wrote for Vanity Fair and the New York Post, and will host the entertainment and culture-focused show The Nerve.
“What an unexpected joy getting to know (and love) Megyn Kelly. But for her to give me my own show, on her new network, is beyond anything I could have anticipated,” Callahan added. “I can’t wait to get going over on The Nerve, digging into pop culture, celebrity scandals, and all the stories that captivate, aggravate and fascinate.”
Lauren previously worked as a communications advisor to the presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and has gained a following on platforms like TikTok. He will host the news-focused show Spot On.
“Megyn is a powerhouse whose work ethic and journalism inspire me,” Lauren added. “This venture is a win not only for me, but for my existing audience and those who’ve been dismissed by the mainstream media. My goal is to always deliver the news in a way that’s fact-based and entertaining—that’s what you’ll get from Spot On and I can’t wait to hit the ground running to make this show a success.”
Steve Krakauer, executive producer of The Megyn Kelly Show and AM Update, will oversee the MK Media shows.
Kelly launched her daily podcast in 2020, before switching to a live radio format in a deal with SiriusXM the following year. She has since added a video version that streams on YouTube and is spliced and shared on social platforms, where its clips garner hundreds of millions of views each month. Earlier this year she also launched a 15-minute news show called AM Update with Megyn Kelly.
The podcast network speaks to the growing influence of news and politics podcasts, with right-leaning talent having particular success. And it also speaks to the growing importance of video podcasts, with YouTube becoming a bona fide juggernaut in the space (Kelly has 3.5 million subscribers on the platform), and now counts more than one billion monthly active users.
At the same time, top podcast talent and other star hosts have had success leveraging their reach to incubate and launch new shows. Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper launched The Unwell Network, while HBO host Bill Maher last year launched his own network based on his Club Random podcast.
Kelly has authority in the news and politics space, and like other conservative-leaning creators is seeking to gain a foothold in the entertainment and pop culture space.
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