M-Net acquires the fascinating documentary, Divide & Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes, and new miniseries, The Loudest Voice, both about Fox News and its controversial boss Roger Ailes.

M-Net has snagged two extremely insightful and must-watch properties - a documentary film and a new TV miniseries, both dealing with America's controversial Fox News channel and the man who created it, Roger Ailes.

M-Net (DStv 101) acquired the documentary film, Divide & Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes, broadcast tonight (Wednesday 26 June) on the channel for the first time, but TVwithThinus also asked and confirmed that M-Net snagged the upcoming Showtime drama series, The Loudest Voice, set behind-the-scenes at Fox News as well.

Media buffs, journalists, politicians, people interested in broadcast media and television, and viewers with an interest in how the media machine works, will definitely find both the documentary and the TV series fascinating about the man once called "the most powerful man in America media".



The Fox News documentary film
Divide & Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes, produced by Magnolia Pictures with director Alexis Bloom, is broadcast tonight at 22:10 on M-Net, with the 2018-documentary that was described by American critics as "one of the best documentaries of the year".

It's a riveting, revealing, surreal and utterly fascinating story that follows the rise and fall of Roger Ailes, the controversial former boss of Fox News (StarSat 261 / Cell C black 502) and a "kingmaker" of candidates in America's Republican party. It's shown again on Sunday 30 June at 02:50 on M-Net.

After starting the divisive and conservative Fox News channel and building it into a channel that got more viewers than CNN, Ailes ended up going down in flames amid scandal, paranoia, and multiple sexual harassment allegations.



The Fox News drama series
Then there is the upcoming drama series, The Loudest Voice, a miniseries that is based on Gabriel Sherman's book, The Loudest Voice in the Room.

Again, if you work in media, love media, watch TV news or are a journalist, or are interested in how the media and TV news works, you will definitely want to watch this.

M-Net told me this week that it did just acquire the 7-episode series that starts in the United States on 30 June.

In South Africa, The Loudest Voice - with Russell Crowe unrecognisably "disguised" in the role as Roger Ailes - has been scheduled to start on Wednesday, 3 July at 22:00 on M-Net (DStv 101).

The miniseries focuses primarily on the past decade in which Ailes arguably became the Republican party in America's de facto leader, as well as the defining events in his life - including his experiences with world leaders that gave birth to his political career, and the sexual harassment accusations and settlements that brought his Fox News reign to an end.

Fox News correspondent Ed Henry will likely never be back on-air after more embarrassing details of his affair, including crotch shots to his stripper mistress.

The embarrassment keeps growing for Fox News (StarSat 261) and its shamed correspondent Ed Henry who was taken off the air, with the scandalised philanderer who will likely never be back on-air as more salacious details emerge, including him sending penis photos of himself to his stripper mistress.

Fox News initially said Ed Henry will be "taking some time off to work things out" but the scandal-riddled correspondent who was Fox News Channel's chief White House correspondent will likely never be put back on air following more sordid revelations about his extra-marital affair with a Las Vegas stripper.

The American gossip magazine In Touch exposed the married Ed Henry's extra-marital affair with his Las Vegas mistress Natalia Lima that includes a secret double life of secret get-togethers, steamy messages and photos.

"We would pretty much just have sex. He has a really high sex drive, Natalia Lima told In Touch.

Now The National Enquirer is publishing the (pixelated) penis photo Ed Henry sent of himself to his stripper mistress and the lewd messages, as it reveals the lap dances and strip club romps the correspondent was secretly having while reporting for Fox News.

Fox News is now starting to use stronger language over Ed Henry's torrid sex affair, with Roger Ailes, Fox News chairman and CEO telling The Washington Post in a statement after The National Enquirer's latest revelations that "this raises serious questions about Ed Henry's lack of judgement, especially given his position as a journalist".

Ed Henry's Fox News contract carries a morality clause with his penis photos that likely means the end of his career as a TV correspondent.

Fox News Channel revamping its schedule from 7 October with new timeslots, new show names for established FOX News anchors.

Fox News Channel (TopTV 405) is revamping its line-up from 7 October which would be the American TV news channel's 17th anniversary.

On the Record with Greta van Susteren will be moving to 01:00 (South African time), followed by Bill O'Reilly whose The O'Reilly Factor will remain at 02:00 (South African time).

Megyn Kelly's brand-new show The Kelly File will start at 03:00 (South African time) and Sean Hannity moves an hour later to 04:00 (South African time) for an hour of Hannity.

Then there is Shepard Smith who is becoming the primary breaking news anchor and who is dropping FOX Report and renaming his other show Shepard Smith Reporting.

"We've developed a deep bench of engaging and thought-provoking personalities that have grown with FOX News as it has evolved," says Roger Ailes, FOX News chairperson and CEO in a statement.

Fox News Channel moving Megyn Kelly to a new timeslot when she returns from maternity leave; sign new long term deals with presenters.

After years of a very stable schedule the Fox News Channel (TopTV 405) will be moving Megyn Kelly to a new timeslot when she returns from her maternity leave.

Fox News Channel also renewed the contracts of Bret Braier, Shepard Smith, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and Greta Van Susteren in new long term deals.

Fox News Channel says a new schedule will be announce at a later date but it will mean for South African viewers a timeshift since Megyn Kelly is moving to primetime in America, moving her to the early hours of the morning in South Africa.

"Megyn is an exceptional talent who has successfully filled and surpassed each role we have given her at the network," says Roger Ailes, the chairman and CEO of Fox News in a statement.

"Her ability to command the screen, delve into the facts and lead a debate is what makes her one of the most sought-after anchors in the business."

"Roger Ailes hired me nine years ago when I was new to this business and he had little other than instinct to suggest it might work out. I was grateful for him then, remain so today, and am excited for this new opportunity," says Megyn Kelly in the statement.