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The Mark Steyn Show Is No More
I just came across a bit of disappointing news this evening via SteynOnline: The Mark Steyn Show, which had been broadcast on CRTV since its inception on December 21, 2016, has been cancelled. Mark Steyn writes:
In less congenial telly news, today was perhaps the most sobering and humbling day since this poor old Canadian came to the United States many years ago. I had only been doing the show for a little over a month, and had hoped to be doing it for a long time to come. There is always a story between the lines, and everyone of course is free to speculate. I hope to be able to say more in the days ahead.
That’s too damn bad. It was an excellent show and I hope he finds another platform for it soon. In fact, it was my only reason for opening up a subscription to CRTV in the first place. Needless to say, I will not be renewing.
Published in Culture
Did he sing? That might have had something to do with it.
What!!! CRTV is really flubbing it. The only reason I got CRTV was for Crowder and Steyn. Crowder is worth the amount I paid but I’m pretty ticked to hear about this
Could it be a NeverTrump divide between Levin and Steyn? Not down the normal lines of fracturing but along something more complicated? They both have history with the NeverTrumpers. If anyone knows more on this please inform us. Wasn’t Levin anti Trump for quite a while? And Steyn must have been influenced by the NTs. I think he’s pretty well on board the Trump train now, though.
Please fill in the gaps on this if you know more or want to speculate in a more informed way.
(I can’t believe that Steyn would sue if it’s just a money issue.)
Although, if Mark is out the money for the new studio….
Just speculating but Steyn, I believe, promoted the show as daily. He wasn’t producing anything remotely resembling that much content. He also posted, or mentioned during a Rush sub broadcast, that production was delayed due to damage to the studio.- which not only postponed the debut but obviously added substantial unforeseen costs. His “studio” is near his home in NH so booking guests in a remote location presents challenges. Plus I doubt Levin understood Steyn’s desire to present so much non-political content.
Steyn tweeted in part yesterday, “Other side of the story coming in U.S District Court next Monday”. I adore Steyn but he hadn’t yet quite found his footing in this role in front of the camera. Given all that, I can understand why what happened happened.
What is CRTV? I don’t even know if I have it.
Cato Rand Television. There are a bunch of cameras positioned around your house…
LOL. Thanks. That’ll help me sleep at night.
That’s how I read it.
I wouldn’t assume CRTV is to blame…
Haven’t you heard @max when it comes to Steyn he’s never to blame, it’s always the other guys fault.
Steyn was never aligned with the NeverTrumpers, which explains much of the anger directed toward him. Steyn also being an effective spokesman for conservatism and for defending the West against the onslaught of radical Islam engenders further dislike.
Agreed. His unwillingness to back down on the “hockey stick” issue has also been commendable.
CRTV just refunded my money. Any updates on what happened?
CRTV didn’t even bother to notify subscribers that the show had been cancelled. Last week, I thought an app error was to blame for the lack of new episodes. Today, the show is absent entirely with no explanation. Amateurs.
One measly month? Incredible. And yes, it irritates me that Malkin neglects her show.
At least cancellation was painless (though available only via phone — an anachronism). The rep immediately guessed why I was cancelling. They refunded most of my annual subscription fee without prodding, though the terms led me to believe I had lost that money.
I just got my refund, too.
Is this an opportunity for Ricochet to initiate their own subscription web video service?
Here is the latest update via SteynOnline.
I was refunded my full $89 even though I told them they could prorate it. I am going to donate the $89 to Mark Steyn for his defense fund or else buy more of his books.
@kayofmt I too got a full refund. I think I’ll follow your lead and use the unexpected $$ on some of his books and give them as gifts.
(1) I don’t think that Crowder gives away his full show 5 days a week in YouTube.
(2) The idea that “content just wants to be free” is a pox upon the Internet. I wish there were an easy way to micro-pay center-right writers/talkers that I like without establishing 50 separate membership accounts…
(working on it)
From his steynonline:
“Now that CRTV has fired Mark and canceled The Mark Steyn Show, we thought you might enjoy this final CRTV SteynPost from yesterday, filmed just an hour or two before Cary Katz announced that “CRTV’s contract with Mark Steyn Enterprises has ended” – ie, they ended it, by tearing it up over four years before it was due to expire.”
The lady I talked to when cancelling, let me know the Michell had 9 shows lined up, didn’t know when they would air. I told her to tell TPTB why I was cancelling, I signed up for Steyn wasn’t thrilled with what was left.
Steyn suddenly disappeared from Ricochet as well (back in the day). Maybe he has a problem playing with others. But if he finds another venue for a show, I’ll be watching/listening.
I subscribed to CRTV purely for Steyn and haven’t watched any of the other programs (which for all I know may be excellent). There’s no chance I’ll be renewing now he’s gone.
Brave.com (founded by Mozilla refugee and Javascript creator Brendan Eich) is trying [infographic warning], but like many other great innovations, is probably doomed to failure.
I am giving it a shot though. I put in my credit card and it converted $5 to bitcoin which will be used to payout web sites I visit while simultaneously scrubbing ads.
[edit] Looks like Brave isn’t the only game in town when it comes to trying to do micropayments. This seems like something that would benefit from the network effect though. Several websites of the past tried to scrub ads and pay content owners but they always seem to end up folding or obscuring/changing their business model over time (e.g. Readability, ReadItLater/GetPocket, InstaPaper)
Business opportunity.
For what it’s worth, it appears that the first legal salvos have indeed been fired — though I am not a PACER subscriber and cannot view the docs: https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/20677929/Mark_Steyn_Enterprises_US_Inc_et_al_v_CRTV_LLC
I dunno why at this stage of the game anybody would set up a TV show on a cable network. There are just too many online options such as YouTube, Facebook Live etc. as well as alternative revenue streams like Patreon and such.
I am a PACER subscriber and the complaint is not public as of now.
TRO hearing on Monday 2pm Burlington VT … anybody dreaming of a career as a court reporter?
Interestingly, CRTV LLC is registered to do business in VT.
Steyn is not.
Presumably, CRTV owns or operates or otherwise engages the studio and the studio is in VT, not NH.
Wow, it looks like he filed a restraining order against CRTV. Mark is very outspoken, which delights me, but maybe not so many others. This is going to be a real dust up.