Fudge:
Let me ask you this..If there were no Fox News, what would the results be?
In various threads people complain about America and their dominant position in the world and how they "treat" the rest of the world and that the USA doesn't do this that or the other.
And then comes the bash Fox News thread.
In the scheme of things, to me, Fox News is inconsequential.
America has been bashed for years. And long before Fox News was around.
Fox News has little impact on what Americans think or how they vote.
It really is much ado about nothing.
But back to your question..O'Reilly already had a radio program and had worked at other news organizations. Hannity was a rising radio star in New York City and was being syndicated nationwide.
You seem to think people would never be able to hear their views if they never appeared on FN.
If it wasn't them it would be someone else.
Fox is popular because they
aren't ABC, CBS, NBC, or CNN.
And as far as I am aware the US Government does not approve beforehand the content of Fox News, or any other news program, so your comparisions are moot and extremely ridiculous. Or do you think when Fox News is critical of the Bush administration on the Iraq war, the borders, Katrina, and loads of other stories that they've aired were they approved beforehand?
Maybe if you actually watched Fox News for a month with a somewhat open mind you might learn something even with your anti-Fox glasses on...