Poltics
An Australian “free speech” online radio station popular with fringe suitable-waft politicians and conspiracy theorists is shutting down, blaming its investors for pulling its funding.
TNT Radio was started in 2022 by Mike Ryan, as its CEO and flagship host, and Jennifer Squires. Broadcasting 24/7, the station promised a focal point on an array of subjects: “Climate Crisis, Pandemics, Covid-19 Malfeasance, Titanic Tech Censorship, Digital Abet watch over, Executive Tyranny, Corruption, Propaganda, Democracy”.
TNT Radio had a stable of hosts who were fringe politicians and figures from Australia, the UK and the US, whose notify material usually veered into sensationalism or outright conspiracy theories. At various features, presenters included disgraced Sky Information presenter Chris Smith, former politician grew to transform conspiracy blogger George Christensen, Information Corp columnists, and Barnaby Joyce’s partner Vikki Campion.
It had also broadcast events such as the Bettina Arndt-organised “Restoring the Presumption of Innocence Conference” that as soon as was situation to be headlined by Bruce Lehrmann. And when TNT Radio put up $50,000 to sponsor the 2022 Kennedy Awards, the journalism prize replied to the public backlash by announcing it was reviewing its sponsors.
After among the crucial network’s hosts foreshadowed the closure of the station, Mike Ryan confirmed to Crikey that TNT Radio would shut down this Friday after two investors — purportedly a businessman in Queensland and a German investor — pulled their cash.
“The investors didn’t want to position any extra cash in. But there have been also varied grumblings, unnecessary to say, however they didn’t want to position cash in,” he said on the phone.
Ryan said the company had 75 americans working for it at its peak, however was unable to safe varied revenue streams because advertisers didn’t want to be associated with its notify material.
“Because we’re a free speech platform, what we discovered is that no-one really wants free speech,” he said.
Ryan acknowledged that TNT Radio had broadcast conspiracy theories in the past, however he had removed presenters for sharing them on air. He defended what the network had broadcast — including anti-vaccine as nicely as heterodox views on Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts — as prescient.
“You be aware at fantasy and every now and then it turns into reality,” he said.