Donald making plans for post election. - 10/18/16
(WSJ)
People close to Donald Trump have made overtures to media executives in recent months about the possibility of launching a media venture to capitalize on the Republican presidential candidate’s appeal, people familiar with the matter say.
Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law who is also a close adviser to the GOP nominee, reached out to prominent investment banker Aryeh Bourkoff within the past few months to discuss the prospect of creating such a business after the election, the people said.
Mr. Kushner, a scion of a real-estate family with his own holdings in both real estate and media, and Mr. Bourkoff, the chief executive of LionTree Advisors LLC, a boutique investment bank known for its work on big media deals, are friends. They met for a cup of coffee, but Mr. Bourkoff wasn’t interested and didn’t pursue the project, the people said.
An adviser to Mr. Trump’s campaign said the topic hasn’t been discussed. “Mr. Trump is only focused on the issues and winning the election on Nov. 8,” the adviser said.
Hillary Clinton has pulled farther ahead of Donald Trump in the final stretch of the campaign, and she is closing the gap on key economic issues. WSJ's Shelby Holliday reports on the latest WSJ/NBC News national poll. Photo: Getty
The primary business model that was being explored was a subscription online video service similar to Glenn Beck’s GBTV, which later became TheBlaze, according to the people familiar with the matter. It might be possible to use such a venture as a launchpad for a cable-TV channel.
Separately, Trump campaign officials also reached out to a subscription streaming technology provider within the past three to four weeks to explore such a digital model for Mr. Trump, according to another person familiar with the matter.
The Financial Times on Monday reported on Mr. Kushner’s meeting with Mr. Bourkoff.
The Trump camp has been talking internally for some time about a potential media venture that would build on his populist appeal and the large crowds and fervent support he’s drawn, according to the people familiar with the matter.
Still, there is no evidence of business planning beyond these preliminary conversations. And in an interview last month, Mr. Trump strongly denied the notion he had plans for a postelection media business, saying the idea of running for president to launch a TV network was ridiculous.
“‘Do you think I would do all this for TV?” Mr. Trump said. “I’m out here every day doing this to bring positive change for our country. That TV talk is ridiculous.”
People close to Donald Trump have made overtures to media executives in recent months about the possibility of launching a media venture to capitalize on the Republican presidential candidate’s appeal, people familiar with the matter say.
Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law who is also a close adviser to the GOP nominee, reached out to prominent investment banker Aryeh Bourkoff within the past few months to discuss the prospect of creating such a business after the election, the people said.
Mr. Kushner, a scion of a real-estate family with his own holdings in both real estate and media, and Mr. Bourkoff, the chief executive of LionTree Advisors LLC, a boutique investment bank known for its work on big media deals, are friends. They met for a cup of coffee, but Mr. Bourkoff wasn’t interested and didn’t pursue the project, the people said.
An adviser to Mr. Trump’s campaign said the topic hasn’t been discussed. “Mr. Trump is only focused on the issues and winning the election on Nov. 8,” the adviser said.
Hillary Clinton has pulled farther ahead of Donald Trump in the final stretch of the campaign, and she is closing the gap on key economic issues. WSJ's Shelby Holliday reports on the latest WSJ/NBC News national poll. Photo: Getty
The primary business model that was being explored was a subscription online video service similar to Glenn Beck’s GBTV, which later became TheBlaze, according to the people familiar with the matter. It might be possible to use such a venture as a launchpad for a cable-TV channel.
Separately, Trump campaign officials also reached out to a subscription streaming technology provider within the past three to four weeks to explore such a digital model for Mr. Trump, according to another person familiar with the matter.
The Financial Times on Monday reported on Mr. Kushner’s meeting with Mr. Bourkoff.
The Trump camp has been talking internally for some time about a potential media venture that would build on his populist appeal and the large crowds and fervent support he’s drawn, according to the people familiar with the matter.
Still, there is no evidence of business planning beyond these preliminary conversations. And in an interview last month, Mr. Trump strongly denied the notion he had plans for a postelection media business, saying the idea of running for president to launch a TV network was ridiculous.
“‘Do you think I would do all this for TV?” Mr. Trump said. “I’m out here every day doing this to bring positive change for our country. That TV talk is ridiculous.”