Fox News Announces Oct. 7 Launch of Cable Channel

Fox News executives on Thursday announced an Oct. 7 start-up date for their cable channel that will compete with CNN and the newly launched MSNBC in the 24-hours-a-day news arena. What it will consist of was left a mystery, however.

Roger Ailes, chairman of Fox News, told reporters at the Television Critics Assn. gathering in Pasadena that anchors, reporters and programming was still being determined for the Fox News Channel, which initially will be available in more than 10 million homes.

Ailes added that although he was talking to prominent and well-known news talent, he wanted to place an emphasis on credible journalists who may not be as flashy or well-known as anchors at the three major networks.

Ailes appeared to discount speculation that conservative media powerhouse Rush Limbaugh would be joining the network. Limbaugh, who has a popular radio show, announced last week that he is quitting his syndicated television series, fueling suggestions that he might again want to hook up with Ailes, who had been executive producer of the TV show.

“There is no status with Rush Limbaugh,” Ailes said when asked about the status of his reported talks with Limbaugh. He did not indicate, however, whether talks with Limbaugh were continuing.

Ailes also used his session to take a few swipes at rival MSNBC, the combination news channel and online computer service venture by NBC and Microsoft Inc. that kicked off its programming Monday.

Although he said that MSNBC had a “credible launch,” he said Fox News Channel will be different “because we won’t be selling computers every five minutes and won’t be telling people to turn off their set and go to their computer for more information.”