The First TV

Last updated
The First TV
TypeConservative opinion and commentary network
Country United States
Programming
Language(s)English
Ownership
OwnerThe First Digital, Inc.
History
LaunchedOctober 2019
Links
Website www.thefirsttv.com

The First, also called The First TV and stylized as The F1rst, is a conservative opinion and commentary network in the United States started in October 2019. It has five hosts, including Bill O'Reilly.

Contents

History

The First was launched in October 2019 on Pluto TV, a streaming platform owned by Paramount Global. [1] It was started in partnership with Red Seat Ventures. [2] It offers about 45 hours of original programming a week. [3] In January 2023, The First was added to DirecTV, after it concurrently dropped Newsmax TV due to demands for carriage fees. [4]

Hosts

The First launched with two hosts in October 2019, combat veteran Jesse Kelly [5] [6] and former CIA analyst Buck Sexton. [7] In January 2020, the network added California-based talk radio host Mike Slater [8] and Dana Loesch. [9] [10] On June 1, 2020, the network announced that Bill O'Reilly was joining the network with his show No Spin News. [11] [12] He began the online show in 2017 after being fired from Fox News Channel, in the wake of The New York Times publishing details of six sexual misconduct lawsuits O'Reilly had settled. [3] [13] [14] Former OANN host, CPAC speaker, and conservative podcaster Liz Wheeler was added to the network in January 2023. [15] Josh Hammer hosts America on Trial with Josh Hammer, a legal podcast primarily focused on the 2024 United States presidential election. [16] [17] [18] Mike Baker hosts a podcast called The President's Daily Brief. [19]

Reception

Tyler Hersko of IndieWire criticized ViacomCBS for their involvement in O'Reilly's show, commenting that its Pluto TV debut coincided with the date that its entertainment and youth channels were made unavailable for eight minutes 46 seconds in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. Hersko found this hypocritical in light of comments made by O'Reilly about African-Americans. [2] A petition by ViacomCBS employees urged the company to remove The First for similar reasons. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viacom (2005–2019)</span> American mass media company (2005–2019)

The second phase of Viacom Inc., was an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate with interests primarily in film and television. It was established on December 31, 2005, as one of two companies which succeeded the original Viacom, alongside the second CBS Corporation. The controlling shareholder of both companies was National Amusements, a theater company headed by businessman Sumner Redstone. The split was structured so that the original Viacom changed its name to CBS Corporation and spun out its cable and film interests as a new Viacom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)</span> American political commentator, television host and writer

William James O'Reilly Jr. is an American conservative commentator, journalist, author, and television host.

<i>The OReilly Factor</i> American cable television news and talk show (1996–2017)

The O'Reilly Factor was an American cable television news and talk show. The O'Reilly Factor first aired in the United States on Fox News Channel on October 7, 1996, the same day the network launched. It was hosted by independent commentator Bill O'Reilly, who discussed current events and controversial political issues with guests. The final episode aired on April 21, 2017.

Paramount Media Networks is an American mass media division of Paramount Global that oversees the operations of its television channels and online brands. The division was originally founded as MTV Networks in 1984, named after the MTV cable network. It would be known under this name until 2011; when it would be thereafter known as Viacom Media Networks until 2019; and ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks until 2022.

<i>Inside Edition</i> American newsmagazine television program

Inside Edition is an American newsmagazine television program that is distributed in first-run syndication by CBS Media Ventures. Having premiered on January 9, 1989, it is the longest-running syndicated-newsmagazine program that is not strictly focused on hard news. Though it does feature the latter, the rest of each day's edition mainly features a mix of infotainment stories, entertainment news and gossip, scandals, true-crime stories and lifestyle features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CBS Broadcast Center</span> Television studios in Manhattan, New York

The CBS Broadcast Center is a television and radio production facility located on the West Side of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is CBS's main East Coast production hub, similar to CBS Studio Center in Los Angeles as the West Coast hub. The Broadcast Center is one of three production facilities in Manhattan utilized by Paramount Global. The other two are the Ed Sullivan Theater, which hosts The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, along with the Times Square studios for CBS Mornings, located in the company's headquarters at One Astor Plaza.

CBS Sports Network is an American digital cable and satellite television network owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global. When it launched in 2002 as the National College Sports Network, it operated as a multi-platform media brand which also included its primary website, collegesports.com, and a network of websites operated for the athletic departments of 215 colleges and universities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox News Radio</span> American radio network

Fox News Radio is an American radio network owned by Fox News. It is syndicated to over 500 AM and FM radio stations across the United States. It also supplies programming for three channels on Sirius XM Satellite Radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WYSL</span> Radio station in Avon, New York

WYSL is a commercial radio station licensed to Avon, New York, and serving the Rochester metropolitan area. It broadcasts a talk radio format and is known as "The Voice of Liberty." The station is owned by Robert C. Savage under the name "Radio Livingston."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KVI</span> Talk radio station in Seattle

KVI is a commercial radio station in Seattle, Washington. Owned by Lotus Communications, it airs a conservative talk radio format called "News Talk 570 KVI." Its transmitter is on Vashon Island and its studios and offices are located with former sister station KOMO-TV at KOMO Plaza in Seattle.

Paramount Streaming is a division of Paramount Global that oversees the company's video streaming technology and direct-to-consumer services; including Pluto TV and Paramount+. It was founded in 2005, Tom Ryan is President and CEO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KIRO-FM</span> Radio station in Tacoma, Washington

KIRO-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Tacoma, Washington, and serving the Seattle-Tacoma radio market. It airs a news/talk radio format and is owned by Salt Lake City–based Bonneville International, a broadcasting company owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The studios and offices are located on Eastlake Avenue East in Seattle's Eastlake district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States cable news</span> News disseminated through cable television networks

Cable news channels are television networks devoted to television news broadcasts, with the name deriving from the proliferation of such networks during the 1980s with the advent of cable television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WETR</span> Radio station in Knoxville, Tennessee

WETR is a commercial AM radio station in Knoxville, Tennessee. It airs a talk radio format and is owned by Thomas Moffit, Jr. The studios are on East Magnolia Avenue in Knoxville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Nickelodeon</span> Historical timeline

Nickelodeon is an American basic cable and satellite television network that is part of the Nickelodeon Group, a unit of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global, which focuses on programs for children and teenagers ages 2 to 17 years old.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blaze Media</span> American conservative media company

Blaze Media is an American conservative media company. It was founded in 2018 as a result of a merger between TheBlaze and CRTV LLC. The company's leadership consists of CEO Tyler Cardon and president Gaston Mooney. It is based in Irving, Texas, where it has studios and offices, as well as in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dana Loesch</span> American conservative political commentator (born 1978)

Dana Lynn Loesch is an American radio and TV host. She is a former spokesperson for the National Rifle Association and a former writer and editor for Breitbart News. Loesch was the host of the program Dana on TheBlaze TV from 2014 to 2017. She also hosts a nationally syndicated weekday radio talk show. Loesch has appeared as a guest on television networks such as Fox News, CNN, CBS, ABC, and HBO.

Newsmax TV is an American conservative television channel owned by Newsmax. The network primarily focuses on political opinion-based talk shows. It carries a news/talk format throughout the day and night, with documentaries and films on weekends. During and after the 2020 United States presidential election, it grew rapidly by broadcasting conspiracy theories and allegations of voter fraud.

CBS News 24/7 is an American streaming video news channel operated by the CBS News and Paramount Streaming divisions of Paramount Global. Launched on November 6, 2014, it features blocks of live, rolling news coverage, original programs, as well as encore airings of CBS News television programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pluto TV</span> Internet-based TV platform

Pluto TV is a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service owned and operated by the Paramount Streaming division of Paramount Global.

References

  1. 1 2 "ViacomCBS employees pressure Pluto TV to stop streaming new Bill O'Reilly show". Los Angeles Times . 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  2. 1 2 Hersko, Taylor (3 June 2020). "ViacomCBS Put 'I Can't Breathe' on Its Networks, Still Gives New Bill O'Reilly Show a Platform". IndieWire .
  3. 1 2 Fischer, Sara. "Bill O'Reilly's show to air on conservative streaming network The First". Axios . Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  4. Harris, Raquel (26 January 2023). "DirecTV to Launch Right-Wing Commentary Network 'The First'". TheWrap . Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  5. "'The Jesse Kelly Show' Enters Syndication Via Key Networks". Insideradio.com. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  6. "Key Networks to Bring". news.radio-online.com. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  7. "Viacom's Pluto TV Adds New Conservative Channel | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  8. "True Story with Mike Slater". ART19. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  9. ""The Dana Show" on The First and PlutoTV". 15 January 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  10. Cooperman, Jeannette (2018-09-13). "The making of the NRA's Dana Loesch". St. Louis Magazine . Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  11. Pedersen, Erik (2020-06-01). "Bill O'Reilly Returns To TV As 'No Spin News' On OTT's The First". Deadline . Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  12. "Bill O'Reilly to host talk show on WABC radio". Newsday. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  13. Nam, Rafael (2020-06-01). "O'Reilly's 'No Spin News' to air on conservative digital network The First". The Hill . Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  14. Schwartz, Brian (2020-09-11). "Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly gets new show on radio station owned by Trump ally". CNBC . Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  15. "The Liz Wheeler Show" to Premiere 5 Days Every Week, Announces Prime Time Slot on The First TV Network" (Press release).
  16. "Josh Hammer on the Trump Trials and the Border Battle". Clay and Buck. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  17. "America on Trial". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  18. "Podcasts from the First". The First. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  19. "Presidents Daily Brief". Amazon Daily Music. Retrieved 27 February 2024.