Despite the evidence to the contrary -- his dwindling ratings, his loss of hundreds of advertisers, frequent criticism from network colleagues, and his steady drumbeat of embarrassments to Fox News -- when Glenn Beck left Fox, he made a big show about how the two sides were parting on good terms.
In the press release announcing the split, Fox News and Beck's company wrote that they will “work together to develop and produce a variety of television projects for air on the Fox News Channel as well as content for other platforms including Fox News' digital properties.” Fox News chairman Roger Ailes said that he “look[s] forward to continuing to work with” Beck, and Beck said that he was looking “forward to starting this new phase of our partnership.”
So far, there has been little evidence of this “new phase” of the partnership (though this obviously doesn't preclude them from working together in the future). Nonetheless, if Fox News and Glenn Beck are on good terms, why did the network completely ignore Beck's Israel rally this week?
Aside from a passing mention this morning by Fox & Friends guest Herman Cain, there has apparently been a complete blackout on the network this week regarding Beck's rally.*
Beck's rally served as a de facto launch event for his GBTV network, which could theoretically compete with Fox for conservative eyeballs, so it was unlikely that Fox would have given it wall-to-wall promotion ahead of time. But considering Beck promoted the rally as a “planet course-altering event” that may be a fulfillment of Bible prophecy, it seems peculiar that Fox News wouldn't even give it passing mention as a news event.
The Beck blackout extended to Fox's online properties as well. Both Fox Nation and FoxNews.com have ignored the Beck event this week, instead choosing to feature stories like "Bikini Face-Off: Heidi vs. Coco."
Complaining about the press coverage of yesterday's event, Beck mentioned on his radio program this morning that several news outlets sent reporters to the event, but added, “I don't believe Fox was there.”
*According to a search of Snapstream and the Nexis database.