Morgan’s comments sparked backlash and sparked an investigation by Ofcom, the country’s media regulator, which received a record 57,100 complaints about his comments. But in all likelihood, Morgan won’t be off the air for long.
Two new UK media companies – former BBC presenter Andrew Neil’s GB News and Rupert Murdoch’s News UK TV – are preparing for the launch. They are expected to mimic the contentious and personality-driven political discussions that dominate US cable and talk radio, but are largely absent from British television.
And Morgan, a high-profile and outspoken critic of “awakened” culture, would be a natural match.
“He is certainly someone who generates publicity,” said Patrick Barwise, co-author of the book “The War Against the BBC” and professor emeritus of management and marketing at London Business School. “It would suit that model very well.”
Morgan’s next move
In a recent interview on According to the BBC, Neil said Morgan “would be a huge asset to GB News” and would be “delighted” to speak to him if interested.
“Can we find a role for Piers Morgan? Of course we can,” said Neil, the network’s founding chairman. “Any network worth its salt could find a role for a broadcaster of its caliber.”
Murdoch’s News UK TV declined to comment on whether it had made the former editor of the tabloid newspaper an offer.
“There is a lot of interest in securing my services,” he told CNN Business, declining to comment on specific offers.
Not long ago, Morgan, a former CNN host, had had fewer options. While the British media scene is partly defined by a casual and often partisan tabloid press, the TV news outlets largely frame their coverage in the middle. The straightforward BBC, ITV and Sky News maintain a high level of public confidence.
GB News, which is launching a 24-hour news channel, and News UK TV – which has not announced details of its plans but is expected to produce more limited content for streaming – could reshuffle the industry.
“They clearly intend to shift the center of gravity of UK news outlets to the right,” Barwise said.
“He’s too good a journalist, with a reputation to protect, to want to be associated with a news channel promoting conspiracy theories and propaganda,” BBC presenter Clive Myrie said in a talk on news impartiality last week. “And at least Ofcom, the regulator, is watching.”
Still, Murdoch, who also runs three major British newspapers – The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times – isn’t known for a fight. GB News, meanwhile, clearly wants to make its way into the market by differentiating itself from other London-focused broadcasters.
Recent GB News employees include Dan Wootton of The Sun, who coined the term ‘Megxit’ when he brought the news that Meghan and Prince Harry would distance themselves from Buckingham Palace.
“I feel passionate about GB News’ bold vision of bringing a fresh approach to television news and debate that encompasses all voices and opinions across Britain,” Wootton said when his role was announced.
Gill Hind, a TV analyst at Enders Analysis, said GB News “will play out impartiality in a different way.” She predicts some shows could skew to the left, while others will slash to the right, offsetting the appearance of network bias. But all programs, she predicts, will revolve around quirky individual commentators – a different dynamic on British television.
Can Cocky TV News Work in Britain?
“For a new channel launched in this market that isn’t backed by an ITV, or a BBC or a Sky – how are you going to get an audience at all? That’s going to prove incredibly difficult,” said Hind.
Morgan’s politics are often unpredictable and often seem entrenched in creating some sort of public response. That could be an asset to an upstart like GB News that will need to generate attention, Hind said.
Whether GB News can provide enough money However, involving him is an open question. Meanwhile, the tightly run Murdoch operation could get in the way of Morgan, which Barwise says might roar for offering a party line.
“My strong expectation is that he will want a place where he can express opinions and express them very powerfully,” he said.
Even with Morgan on board, GB News and News UK TV would face challenges.
GB News, in particular, does not have the financial backing of a larger media empire. The network has brought in £ 60 million ($ 83.5 million) from investors including Discovery and hedge fund titan Paul Marshall, but its fate is tied to its ability to lure advertisers away from competitors. Hind said there are “question marks” as to whether brands want to be associated with the channel.
Ultimately, it will likely come down to how many Britons, familiar with tabloid culture and some belligerent radio stations, are drawn to a more aggressive approach to TV news. Despite the deep polarization in the country after Brexit, there is some skepticism that Britons are looking forward to it.
“A lot of people don’t want to listen to that 24 hours a day,” said Hind.