It’s being described as “a new political digital initiative” that kicked off Tuesday as a newsletter, with a national linear broadcast debut date finalized for June 10. Introducing “Battleground,” from FOX First Run, which enjoys clearances on every FOX Television Stations property — including WTXF-29 in Philadelphia.
That’s a subtle message to Preston Padden and the Media and Democracy Project that FOX Television Stations is confident a license renewal challenge in front of the FCC involving WTXF’s airing of content during the 2020 U.S. presidential election campaign it deemed false will eventually fall flat.
The political program, which comes some five months ahead of election day, will be hosted by S.E. Cupp and “focus on the power of the seven swing states and their collective 93 electoral votes.” Serving as Executive Producer is Neal Kendall (Piedmont Studios, “Love and Respect with Killer Mike,” “The Arsenio Hall Show,” and “Tavis Smiley”).
In addition to every FOX Television Stations property, the 30-minute program will air on Bahakel Communications‘ WCCB-18 in Charlotte, an affiliate of The CW Network.
“Battleground” is scheduled to air Mondays for a nine-week cycle before its August 12 expansion to a Monday-Friday distribution schedule.
Stephen Brown, Executive Vice President of Programming and Development for FOX Television Stations and FOX First Run, said, “In what is shaping up to be a record political advertising year in local media, this initiative positions us to reap the benefits of exuberant spending on all sides. Our offering is unique in that local media, the newspapers, television, and radio stations, are ingrained in these communities and thus, can provide a deeper, more nuanced understanding of how voters will decide this election in each of those states.”
At WTXF “FOX 29” in Philadelphia, the stations’ Jeff Cole and Shiba Russell will contribute reports, while at WAGA-5 in Atlanta Ross Spencer will do the same. Three reporters — John Hook, Ellen McNamara and Steve Nielsen — from KSAZ “FOX 10” in Phoenix are offering reports, as is Jason Calvi from WITI “FOX 6” in Milwaukee.
Cupp is known for her role as a CNN political commentator, a nationally syndicated columnist, and a “practical conservative.”
FOX Television Stations owns and operates 29 full power broadcast television stations in the U.S.
Fox First Run is the distributor of “Dish Nation,” “Divorce Court,” “25 Words or Less,” “Pictionary,” “Person, Place, or Thing,” “TMZ,” and “TMZ Live.”
