Andrew Klavan, the conservative screenwriter behind the film "True Crime," is joining GBTV, Glenn Beck’s new online subscription video network.
Klavan’s name became prominent in politics when he became one of the leading public figures to denounce Park 51, the Muslim cultural center that community groups planned to build near the World Trade Center site. He referenced the proposal as a "kick in the teeth" for Americans.
Klavan’s show will be the fifth show on the network that launched September 12, 2011. The network includes 5-hours of Beck everyday–3-hours of a live video feed as he records his radio show and 2-hours of "The Glenn Beck Program" which is the most similar to Beck’s former show on the Fox News Network.
Beck’s Fox News one-hour show ended June 30, 2011 amid several controversies and dwindling ratings and advertising revenue.
The list of Beck’s offenses is long. In 2009 Beck called President Obama a "racist" with a "deep-seated hatred for white people." He also suggested Obama’s name was un-American. His show has mocked "Chinese accents." Beck praised constitutional provision protecting slave trade.
Colorofchange.org led a lengthy and aggressive campaign targeting the talk show host’s advertisers. James Rucker, the organization’s co-founder, said in a statement that the group applauded Beck’s departure.
Over 285,000 ColorOfChange members have participated in our campaign against him since it began in July 2009. Because of them, Beck’s show lost over 300 advertisers – companies that were unwilling to attach their products and brands to his vitriolic and divisive commentary. Fox News Channel clearly understands that Beck’s increasingly erratic behavior is a liability to their ratings and their bottom line, and we are glad to see them take this action.
Beck says his network is not a news channel and will grow to include scripted shows also. "If you’re a fan of Jon Stewart, you’re going to find something on GBTV that you’re going to enjoy," Mr. Beck said. "If you’re a fan of ’24,’ you’re going to find something on GBTV that you’re going to enjoy," he told the NY Times in June.