Fox News Thinks Superfans Will Pay $5.99 for Online Fox Nation

(Bloomberg) -- 21st Century Fox Inc. plans to charge $5.99 a month for a streaming service tied to its Fox News Channel, a test of loyalty for the company’s fervent fan base.

The new product, called Fox Nation, will include separate programming from what’s on the flagship news channel, but still feature big stars like Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham. On a
yearly basis, the price will be $64.99, the company said Thursday.

The project is one of the first ventures of new Fox -- the company that will emerge after Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox sells its entertainment assets to Walt Disney Co. for $71 billion. The online service is an expansion of the Fox News brand that Rupert Murdoch launched in 1996. The network became a big driver of profit for 21st Century Fox and spawned a business channel and radio offerings.

In the new Fox that emerges next year when the Disney deal closes, the news channel will be even more important -- one of three businesses including Fox broadcasting and Fox Sports.

As part of the signup drive to the Nov. 27 launch, the company is also offering annual subscriptions. Fans willing to pony up $1,200 will get a three-year subscription, a Fox Nation Founder Tactical Watch and other gifts. They’ll get a first glimpse of what the service will be like on Sunday with a one-hour TV special on Fox News.

Fox Nation will also include access to exclusive events, the ability to interact with FNC hosts and more than 20 years of archival footage. One challenge it will face, like all streaming ventures, is the increasing competition as media groups including Disney and AT&T launch their own online services next year.

To contact the reporter on this story: Anousha Sakoui in Los Angeles at asakoui@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Nick Turner at nturner7@bloomberg.net, Rob Golum

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