Michael Crick is better placed than most to predict Nigel Farage’s next move. And the man who wrote an extensive biography on the Reform leader in 2022, painstakingly detailing his career to date, now believes that the millions bestowed upon the party could seriously hamper GB News.
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Is Reform’s gain now GB News’ loss?
Writing a column for iNews this week, Crick assessed where exactly the £72 million donations from Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne would go. Reform have a windfall, and they are planning to upscale in all departments, including staff numbers and campaign agents.
However, it’s also understood that a chunk of the dosh will go towards a highly professionalised YouTube channel – giving Reform a platform to directly present their policy positions and arguments without having to worry about the (so far delayed) wrath of OFCOM and their impartiality rulings.
That, it seems, would be near-terminal for GB News, who have dutifully served as Nigel Farage’s official mouthpiece for the last five years. Following significant losses over the summer, Crick speculates the broadcaster would face something of a crisis if they were unable to retain the 62-year-old’s services.
“There are plans for a new online Reform channel on YouTube [dubbed ‘Farage TV’]. But what will Nigel do about his continuing commitment to GB News? How will GB News bosses respond to their biggest and best-paid presenter moonlighting for a rival channel which [possibly] bears his name?”
“Farage TV must surely be the favourite to win this compelling battle, simply because they will have almost endless dosh from the crypto kings. Whereas GB News, after five years in operation, is still losing money, and axed 90 jobs – or around one-third of its workforce – over the summer.” | Michael Crick
Nigel Farage’s future media career may create ‘dramatic showdown’
But can one man really make or break a national TV channel? Well, according to Crick, GB News is seen as a fertile hunting ground for recruits to work on the YouTube channel – and with the crypto-currency millions in the coffers, Reform could quite easily offer them lucrative, improved salaries.
Basically, a shiny new online platform offers Mr. Farage things he has been accused of valuing most – tidy sums, and less accountability. And, with GB News seemingly ripe for the picking, the author believes that this could be a real sliding doors moment for the fledgling network
“GB News bosses must be anxious. Farage TV is bound to eat into its ratings since so many of the channel’s viewers are devoted, if not fanatical Reform party fans, and bound to switch to the new outlet. What’s more, it will probably have enough money to poach the best of GB News’s staff.”
“As simply an internet TV channel, rather than broadcast through satellite or cable, it won’t have to comply with the burden and complexities of regulations imposed by the British broadcasting regulator Ofcom – and it won’t have to worry about allegations that its output is politically biased.” | Michael Crick