Daily Caller co-founder Tucker Carlson explained Tuesday why he can’t rely on advertisers in a Twitter space.
The former Fox News host told his audience why Tucker Carlson Network (TCN), his new media outlet, operates with a subscription model rather than relying solely on advertisement revenue.
“To rely on advertising,” Carlson said. “If you’re Elon, it’s fine because you’re in a different category — you’re the richest man in the world. But if you’re me, you can’t rely on just advertisers. You just can’t because it’s a fickle world. It’s a turbulent world, and you need the fortress effectively that a subscription model affords.”
👉 @TuckerCarlson on the creation of TCN: “My goal in life is to say what I think is true, and I think this will allow it.” pic.twitter.com/ep87oYVp0o
— Tucker Carlson Network (@TCNetwork) December 13, 2023
Carlson was ousted from Fox News in April. Since then, he has posted content on Twitter and launched TCN Monday.
“These things evolve in ways that you can’t foresee it, and this is, you know, different. My baseline belief is that you have to be protected, and I know that from experience. And you can, you know, work for people who you really like, and who you think like you. And then, things will happen that you don’t understand, and all of a sudden you’re cut off from any kind of audience,” Carlson said. “You have no opportunity to say what you think is true. And that happened to me before, and I don’t want it to happen again.”
Carlson said he would continue to post on Twitter “every single day,” but said some content will be “behind a paywall.” He said TCN wants “the biggest audience we can get,” calling the social media platform “amazing” and “unique.” Carlson also emphasized the importance of funding and having loyal subscribers “who support you and will protect you.” (RELATED: ‘I Leave My Blow In The Truck’: Tucker Says White House Cocaine ‘Obviously’ Belonged To Biden Family)
“You can’t rely on advertisers to keep that open and all of a sudden there’s another Jan. 6th or they make up something,” Carlson said. “‘Oh gosh, we have to shut down, you know, anyone who’s criticizing the government now.’ You think that won’t happen? Of course it’ll happen. It’s guaranteed to happen. And, I just want to stay afloat during that time.”
“I’m not, you know, money-driven. I never have been,” Carlson said. “I’m happy to make money, but I’m not, it’s not like my goal in life at all. My goal in life is to say what I think is true. And I think this will allow it.”