“Kevin Costner Signs New Deal with Fox Nation”
Fox Nation, the subscription streaming service from Fox News, is set to launch a new Kevin Costner series in the first quarter of 2025, according to Axios.
Why it matters: Fox Nation provides a platform for Costner and other Hollywood stars to explore passion projects on subjects like faith, outdoor living, and true crime, specifically targeting viewers in the heartland of America. This niche focus has been advantageous for Costner, especially as his recent films have struggled at the box office. For instance, his $100 million Western epic “Horizon” grossed only $12 million domestically in its opening week.
Zoom in: The upcoming series will be a spinoff of Costner’s successful 2022 Fox Nation docuseries, “Yellowstone: One-Fifty.” It is being produced by Costner’s Territory Film Studios in collaboration with Montana-based Warm Springs Productions, the same teams behind his previous Fox Nation series.
The big picture: This new series is part of Fox Nation’s broader strategy to attract more Hollywood talent and expand its entertainment offerings. Initially focused on news and opinion, Fox Nation has been increasingly incorporating entertainment content. Recent deals include a faith-based series with Martin Scorsese set to debut in November and exclusive streaming rights to Matthew McConaughey’s film, “Deep in the Heart.”
Catch up quick: Fox Nation’s shift toward entertainment gained momentum in 2022 with Costner’s “Yellowstone: One-Fifty,” which significantly boosted subscriber growth and engagement. According to Fox Corp. chair and CEO Lachlan Murdoch, the series attracted “hundreds of thousands” of new subscribers. As of now, Fox Nation has approximately 2 million paid subscribers, with potential growth in the higher single-digit millions.
Zoom out: The transition of Fox Nation into an entertainment hub allows the platform to diversify its content offerings, including lifestyle and outdoors programming, appealing to younger audiences. The median age of a Fox Nation subscriber is 50, compared to 69 for Fox News’ traditional channel. Fox Nation’s target audience includes pop culture enthusiasts who are also fans of Fox News, likened to a “Bravo for conservatives.”
What to watch: Fox Corp. executives have hinted that Fox Nation could eventually house Fox News’ linear TV content if the traditional cable bundle becomes obsolete. While no immediate plans exist for this transition, the experience gained from developing Fox Nation positions the company well for future shifts in the media landscape. However, Fox’s sports content will likely remain separate under Venu Sports, a joint venture with ESPN and Warner Bros. Discovery.
