Topline
Following prime-time host Tucker Carlson’s sudden departure from Fox News, the cable news giant’s ratings have dramatically decreased every night when compared with the prior week, industry news site TVNewser reported, indicating that Fox viewers are not happy with the decision and are taking their viewership elsewhere.
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 17: Tucker Carlson speaks during 2022 FOX Nation Patriot Awards at … [+]
Key Facts
Since Carlson left, Fox News Tonight has filled the 8 p.m. hour with rotating Fox News personalities as hosts, including Brian Kilmeade.
Carlson’s final show—though that wasn’t known at the time—was on Friday, April 24 and drew 2.56 million viewers, which was double his competitor Chris Hayes at MSNBC.
TVNewser reported that about 1.7 million people tuned into Fox at 8 p.m. Tuesday, down from 3.3 million viewers four weeks earlier—a 48% decline—and while Fox still had the highest ratings of prime time that night among all viewers, it dropped behind CNN and MSNBC among adults 25-54, a key demographic.
For the first time in his hosting history, Hayes had the highest ratings Wednesday among adults 25-54 and total viewers, with 1.377 million viewers over the 1.332 million who tuned into Fox News Tonight and the 643,000 who watched CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
Key Background
Carlson held a prime-time slot on Fox from 2016, when he replaced Bill O’Reilly and his show quickly became one of the most watched on cable TV and at Fox. Carlson was fired from Fox News with no named reason from the company, though reports speculate it could have been over a number of things, including the Murdochs’ growing irritation with the former host, Carlson’s 2021 documentary Patriot Purge promoting conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 riot on the Capitol, recent lawsuits involving Carlson, and concerns about “managing risk versus reward,” per an anonymous news network executive who spoke with CNN.
Big Number
73.3 million. That’s how many views a video Carlson posted to Twitter Tuesday night has received, in which he broke his silence following his cable news departure. In the video, Carlson critiqued “American media,” saying they will not allow debates on what he views as “big topics.” He ended the video with the sign off: “See you soon.”
What To Watch For
We don’t yet know who will replace Carlson long-term in his prime-time spot, but we also don’t know where he’ll go next. Some are speculating he’ll land at conservative network Newsmax, whose ratings have been steadily growing since Carlson left Fox. AP reported earlier this week that Newsmax’s prime time show had 510,000 viewers Wednesday night, compared to 168,000 the prior Wednesday.
Further Reading
Tucker Carlson Suddenly Out At Fox News (Forbes)
Trump ‘Shocked’ And ‘Surprised’ By Tucker Carlson’s Exit From Fox (Forbes)
Why Did Fox Axe Tucker Carlson? These Are The Most Likely Reasons (Forbes)
Tucker Carlson’s Wild Run At Fox: A Time Line Of The Controversies (Forbes)
‘Fox News Tonight’ To Replace Tucker Carlson’s Show (New York Times)
Tucker Carlson’s Next Move (Insider)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2023/04/28/fox-news-prime-time-ratings-slump-in-days-following-tucker-carlsons-firing/