Blaze Media

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.
TheBlaze was a pay television network founded by Glenn Beck. CRTV LLC, which operated the "Conservative Review" and CRTV (Conservative Review Television), was an online subscription network.
History.
On August 31, 2010, three days after his Restoring Honor rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., conservative political commentator Glenn Beck launched the "TheBlaze" website, describing it as an alternative to "mainstream media outlets". TheBlaze headquarters is located in Irving, Texas, at the Mercury Studios (formerly the Studios at Las Colinas).
Beck announced the creation of an online-only network that would replace Insider Extreme as a result of his Fox News departure on June 7, 2011. On September 12, 2011, Beck launched GBTV (Glenn Beck TV) as an exclusive internet streaming network, produced and operated by Mercury Radio Arts. GBTV would air a television adaptation of his radio show, his television show, and other original programming, including "Real News from TheBlaze", a nightly news program hosted by former CNN personality Amy Holmes. On June 18, 2012, Mercury Radio Arts announced the consolidation of all of its outlets under the "TheBlaze" brand, thus renaming the internet television station from GBTV to TheBlaze.
In 2012, Dish Network placed TheBlaze on its channel lineup. As a result of the "Get TheBlaze" campaign (a movement led by supporters to have other supporters call their cable or satellite television provider and ask them to carry the channel), several smaller, regional cable operators also have recently picked up TheBlaze—including Cablevision (also known as Optimum TV – Channel 828), a major cable provider in the New York metropolitan area.
Betsy Morgan was named CEO of "TheBlaze" on December 9, 2014, replacing Chris Balfe, who had been CEO since the beginning. Morgan left the company in June 2015. Chief Revenue Officer Kraig Kitchin replaced Morgan until he resigned in January 2016, taking the position of Interim Head of Sales and being replaced by Stewart Padveen, a digital startup entrepreneur, who resigned in February 2017. Beck took over as CEO of the company in May 2017.
In November 2015, Beck sent an open letter to the Republican National Committee, requesting permission for TheBlaze to host a Republican presidential debate; this offer was not accepted.
On August 31, 2017, TheBlaze laid off nearly 60 employees, which cut its personnel by almost 30%.
On December 28, 2018, Verizon Fios removed TheBlaze from its lineup.
Merger with CRTV.
On December 3, 2018, TheBlaze Inc. television arm merged with CRTV LLC, combining resources, personalities, personnel, subscribers, and programming. The merged entity, named Blaze Media, retained TheBlaze's channel slot and incorporated two of CRTV's programs into the channel's schedule ("Steve Deace Show" and "Wilkow!").
Gavin McInnes, the co-founder of Vice Media and "Vice" magazine, founder of the Proud Boys, was expected to host his programs "Get Off My Lawn" and "CRTV Tonight" for the new company, whose co-president, Gaston Mooney, called McInnes "a comedian and provocateur, one of the many varied voices and viewpoints on Blaze Media platforms." Less than a week after the merger, however, it was announced that McInnes was no longer associated with Blaze Media, with no details given as to why. Former contributor Michelle Malkin likewise followed McInnes out the door after "CRTV" merger with "TheBlaze" in December 2018.
Controversies.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez video.
In July 2018, CRTV published a satirical video that featured footage of then-Democratic candidate in New York's 14th congressional district midterm election, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, from a previous interview with PBS. The previous interview was edited to appear as if Ocasio-Cortez was giving nonsensical answers to questions read by CRTV commentator Allie Stuckey, a comedy routine more famously done by "Weird Al" Yankovic on his "Al TV" series. The video was accompanied by a caption reading "Allie *grills* congressional hopeful and progressive it girl 'Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez' on her socialist agenda and knowledge of government... or lack thereof." Following outcry from various media outlets, the outlet updated the caption to indicate that the video was satirical and included a link to the original PBS interview.
Jon Miller's Bong Joon-ho Oscars tweet.
On February 9, 2020, "White House Brief" host Jon Miller posted a tweet in response to South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, director of "Parasite", and his acceptance speech at the 92nd Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay. Miller wrote: "A man named Bong Joon Ho wins #Oscar for best original screenplay over "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" and "1917". Acceptance speech was: "GREAT HONOR. THANK YOU." Then he proceeds to give the rest of his speech in Korean. These people are the destruction of America."
The tweet immediately caused controversy, with numerous Twitter users and celebrities accusing Miller of racism and xenophobia. Miller vehemently denied his tweet was directed at Koreans, and claimed it was aimed at Hollywood.
Additional outlets.
Radio.
TheBlaze Radio Network was launched on September 5, 2012 and is available for free online via the company's website, iOS and Android apps, and the iHeartRadio app. TheBlaze Radio Network is the exclusive home of conservative talk-show host Pat Gray.
Website.
TheBlaze website launched on August 26, 2010. According to Beck, the site took two months to design. At launch, the site's chief editor was Scott Baker, with its associate editor-video producer Pam Key and with Jon Seidl and Meredith Jessup as reporters. Key is known for her blog, "Naked Emperor News: Smoking Gun Video and Images". Baker is a former Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, broadcast journalist who previously worked at "The Huffington Post" and Breitbart TV. Seidl, of the Manhattan Institute, previously worked at "The American Spectator". Jessup previously worked at Townhall. Journalists joining "TheBlaze" later included S. E. Cupp and David Harsanyi.
In January 2011, Betsy Morgan became president and Kraig Kitchin director of sales. Morgan had helmed "The Huffington Post" until 2009. Kitchin had formerly been the president of Premier Radio.
In March 2011, the site was noted for its critique of James O'Keefe's NPR sting video.
Visits to the website declined from 21.5 million unique visitors in March 2014 to 8 million in February 2017.
Magazine.
"TheBlaze" (entitled "Fusion" prior to September 2012) was a monthly news magazine published by Mercury Radio Arts and TheBlaze in New York City and circulated throughout the United States. Its former title, "Fusion", was taken from Beck's talk radio program's slogan, "The Fusion of Entertainment and Enlightenment." The editor-in-chief was Scott Baker. The magazine was sixteen pages and was published monthly except for February and August. It was available digitally and in print. The last edition of "TheBlaze" magazine was published in April 2015.