Fox Corporation has acquired Red Seat Ventures, a digital media company that produces content for several high-profile media personalities. This acquisition marks a significant expansion into podcasting and brings former stars back into Fox’s orbit.
The acquisition, announced Monday, February 10, 2025, will place Red Seat Ventures under Fox’s Tubi Media Group umbrella, though the company will maintain operational independence. Red Seat Ventures provides various services, including production support, advertising sales, and event management, primarily to conservative media creators.
“From podcasts to video, subscription products, and live events, such as the wholly owned CrimeCon, Red Seat Ventures has an unmatched track record of successfully partnering with some of the biggest brands and personalities to operate and expand their cross-platform direct to consumer presence,” said Tubi Media Group CEO Paul Cheesbrough in a statement.
Among Red Seat’s prominent clients is Megyn Kelly, who left NBC News in 2018 following widespread controversy over her comments about blackface during a Halloween costume discussion on her show, “Megyn Kelly Today.” Kelly questioned why dressing in blackface for Halloween was considered offensive, saying, “When I was a kid, that was okay as long as you were dressing up as like a character.”
The remarks were immediately condemned for appearing to defend blackface, a practice rooted in racist minstrel shows. Although Kelly issued a public apology, stating, “I realize now that such behavior is indeed wrong, and I am sorry,” NBC canceled her show shortly thereafter.
Kelly subsequently launched Devil May Care Media in September 2020, partnering with Red Seat Ventures to produce “The Megyn Kelly Show,” which streams on YouTube and runs on SiriusXM. The show focuses on news, current events, and legal and cultural issues, with Kelly stating she would “answer only to my audience and my conscience.”
Tucker Carlson, who Fox News ousted in April 2023, launched the Tucker Carlson Network in December 2023. Carlson’s sudden departure from Fox News followed Fox’s $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in a defamation lawsuit related to false claims about the 2020 presidential election. His private messages, disclosed during the lawsuit, contained sharp criticisms of Fox management and other controversial remarks that reportedly contributed to his dismissal. While Fox News did not provide a specific reason for the separation, the timing fueled speculation.
Since its inception, his podcast, “The Tucker Carlson Show,” has produced 182 episodes and has become one of the most popular podcasts in the United States.
Founded by brothers Chris and Kevin Balfe, Red Seat Ventures has established itself as a comprehensive service provider for content creators. “From the beginning, Red Seat Ventures has had the opportunity to work with some of the most influential creators in the world to grow their new media businesses and develop their personal brands,” said Chris Balfe. “In aligning with Fox, we will be able to build upon that investment and expand the services we provide to our creators, while continuing to maintain the independence and integrity of their brands, which is truly the best-case scenario.”
The company’s client roster extends beyond Kelly and Carlson to include Bill O’Reilly, who departed Fox in 2017, and other prominent media figures such as Dr. Phil, Nancy Grace, Piers Morgan, and former Trump administration figure Vivek Ramaswamy. Red Seat Ventures provides these creators comprehensive services, including billing, payroll, and production support.
This acquisition isn’t Fox’s first venture into the podcasting space, as the company previously purchased Outkick, a right-leaning sports and political commentary platform. The move aligns with a broader industry trend of traditional media companies adapting to changing audience preferences by investing in digital-first creators and platforms.
Red Seat Ventures will continue to operate as a standalone entity within the Tubi Media Group structure, with each show maintaining its independence from Fox’s more extensive media operations. The acquisition is expected to drive additional scale in genres such as sports, news, and entertainment while supporting the continued growth of the creator economy.
