TheBlaze

TheBlaze is a conservative news and entertainment television network and website founded by conservative talk radio personality and entrepreneur Glenn Beck. TheBlaze has studios and offices based in Las Colinas, Texas (located in the Dallas metropolitan area); New York City, New York; Los Angeles, California; and the District of Columbia.

The network is available on regional cable providers throughout the United States, on Verizon Fios channel 112, on Dish Network channel 212, on the Roku Device, on SkyAngel and available internationally on its own online streaming service, which also used to include a free digital subscription to a "1791" e-mail account (which is an offshoot of Glenn's 1791 clothing company) and TheBlaze Magazine. The live audio stream is available on iHeartRadio and both the audio stream and live television stream are available on TheBlaze app, which is on the iPhone and on Android through Google Play.

As of December 30, 2014, TheBlaze is available on over 100 television providers, with eleven of those being in the top 25 nationwide.^[1]

On Monday, November 2, 2015, Glenn Beck sent an open letter to the Republican National Convention, requesting permission for TheBlaze to host the ninth and final Republican Presidential debate. Over the next week #BlazeDebate was a worldwide trending topic on Twitter and Facebook, with the proposal for a TheBlaze Presidential debate being supported by Republican Presidential Candidates Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, Carly Fiorina, Bobby Jindal, Ben Carson, as well as other conservative voices such as Bill O'Reilly and Megyn Kelly. “We can do something entirely different and have a digital record of it that will be able to get the youth,” Glenn said. “We’re uniquely positioned for things to be watched online.” Beyond that, Glenn said he would set up digital catalog with material from the debate. “You’ll be able to reference that over and over again. It will last a lot longer than just the week,” he said.^[2][3]

History

Mercury Radio Arts serves as the production and operating company over the TheBlaze's outlets.

Glenn Beck spawned Mercury Radio Arts in 2002, naming it after Orson Welles' seminal Mercury Theatre, which produced live theatrical broadcasts during the 1930s. The company produces all of Beck's productions, including his eponymous radio show, books, and live stage shows, and his official website.^[4][5]

On August 31, 2010, three days after his Restoring Honor rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D. C., Beck launched TheBlaze website, describing it as an alternative to "mainstream media outlets", which he said are "distorting facts to fit rigid agendas," he said TheBlaze will feature "breaking news, original reporting, insightful opinions and engaging videos about the stories that matter most" and that "we will examine our culture, deal with matters of faith and family, and we won’t be afraid of a history lesson."^[6] The site was reportedly modeled after The Huffington Post, and has been compared accordingly by Matt DeLong of the Washington Post and Steve Krakauer of Mediaite.^[7]

Glenn 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 (acronymous for 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.^[8] 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.^[9]

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" (a.k.a. Optimum TV – Channel 828), a major cable provider in the "New York metropolitan area" .^[10][11]

In February 2014, Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman at Google and Jared Cohen, the director of Google Ideas were featured on an episode of The Glenn Beck Program to talk about Internet privacy and the success that TheBlaze has had. "People are going to be studying what Glenn did for years and try to replicate it. To have a model where you have Internet and cable companies working together, it's extraordinary," said Schmidt in a behind-the-scenes interview.

Programs

Daily shows

Future shows and films

• History House – A television series being produced by Beck's "American Dream Labs" at the Mercury Studios in Las Colinas, History House features Johnny Appleseed and Bookworm, as they travel through the greatest stories ever told; first season in post-production
• Church of Martyrs – Feature film, currently in production at the American Dream Labs
• Voltage: Tesla, Edison, Westinghouse – In production; tells the tale of the conflict between Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison
• Immortal – A planned film, featuring a different take on Santa Claus

Weekly shows

• Cain Conversation - political commentary, interviews and news with Will Cain
• ThrowBeck – A collection of the most memorable moments ever on The Glenn Beck Program
• Week In Review – A review of the week's happenings
• For the Record – a investigative documentary series
• The Wonderful World of Stu – Political satire presented by Stu Burguiere, focused primarily on promoting Libertarian principles while also poking fun at progressives and government regulation.
• After Action - A talk/analytical show starring retired United States Navy SEALS Marcus Luttrell and Peter Scobell
• The Root – An investigative documentary series getting down to the "root" of current events
• Hot Shots – Reality television program that follows professional and amateur shooters on and off a gun range.
• Ammo & Attitude – A women's only outdoor show, in the spirit of "Survivor" meeting "The Apprentice". Sponsored by GoPro and Under Armour
• Honey Brake Experience – Gives viewers an inside look at the challenges of the hunt and life at the Honey Brake Lodge.

Other Shows

Programs no longer producing new episodes but are still rerun on TheBlaze or available On Demand through TheBlaze's website.

• Real News-- A panel discussion show featuring a rotating selection of contributors. Regular contributors included Buck Sexton, S. E. Cupp, Will Cain, Amy Holmes, and Ellison Barber.
• Real News Investigates – An investigative news program hosted by Buck Sexton
• Wilkow! -- A hourlong, weeknight show featuring SiriusXM satellite radio Personality Andrew Wilkow.
• Liberty Treehouse – An educational program for younger audiences dealing with history, science and the arts. Hosted by Raj Nair and Lu Hanessian
• Hutch – Pastor Ken Hutcherson explores the stories and messages he wishes to share before he passes.
• Independence USA – A reality show where a family prepares for life off the grid.
• Pursuit of the Truth – Produced by Vince Vaughn, this reality series places documentary filmmakers against each other to see who can tell the best story.
• The BS of A – A sketch comedy show hosted by Brian Sack
• Building America – A television special hosted by Mike Rowe
• Drive Thru History – Dave Scotts takes the audience to some of the most pivotal places in American history.
• 3-Gun Nation – Reality show competition where professional and amateur shooters compete in a 3-Gun contest for the grand prize of $50,000.

Specials and Documentaries

• 2016 Super Bowl Breakfast - Featuring Mike Ditka, Tony Dungy and other NFL legends
• The Sun City Cell - Documentary on terror; original documentary by TheBlaze
• Glenn Beck's Christmas Cheer, a live Christmas comedy stage show featuring TheBlaze hosts and personalities; live from Dallas, Texas
• Never Again Is Now
• 6 Days in Iraq - A "TheBlaze Original Documentary" featuring Blaze writers traveling to Iraq and Syria
• Man in the Moon – A stage and film spectacular about the history of the world, past, present and future, told through the eyes of the moon.
• Restoring Unity - Coverage of the Restoring Unity march and rally in Birmingham, Alabama in August 2015, which saw an estimated 30,000 people march through the streets of Birmingham for the "Never Again Is Now" movement.
• The Making of Man in the Moon – A behind-the-scenes look at how American Dream Labs' Man in the Moon came to be.
• Restoring Love – A rally held by Glenn Beck to restore love and service in America and to turn back to God. Over 60,000 people were at the rally, which was held in AT&T Stadium, and thousands of other people participated in the "Day of Service", in which attendees went out to the Dallas – Ft. Worth area to serve their fellow American. Over a dozen tractor trailers were filled with food being sent out to several different cities across the country.
• Restoring Courage – A series of three events held in Jerusalem, Israel, led by Glenn Beck and a call to stand with the Jewish people and to stand for courage.
• Restoring Unity—An event held in Birmingham, Alabama, on August 28 & 29, 2015. Over 20,000 people went to this event, which was held to call attention to the disregard of the sanctity of life being seen throughout the world.
• The Soviet Story – A documentary detailing how The Soviet Union helped Nazi Germany instigate the Holocaust. Winner of the "Mass Impact Award" at the Boston Film Festival.
• Alise vs. the Mayor – A documentary series following 10-year-old Alise Alexander as she finds out the school she loves is being shut down by Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City. The series follows the issue of charter schools in New York.
• The Project – A two-part documentary series revealing how the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the American government and how our safety is at risk.

Television studios

TheBlaze headquarters is located in Dallas, Texas at the studios at Las Colinas, where feature films Robocop and JFK, and television series Walker, Texas Ranger and Prison Break were filmed. TheBlaze has taken over the entire complex, where it currently operates production studios, a global newsroom, and also houses The American Dream Labs.

• Mercury Stage 19: This studio is from which the majority of shows are broadcast, including The Glenn Beck Radio Program, Pat & Stu, The Glenn Beck Program, and The Wonderful World of Stu. This studio is also the home of The American Dream Labs, though the actual working lab is hidden from the view of television cameras.
• Mercury Stage 33: The original studio for production of The Glenn Beck Program, this studio is currently used for Dana
• Mercury Studio B: Currently unused for BlazeTV filming.

The network also has a global newsroom in New York City. The studio is also home of radio program The Buck Sexton Show.

The studios in Las Colinas are open to all TheBlaze employees when shows are not being filmed.

Notable personalities

Program hosts

Correspondents, contributors, and substitute hosts

Regular and notable guests

Former Hosts & Contributors

• Laurie Dhue
• S. E. Cupp

Additional outlets

Radio

TheBlaze Radio Network

Broadcast area	Worldwide via Internet streaming and smartphone apps
Slogan	The Next Generation of Talk Radio
Frequency	iHeartRadio, SiriusXM 796
First air date	September 5, 2012
Format	Conservative libertarian talk radio
Class	Internet radio station
Owner	Mercury Radio Arts TheBlaze
Website	http://www.TheBlaze.com/Radio

TheBlaze Radio Network was launched on September 5, 2012 and is available on SiriusXM internet radio channel 778 and for free via online streaming at TheBlaze.com/Radio, as well via the company's iOS app, and iHeartMedia's iHeartRadio app. TheBlaze Radio Network is the exclusive home of popular conservative talk-show hosts Jay Severin and Doc Thompson. Starting in 2013, it began producing and operating TheBlaze Radio News, providing news updates at the top of each programming hour on the SiriusXM channel SiriusXM Patriot.

Monday–Friday

• 6AM – The Morning Blaze with Doc and Skip
• 9AM – The Glenn Beck Radio Program
• 12PM – The Buck Sexton Show
• 3PM – Jay Severin
• 5PM – Pat & Stu

Saturday

• 6AM – The Jeff Fisher Show
• 8AM – Pure Opelka
• 10AM – America W.K. with Andrew W.K.
• 12PM – The Chris Salcedo Show
• 3PM – Mike Slater Show
• 6PM – The Weekend with Joe Pags

Sunday

• 8AM – Wallbuilders
• 1PM – Handel on the Law
• 2PM – The Jacki Daily Show
• 4PM – Gun Talk
• 7PM – Hollywood 360

On-Demand Podcasts

Podcasts available on demand produced by TheBlaze Radio Network

• The Matt Walsh Podcast
• The Rabbi Daniel Lapin Show
• The Kate Show
• Freedom's Disciple with Jonathon Dune
• David Clarke: The People's Sheriff
• 40 Acres and a Fool with Cam Edwards
• TheBlaze Radio Specials
• The Church Boys
• TheBlaze Books with Benjamin Weingartern

Online

TheBlaze

Web address	theblaze.com
Slogan	"The truth has no agenda."
Commercial?	Yes
Type of site	News and opinion
Owner	Mercury Radio Arts (Glenn Beck)
Created by	Glenn Beck Betsy Morgan, president[12] Scott Baker, editor-in-chief
Editor	Scott Baker
Launched	August 31, 2010
Alexa rank	1124 (November 2015)[13]
Current status	Active

TheBlaze website launched on August 31, 2010. According to Beck, the site took two months to design.^[6] 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.com. Journalists joining The Blaze later included S. E. Cupp and David Harsanyi.

On its opening morning, the site featured advertisements for Dick Armey's new book and for Goldline International,^[6] and its lead story dealt with allegations that Education Secretary Arne Duncan encouraged Education Department employees to attend Al Sharpton's counter-rally in Washington, which took place on the same day as the Restoring Honor rally and at which Duncan spoke.^[14] Another story, criticizing Feisal Abdul Rauf, featured the headline "Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the man behind the Ground Zero mosque, claims to be a Jew, Christian, and a Muslim. But some say that’s impossible."^[15]

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.^[16]

In March 2011, the site was noted for its critique of James O'Keefe's NPR sting video.^[17]

Books

Mercury Ink, partners with book publishing giant Simon & Schuster, is the publishing imprint of Mercury Radio Arts. Started in 2011, Mercury Ink publishes adult and young adult novels and non-fiction titles. Including books written by Glenn Beck, authors signed to Mercury Ink include New York Times best seller Richard Paul Evans.

References

External links

• Official website
• TheBlaze.com/TV
• TheBlaze.com/radio
• MercuryRadioArts.com