Media

Low bar for success with Palin’s ‘rogue’ streaming venture

Move over Kim Kardashian — Sarah Palin is starring in a never-ending reality TV show and charging people $10 a month to watch.

The former Alaska governor is inviting her fans to “go rogue” and circumvent the mainstream media by catching her views on SarahPalinChannel.com on such diverse topics as impeaching President Obama, Vladimir Putin and America’s energy independence — in addition to seeing her feeding her kids and going on hunting trips.

The 50-year-old political commentator and former vice presidential candidate’s online TV channel joins a growing list of powerful news and entertainment brands jumping into the digital streaming business. The Post first reported in March that Palin was being pursued to host a streaming TV venture.

Former Fox News Channel anchor Glenn Beck set up his own Web TV effort, TheBlaze, in 2011, and has attracted about 300,000 subscribers paying $10 a month to hear his libertarian views.

Beck, 50, is ranked No. 34 on Forbes Celebrity 100, with earnings of $90 million, the magazine estimated last year. TheBlaze is also carried on Dish network and Beck has a radio show to help drive traffic to his indie destination.

World Wrestling Entertainment set up a Web TV channel earlier this year and has attracted some 670,000 subscribers.

Palin’s effort could become profitable with not even 100,000 subscribers, according to former CNN boss Jonathan Klein, who operates Tapp Media, which is working with Palin on her Web channel.

In fact, Klein, who runs Tapp Media alongside Jeff Gaspin, the former boss at NBCUniversal, believes Palin’s direct-to-consumer Web TV channel could be a success with just a couple of thousand subscribers.

A full-year subscription to Palin’s new channel will set you back $99.95.

“It’s a bold move. The number [cost] is surprisingly high, but it’s a grand experiment,” said Peter Csathy, a digital industry banker at Manatt Digital Media.

Csathy suggests production costs for anyone creating a homemade-style channel could be as low as $1,000 per month.

Palin’s efforts will be followed in September by disgraced foodie Paula Deen — who was booted from Food Network in June 2013.

“You can turn off your TV, y’all, because the only place to watch my new shows and interact directly with me is right here on your computer, smartphone or tablet on the Paula Deen Network,” the 67-year-old celebrity chef recently tweeted.

Klein says he’s offering stars a more lucrative option than setting up their own YouTube channels.

“We shoulder all the cost of launching and we share the success of the partners,” he said, refusing to be specific about the finances of the Palin channel.
Google’s YouTube takes a 45 percent cut of ad revenue.

Klein is set to launch a fantasy sports Web TV channel — to be followed by a separate effort dedicated to music stars.