Conan O'Brien and Fox Still Just Flirting

Rupert Murdoch says no "real" negotiations have happened yet to bring former Tonight Show host to new network

Conan O'Brien is not quite yet the fantastic Mr. Fox.

The former Tonight Show host and a certain network may be talking, but so far, it's more of a flirtation than a relationship.

"Sure, there have been some conversations," News Corp. Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch said during a quarterly earnings call on Tuesday, per The Hollywood Reporter. But, he claimed, "no real negotiations" have taken place.

But is the network ready to jump into the late-night talking game?

Murdoch says there are "different opinions" on the issue at the network, but claims that if the programming people can show that such a venture would "make a profit, we would do it in a flash."

Timing may also be an issue. Fox affiliates find their syndicated programming from 11:00 to 11:30 p.m. profitable, and negotiating a start time for Team CoCo may be easier said than done.

Per the terms of his NBC severance, O'Brien will be allowed to launch a new show in September.