Blaze Media

Blaze Media is an American conservative media company formed in December 2018 through the merger of TheBlaze Inc.'s television operations and CRTV LLC. The business is associated with conservative broadcaster and entrepreneur Glenn Beck through Mercury Radio Arts, the production company that owns it. Its principal base is in Irving, Texas, at the Mercury Studios complex formerly known as the Studios at Las Colinas, with additional offices and studios in Washington, D.C. The company's roots lie in a group of media ventures created after Beck left Fox News Channel. Mercury Radio Arts launched the TheBlaze website in August 2010 as an alternative to what Beck characterized as mainstream media. In September 2011, the company introduced GBTV, an internet-based video network carrying adaptations of Beck's radio and television work along with original programming. In June 2012, Mercury Radio Arts consolidated its outlets under the TheBlaze name, renaming GBTV as TheBlaze. The service subsequently pursued distribution through pay-television providers while also maintaining web, mobile, radio, and streaming outlets. TheBlaze developed a mixed publishing and broadcasting model. Its activities included a news and commentary website, a subscription television service, digital video programs, podcasts, an online radio network, and a monthly magazine. Programming generally combined political commentary, conservative cultural analysis, religious and libertarian perspectives, interviews, and news-oriented content. Hosts and contributors associated with the wider operation have included Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, Steve Deace, Stu Burguiere, Pat Gray, Sara Gonzales, Liz Wheeler, Allie Beth Stuckey, Jason Whitlock, Matt Kibbe, John Doyle, and others. The roster has changed frequently as the company adjusted its programming and distribution strategy. The business experienced repeated leadership changes and restructuring before the merger. Betsy Morgan became CEO in 2014, left in 2015, and was followed by interim and sales executives before Beck assumed the chief executive role in 2017. The company also reduced staff substantially in 2017. Distribution changed over time: TheBlaze was added to Dish Network in 2012 and picked up by some regional cable systems, but it was later dropped by Cablevision in 2016 and Verizon Fios in 2018. The channel has also been offered through ad-supported streaming, including a Blaze Live feed on Pluto TV. CRTV LLC brought a separate subscription-video operation into the 2018 merger. CRTV had operated Conservative Review and CRTV, while contributing programs and personalities to the combined company. The merger joined the organizations' resources, subscribers, personnel, personalities, and programming. Blaze Media retained TheBlaze's channel identity and added CRTV programs such as the Steve Deace Show and Wilkow! to its schedule. Gavin McInnes was initially expected to continue programs for the merged organization but was reported to have left shortly afterward; Michelle Malkin also departed after the merger. Blaze Media's positioning is built around audience-supported conservative media rather than a general-interest news-service model. It has relied on subscriptions, advertising, digital distribution, broadcast and cable carriage, and direct engagement with politically aligned audiences. Its present identity encompasses video, audio, written journalism, commentary, and live or on-demand programming under the Blaze Media and related service names. The available reference material identifies Tyler Cardon as chief executive and describes the company as active, but does not provide verified current financial figures, a public stock listing, or a single official corporate website URL.

Blaze Media developed from Glenn Beck's post-Fox News media strategy. In August 2010, Mercury Radio Arts launched TheBlaze website, presenting it as an alternative conservative news and commentary outlet. The company then expanded from publishing into online video. In September 2011, it launched GBTV, an internet network built around Beck's radio and television work, alongside original programs including Real News from TheBlaze. In 2012, GBTV was renamed TheBlaze as Mercury Radio Arts brought its media properties under a common identity. TheBlaze pursued a hybrid distribution model. It offered online programming and applications while seeking conventional pay-television carriage. Dish Network added the channel in 2012, and a campaign encouraging supporters to ask providers for carriage helped attract several smaller and regional cable operators. The business also operated TheBlaze Radio Network, launched in 2012, and published a monthly magazine. The magazine, initially titled Fusion, was renamed TheBlaze and was discontinued after its April 2015 issue. Management changed repeatedly during the middle of the decade. Betsy Morgan became CEO in December 2014, left in June 2015, and was followed by Kraig Kitchin in an interim capacity. Stewart Padveen later held an executive role before departing in 2017. Beck became CEO in May 2017. That year the company laid off nearly 60 employees, reducing its personnel by almost 30 percent. Distribution also contracted: Cablevision dropped TheBlaze in August 2016, and Verizon Fios removed it in December 2018. CRTV LLC was an online subscription network associated with Conservative Review and CRTV programming. On December 3, 2018, TheBlaze's television arm merged with CRTV. The combined company became Blaze Media and retained TheBlaze channel identity, while incorporating CRTV programs including the Steve Deace Show and Wilkow!. Gavin McInnes had initially been expected to host programs for the merged company but left within days; Michelle Malkin also departed around the merger period. Blaze Media continued as a conservative multimedia operation spanning written news, video, radio, podcasts, subscription services, and streaming. Its programming has included shows hosted by Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, Steve Deace, Stu Burguiere, Pat Gray, Sara Gonzales, Liz Wheeler, Allie Beth Stuckey, Jason Whitlock, and other commentators. The reference material identifies Tyler Cardon as CEO and places the company in Irving, Texas, with Washington, D.C., facilities. No verified public-company listing or financial disclosures are established in the supplied sources.

1. 2018Blaze Media is created

   TheBlaze's television arm merges with CRTV LLC to create Blaze Media.

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2. 2017Major workforce reduction

   TheBlaze lays off nearly 60 employees, reducing its personnel by almost 30 percent.

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3. 2012GBTV becomes TheBlaze

   Mercury Radio Arts consolidates its outlets under TheBlaze brand.

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4. 2012TheBlaze Radio Network launches

   The company introduces an online radio network distributed through its website, mobile applications, and iHeartRadio.

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5. 2011GBTV begins streaming

   GBTV launches as an internet-only network following Beck's departure from Fox News.

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6. 2010TheBlaze website launches

   Mercury Radio Arts launches TheBlaze website as a conservative news and commentary outlet.

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A conservative, audience-supported multimedia network combining political news, opinion, cultural commentary, radio, podcasts, and video entertainment across subscription, broadcast, cable, and digital channels.

• BlazeTVSubscription video and television network2011

  BlazeTV is the company's principal branded video service, descended from GBTV and TheBlaze television operations. It carries conservative political commentary, news-oriented programming, interviews, and personality-led shows. Distribution has included internet streaming, pay television, and later ad-supported streaming outlets.

• Blaze NewsDigital news publication2010

  Blaze News is the written journalism and news-commentary component associated with the Blaze Media ecosystem. It publishes reporting, opinion, political coverage, and cultural commentary for the company's digital audience.

• TheBlaze Radio NetworkOnline radio and audio network2012

  TheBlaze Radio Network was introduced as a free online audio service accessible through the company website, mobile applications, and iHeartRadio. It extended the brand beyond video into talk-radio and audio programming.

• TheBlaze magazinePrint and digital magazine

  TheBlaze was a monthly magazine published in print and digital formats. It was previously titled Fusion and carried political, cultural, and news-oriented material. The final reported issue appeared in April 2015.

• Blaze LiveAd-supported streaming channel

  Blaze Live is a continuously programmed stream associated with TheBlaze and offered through Pluto TV. It provides an ad-supported route to the company's television content outside traditional pay-TV carriage.

• 2015Republican presidential debate proposal

  United States

  Glenn Beck sent an open letter to the Republican National Committee offering TheBlaze as a host for a Republican presidential debate.

  Outcome. The offer was not accepted.

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• 2012Get TheBlaze

  United States

  A supporter-led carriage campaign encouraged viewers to contact cable and satellite providers and request that they add TheBlaze.

  Outcome. The campaign was associated with carriage by Dish Network and several smaller or regional cable operators.

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• 2018Merge TheBlaze television operations with CRTVM&A

  TheBlaze and CRTV operated related conservative subscription and media properties and sought to combine their resources and programming.

  What changed. TheBlaze's television arm merged with CRTV LLC, creating Blaze Media and combining personnel, subscribers, personalities, and programming.

  Aftermath. The combined business retained TheBlaze's channel identity and added CRTV programs such as Steve Deace Show and Wilkow!.

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• 2012Rebrand GBTV as TheBlazeGeneration change

  Mercury Radio Arts sought to unify its website, video, and other media operations under a single consumer-facing identity.

  What changed. The company renamed GBTV and consolidated its outlets under TheBlaze brand.

  Aftermath. The unified brand expanded through television carriage, online video, radio, and magazine publishing.

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• 2018TheBlaze and CRTV merge to form Blaze Media

  TheBlaze's television arm and CRTV combined resources, programs, personnel, personalities, and subscribers under the Blaze Media name.

  M&A
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• 2018TheBlaze is removed from Verizon Fios

  Verizon Fios removed TheBlaze from its television lineup, while the service continued through other digital and streaming outlets.

  Other
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• 2012GBTV is renamed TheBlaze

  Mercury Radio Arts consolidated its media outlets under TheBlaze brand, replacing the GBTV name.

  Product generation
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• 2012TheBlaze gains Dish Network carriage

  TheBlaze was added to Dish Network's channel lineup as the company expanded television distribution.

  Other
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• 2011GBTV begins internet broadcasting

  Mercury Radio Arts introduced GBTV, an internet-only network carrying Beck-related programs and original news and commentary.

  Product launch
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• 2010TheBlaze launches as an online media network

  Glenn Beck's media company launched TheBlaze website as a conservative alternative to mainstream news outlets.

  Other
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1. Blaze Media