Desperate to win back viewers, Fox breaks its promise to advertisers

Fox News’ unprecedented ratings losses in recent weeks have forced the network to choose between its right-wing viewers and its corporate advertisers. Its decision to side with its audience has left the companies that financially support the network holding the bag for its incendiary coverage of the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Fox has a two-track business model. Its audience tunes in for right-wing propagandists spewing unhinged rhetoric. Its advertisers pay for access to that audience, and cable providers pay to sell that audience a package that...