As expected, Fox News ratings took a massive dive on Monday evening following the sudden dismissal of Tucker Carlson, its primetime star.
The replacement show, Fox News Tonight, hosted by Fox News contributor Brian Kilmeade who is the first in a series of a rotating cast, clocked in a rating of 0.24 for the key 25-54 news demographic, 37% lower than Carlson’s average from the last eight Monday shows of 0.38, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The show was watched by just under 2.6 million viewers, or 21% below Carlson’s nightly average of 3.3 million viewers, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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Speaking on CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, senior reporter Oliver Darcy said that the cable news channel “delivered the lowest ratings it has had since pre-9/11,” an “astonishing feat” for the network.
Darcy also noted that Fox News competitor Newsmax, “a much smaller competitor, but a competitor nonetheless in the space” of conservative news reporting, saw an “incredible surge” in its ratings on Monday night. “While Fox is dipping, Newsmax is up almost four or five times the ratings they were posting before Tucker Carlson was fired.”
Eric Bolling the Balance, Newsmax’s 8 PM program, saw viewership go up to more than triple at 531,000 from its first quarter 2023 average of 145,000.
Carlson’s abrupt removal from Fox News sent shockwaves to the media world. The primetime host, with his incendiary style of reporting, often perpetuating (or even starting) misinformation with his not mildly racist and anti-LGBTQ+ views and beliefs, was often seen as untouchable.
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He was at the center of Dominion’s defamation lawsuit, which Fox News recently settled for a historic $787.5 million, where discovery revealed a trove of Carlson’s private messages featuring vulgar words criticizing the network’s news division and management.
Voting machine company Smartmatic has a similar ongoing lawsuit against Fox News, and Carlson is also being sued by former Tucker Carlson Tonight producer Abby Grossberg who alleges that the host led a misogynistic and discriminatory workplace culture.
His dismissal was reportedly decided on Friday night by Lachlan Murdoch, CEO of parent company Fox Corporation and son of co-founder Rupert Murdoch, and Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News Media. Carlson was reportedly notified only 10 minutes before the news of their “parting ways” was announced.
Since his sudden unemployment, Carlson has remained quiet for the most part. But habits die hard, apparently. He posted a two-minute video at 8 PM Wednesday evening on Twitter.
The conservative host has retained prominent Hollywood lawyer Bryan Freedman to handle his departure from the network. Freedman previously helped Megyn Kelly, fired by NBC News, get a $30 million settlement.
Information for this story was found via The Hollywood Reporter, the Associated Press, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
