Fox News put strict limits on how broadcasters can utilize footage of the first 2024 Republican Presidential debate. The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro was less than pleased with the restrictions.
During The Ben Shapiro Show, the conservative pundit blasted the network for its decision to restrict other outlets’ usage of video and sound from Wednesday’s event.
“Fox News actually sent out — believe it or not — a debate guide for the media to cover this thing. They’re out of their minds. They’re out of their minds,” Shapiro reiterated. “I got to point this out, okay? So here is what they say this is not okay. They say that during the seven-day period… no media outlet can air more than a total of three minutes of excerpts from the debate in any one program including video and audio.
“They’re out of their minds. That’s totally crazy. They’re treating this like a football game or like a baseball game, which is nuts. That’s nuts.”
Shapiro then argued that it’s imperative for the information and statements from the candidates be made available to prospective voters.
“This is newsworthy material involving the presidential candidates — the people who are going to represent you at the top levels of American government — and Fox News is saying that you’re not allowed to hear from them unless you watch the debate live or unless you’re watching Fox News. That’s totally crazy. That’s totally crazy.
“It means that when people like me recap the debate, and explain to you what happened in the debate last night, Fox News is now threatening to sue people like me, if I play you four minutes of the debate tomorrow, despite the fact that my show would bring them an extraordinary number of people who are our viewers and listeners to them to take a look at their next debate.
The Dail Wire co-founder then pointed out, in his opinion, the limits placed by Fox News actually plays into the hands of its former star, Tucker Carlson, and his sit-down interview with former President Donald Trump on X.
“Between the RNC’s handling of this debate and Fox News’s handling of this debate, I gotta tell you, I am just I’m dumbfounded,” Ben Shapiro said.
“What Fox is doing right now actually helps Trump and it helps Tucker ironically, because by restricting the ability of other people to engage with the newsmaking and that they are doing in this debate, this gives a leg up for Trump and Tucker, we’re putting all their stuff out for free on X/Twitter.
“I understand that Fox is trying to grip harder and harder to its declining user base, but I gotta say, this should be relevant information. Like fair use — classic fair use — kind of stuff for conservatives all over the country. For Fox to restrict the ability to listen to clips of the debate with commentary, which is the normal way that fair use works, threatening litigation against everybody else is pretty insane.”
