The O'Reilly Network? Former Fox News host reveals he is starting his own 'operation' to challenge his 'declining' old employer

  • Bill O'Reilly hinted at plans to create his own platform to go after Fox News 
  • The host, who was sacked in April this year, said he will start an on-air 'newscast'
  • 'We will go into a studio and it will look like "The Factor",' the 67-year-old said
  • O'Reilly spoke on the opening night of his The Spin Stops Here tour on Saturday 
  • The veteran TV host was fired from Fox News amid a sexual harassment scandal 

Bill O'Reilly has used his first public appearance since being fired from Fox News to suggest he could create a network of his own to do battle with his former employer.

O'Reilly took to the stage at New York's NYCB Theatre at Westbury on Saturday night, alongside his former Fox buddy Dennis Miller, as part of the duo's The Spin Stops Here tour.

During a question-and-answer portion of the address, the 67-year-old gave his fans in attendance a hint he could be back on their television screens in just a few months, Newsday reports.

'There could be a new network,' he said, before adding: 'A bunch of people are looking to compete with Fox because there’s a perception of decline.' 

Bill O'Reilly (pictured on stage Saturday night with Dennis Miller) has used his first public appearance since being fired by Fox News to suggest he could launch his own network

Bill O'Reilly (pictured on stage Saturday night with Dennis Miller) has used his first public appearance since being fired by Fox News to suggest he could launch his own network

He continued to provide more details on what the O'Reilly Network could look like, and if it is realistically possible.

'I am starting my own operation. We are going to do that,' he stated, before explaining he will soon be rolling out a 'beta-test' for a newscast.

'We will go into a studio and here it will look like "The Factor",' he said.

'It's basically an experiment to see how many people are going to want this service. 

'That's coming and will be here before September in a robust form. But I suspect there will be another network maybe merging with us.

Bill O'Reilly with two women on Saturday
Bill O'Reilly on stage in New York on Saturday night

O'Reilly (left, with two women who attended his speech, and right, on stage Saturday night) said: 'There could be a new network'

'There will be a network that rises up because the numbers for Fox are going down.'

Earlier, O'Reilly said he would not talk badly of his former employer, but claimed he was the victim of a 'take-down'. 

'It's a different network, it happens,' he said.

'They had a shift in management that coincided with a very well thought-out and financed effort to destroy me. It worked ' temporarily. 

'It all had to do with President Trump. In the weeks to come, I’m going to lay all that out in a very public way.'

He continued to compare himself to the president as the speech went on, suggesting they are both struggling because of media attacks.

'I am starting my own operation. We are going to do that,' O'Reilly said on Saturday night. The host is pictured during an episode of the O'Reilly Factor in 2011

'I am starting my own operation. We are going to do that,' O'Reilly said on Saturday night. The host is pictured during an episode of the O'Reilly Factor in 2011

O'Reilly (pictured in April after he was fired from Fox News) has not made a public appearance since his dismissal

O'Reilly (pictured in April after he was fired from Fox News) has not made a public appearance since his dismissal

'I know the same people who came after me are the same people after him,' O'Reilly told his faithful fans. 

'So I know this is the fraud being perpetuated on you, the American voter. 

'The progressive far left will not accept the election. It’s the media driving the hate.' 

O'Reilly had been a ratings monster for Fox News during his two-decade tenure, but was forced out in April after it emerged five secret sexual harassment accusers had been paid $13million. 

Despite the controversy surrounding his exit, the 67-year-old reportedly pocketed $25million - a quarter of the $100million he had been guaranteed in the four-year contract he signed this past January - on his way out the door.

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.