In recent months, rumors have circulated claiming that CBS signed a $700 million deal with conservative commentators Megyn Kelly and Candace Owens to launch a morning show intended to rival ABC’s “The View” and surpass Fox News in ratings. However, thorough investigations reveal that these assertions are unfounded and stem from satirical sources.
The initial claim originated from SpaceXMania, a website known for parody and satire. On September 26, 2024, the site published an article titled “Megyn Kelly and Candace Owens sign $400 million deal with CBS for morning show to rival ‘The View’ – This is satire.” Despite the clear disclaimer, the story was misinterpreted and shared across social media platforms as factual news. Notably, Facebook pages such as Housewives Drama Daily and Current Events disseminated the claim without acknowledging its satirical origin, leading to widespread misinformation.
Fact-checking organizations have debunked these rumors. PolitiFact addressed the issue on November 8, 2024, clarifying that the claim about Kelly and Owens signing a $700 million deal with CBS originated from a satire site and lacked any factual basis. Similarly, Snopes investigated the rumor and confirmed its satirical roots, emphasizing the absence of credible evidence supporting the alleged CBS deal.
In reality, CBS has been making strategic moves to enhance its morning programming, but none involve Kelly or Owens. On September 4, 2024, CBS announced the expansion of its “Mornings” franchise by introducing “CBS Mornings Plus,” a third hour airing on select CBS-owned stations and streaming on CBS News 24/7. This initiative aims to bolster CBS’s presence in the morning show landscape without the involvement of the aforementioned personalities.
Meanwhile, Fox News continues to dominate cable news ratings. In the third quarter of 2024, Fox News Channel (FNC) achieved its second highest-rated third quarter in history, surpassing broadcast networks ABC and CBS in viewership. FNC maintained its position as the most-watched cable news channel for 91 consecutive quarters during primetime. Programs like “The Five” and “Hannity” have consistently topped viewership charts, reflecting Fox News’s stronghold in the cable news sector.
The persistence of such rumors underscores the challenges posed by misinformation in the digital age. Satirical content, when misrepresented or taken out of context, can easily be misconstrued as factual, leading to widespread dissemination of false information. This phenomenon highlights the importance of critical media literacy and the need for individuals to verify the credibility of sources before accepting and sharing information.
In conclusion, the purported $700 million deal between CBS, Megyn Kelly, and Candace Owens is a fabrication originating from satirical content. CBS’s actual efforts to enhance its morning programming do not involve these figures, and Fox News remains a dominant force in cable news ratings. This situation serves as a reminder of the necessity for vigilance and discernment in consuming and sharing media content to prevent the spread of misinformation.
