Newsmax hires former Fox executive to run TV operations

Newsmax on Monday hired a former Fox News Channel executive to run its television operation, a sign that the media company is looking to become more competitive with the network that is the overwhelming favorite of conservative viewers.

Michael Clemente is the new CEO of Newsmax TV, said Chris Ruddy, who runs the media company.

Clemente ran Fox’s news operation before losing a power struggle and leaving in 2016. Previously, he worked for 27 years at ABC News.

The company has spent the last few years building distribution for the television operation, which can also be streamed, Ruddy said. Now Newsmax wants to concentrate on building more programming. The network is in about half of the nation’s television homes, the majority through satellite companies.

“I think that Fox is a great product,” Ruddy said. “But it’s also a stale product.”

That doesn’t mean Newsmax won’t be open to talking to people who made a name for themselves on Fox; Clemente said he’ll be looking for a combination of new and established talent.

For the first time this past weekend, Newsmax aired a special “No Spin News” program of commentary from former Fox star Bill O’Reilly. But Ruddy said there are no discussions about making it a permanent show.

Newsmax’s website currently features columns by the likes of Michael Reagan, Patrick Buchanan, Alan Dershowitz, David Limbaugh, Ron Paul and Charles Krauthammer.

People are constantly able to keep up with tweets and news headlines, but they often have to turn to newspapers if they want real depth and understanding of issues, Clemente said. He believes that provides an opportunity for Newsmax.

Much of what people see on Fox, CNN and MSNBC involve debates and not news, Clemente said. and smartphones to non-internet-enabled devices and everyday objects.

Asure Software’s products are used to help companies manage mobile workforces spread around the world.

Customers use Asure’s tools to track work hours as well as manage hoteling, which involves providing office space for mobile workers on an as-needed basis rather than a traditional reserved desk. Asure has more than 80,000 clients worldwide.

Asure said OccupEye will complement its existing products including its rooms scheduling software, Resource Scheduler, its space utilization tool, Smart View.

“Asure Software can now explore and develop our own technology that can monitor vital real estate data involving cooling systems, lighting, increased office efficiency and more,” said Joe Karbowski, Asure’s chief technology officer.

Last week, Asure announced it secured additional capital to continue its acquisition strategy. The company said it has amended its credit facility to increase term loans and amount of available financing to $175 million.

Asure last week also announced two more purchases, Wells Fargo Business Payroll Services’ Evolution HCM customer portfolio and Austin HR, a human resources services firm for outsourced payroll, employee benefits and other services.

In light of the OccupEye acquisition, Asure updated its financial guidance for fiscal 2018.

The company said it now expects revenue of between $89 million and $92 million and earnings, excluding one-time expenses, of between $20 million and $23 million.

That’s up from previous guidance of revenue ranging from $85 million to $88 million and earnings, after one-time items, of $19 million to $22 million.