The sudden dismissal of Tucker Carlson from Fox News on Apr. 24 has been among (if not, the) year’s biggest developments in news personality circles. The decision by Rupert Murdoch and co. to “part ways” with Carlson came on the heels of the mega-million dollar settlement with Dominion Voting Systems and with upcoming lawsuits with another voting machine company as well as a workplace suit with a former Tucker Carlson Tonight producer alleging antisemitism and misogyny.
The arrival of Carlson onto FNC came at a time when another top draw at the network was saddled with multiple legal issues of his own: Bill O’Reilly, host of his then-popular The O’Reilly Factor. O’Reilly got the boot in 2017, following allegations of sexual misconduct. Tucker Carlson Tonight took over the 8 p.m. hour and, like its O’Reilly Factor time slot predecessor, immediately ascended as the top cable news program in prime time.
Even as most of cable news’ viewership fell off during this Biden presidency, the controversial Carlson still remained potent in the ratings and was most vital to FNC’s success every weeknight. From Apr. 10-14 and 17-21, 2023 — what would turn out to be its final two weeks on the air, Tucker Carlson Tonight at 8 p.m. averaged 3.183 million total viewers including 396,000 within the key 25-54 demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research’s live plus same day data. These figures and similar levels regularly placed at or near the top of the weekly cable viewership rankings. Most prime-time fare on broadcast TV these days, especially at its parent Fox broadcast network, cannot even top figures like these.
The ratings for FNC’s prime-time lineup were the envy of most other networks as well. For the aforementioned Apr. 10-14 and 17-21, 2023, the trio of Carlson, Hannity, and The Ingraham Angle averaged 2.53 million viewers and 295,000 adults 25-54.
On Apr. 24, the 8 p.m. filler replacement Fox News Tonight debuted, hosted by different anchors each night. FOX & Friends morning co-host Brian Kilmeade had hosted its first two nights. In the month since its launch, it drew 1.497 million viewers and 147,000 adults 25-54, thru May 26 — a decent number for cable but far below what Carlson had delivered in his final two weeks; a 53 percent decline in total viewers and down a steeper 63 percent in the key demo.
As a result, its lead-out Hannity and the subsequent The Ingraham Angle also took significant downturns:
Hannity (FNC)
• Weeknights April 10-21, 2023: 2.466 million viewers; 266,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 24-May 26, 2023: 1.832 million viewers; 164,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: -0.634 million viewers (-26%); -102,000 adults 25-54 (-38%)
The Ingraham Angle (FNC)
• Weeknights April 10-21, 2023: 1.927 million viewers; 223,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 24-May 26, 2023: 1.518 million viewers; 159,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: -0.409 million viewers (-21%); -65,000 adults 25-54 (-29%)
So, where did those “lost” viewers go? Certainly, not the left-leaning MSNBC, which was relatively steady throughout:
All In with Chris Hayes (MSNBC)
• Weeknights April 10-21, 2023: 1.395 million viewers; 165,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 24-May 26, 2023: 1.318 million viewers; 146,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: -0.077 million viewers (-5%); -19,000 adults 25-54 (-11%)
The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC)
• Mondays April 10 & 17, 2023: 2.462 million viewers; 256,000 adults 25-54
• Mondays Apr. 24-May 22, 2023: 2.396 million viewers; 266,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: -0.066 million viewers (-3%); 10,000 adults 25-54 (4%)
Alex Wagner Tonight (MSNBC)
• Weeknights April 11-21, 2023: 1.451 million viewers; 175,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 25-May 26, 2023: 1.338 million viewers; 139,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: -0.113 million viewers (-8%); -36,000 adults 25-54 (-21%)
Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (MSNBC)
• Weeknights April 10-21, 2023: 1.436 million viewers; 152,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 24-May 26, 2023: 1.448 million viewers; 139,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: 0.012 million viewers (+1%); -13,000 adults 25-54 (-8%)
CNN, which has experienced recent behind-the-scenes drama of their own with the departures of anchor Don Lemon and CEO Chris Licht, remained about even as well despite the one-night ratings jolt provided by the May 10th controversial Donald Trump town hall
Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN)
• Weeknights April 10-21, 2023: 0.669 million viewers; 145,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 24-May 26, 2023 (excluding the post-Trump town hall on May 10): 0.567 million viewers; 121,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 24-May 26, 2023 (including the post-Trump town hall on May 10): 0.643 million viewers; 137,000 adults 25-54
• Difference (excluding May 10): -0.103 million viewers (-15%); -24,000 adults 25-54 (-17%)
• Difference (including May 10): -0.026 million viewers (-4%); -7,000 adults 25-54 (-5%)
CNN Primetime (CNN, 9 p.m.)
• Weeknights April 10-21, 2023: 0.552 million viewers; 128,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 24-May 26, 2023: 0.545 million viewers; 128,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: -0.008 million viewers (-1%); 0,000 adults 25-54 (0%)
CNN Tonight (CNN, 10 p.m.)
• Weeknights April 10-21, 2023: 0.395 million viewers; 95,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 24-May 26, 2023: 0.386 million viewers; 93,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: -0.008 million viewers (-2%); -3,000 adults 25-54 (-3%)
The nascent NewsNation also did not see an uplift; not even at “Cuomo” which features frequent guest commentator Bill O’Reilly.
Cuomo (NWSN)
• Weeknights April 10-21, 2023: 0.145 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 24-May 26, 2023: 0.136 million viewers; 23,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: -0.009 million viewers (-6%); -1,000 adults 25-54 (-3%)
Dan Abrams Live (NWSN)
• Weeknights April 10-21, 2023: 0.090 million viewers; 16,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 24-May 26, 2023: 0.097 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: 0.007 million viewers (+8%); 3,000 adults 25-54 (+17%)
Banfield (NWSN)
• Weeknights April 10-21, 2023: 0.099 million viewers; 21,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 24-May 26, 2023: 0.090 million viewers; 18,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: -0.008 million viewers (-8%); -3,000 adults 25-54 (-14%)
But of course, the news outlet to most benefit from the absence of Carlson is the conservative outlet Newsmax. It debuted its 9 p.m. show Chris Plante Right Squad on May 8th, replacing the network’s Prime News hour.
Eric Bolling The Balance (NMX)
• Weeknights April 10-21, 2023: 0.148 million viewers; 19,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 24-May 26, 2023: 0.475 million viewers; 49,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: 0.327 million viewers (+220%); 30,000 adults 25-54 (+157%)
Prime News (NMX)
• Weeknights April 10-21, 2023: 0.107 million viewers; 14,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 24-May 5, 2023: 0.322 million viewers; 37,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: 0.215 million viewers (+200%); 23,000 adults 25-54 (+169%)
Chris Plante Right Squad (NMX)
• Weeknights April 10-21, 2023 (as “Prime News”): 0.107 million viewers; 14,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights May 8-26, 2023: 0.306 million viewers; 33,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: 0.199 million viewers (+185%); 20,000 adults 25-54 (+143%)
Greg Kelly Reports (NMX)
• Weeknights April 10-21, 2023: 0.155 million viewers; 16,000 adults 25-54
• Weeknights Apr. 24-May 26, 2023: 0.336 million viewers; 42,000 adults 25-54
• Difference: 0.180 million viewers (+116%); 26,000 adults 25-54 (+160%)
As noted, Newsmax’s prime time more than doubled its viewership; its 8 p.m. Eric Bolling The Balance more than tripled. But as significant the percentage changes were at FNC and Newsmax, their raw numbers detail that not every FNC watcher moved on to Newsmax.
Since Apr. 24, FNC weeknights averaged 1.56 million viewers and 156,000 in 25-54 — that’s -970,000 viewers and -139,000 adults 25-54 from mid-April; Newsmax prime time, since Apr. 24: 374,000 viewers and 42,000 adults 25-54 — that’s +237,000 viewers and +26,000 adults 25-54 from mid-April.
With the other news outlets relatively even, 743,000 total viewers (113,000 of them aged 25-54) from FNC did not change the channel to Newsmax nor did they venture to other cable news channels.
Will these “lost” viewers return to FNC?
Last month (in May), the Drudge Report reported that Fox News might soon slate Hannity, Jesse Watters Primetime, and Gutfeld! as their new primetime lineup. No official word if that lineup is confirmed.
FNC — an already highly-viewed news network that boasts such other popular shows like The Five, Hannity, and Gutfeld! — believed it’s potent enough that it can withstand Carlson’s departure, just as it had with Bill O’Reilly’s six years earlier. Its proposed nightly lineup or something similar will probably resonate with most regular FNC viewers, especially in the lead-up to the 2024 elections that will feature Donald Trump once again.
But several factors may damper lofty long-term expectations at night.
Tucker Carlson Tonight had already been established (albeit briefly) when it debuted in 2016 in the 9 p.m. slot airing out of O’Reilly Factor. So when O’Reilly left, the move of Carlson up to 8 p.m. was a seamless transition.
The era in which this transition took place was the first year of the chaotic Trump presidency, which had accelerated the churn of news cycles, driving up interest in all news media at the time.
In addition, audiences for cable TV overall are currently declining at a rapid rate. MoffetNathanson research indicated that there were 31 million fewer households subscribed to cable or satellite in the U.S. in the third quarter of last year (July-Sep. 2022: 62.2 million), compared to the same period in 2017 (July-Sep. 2017: 93.2 million). Considering the recent pace of decline, it’s estimated that the subscriber base is 56-60 million, as of June 2023.
Fox News has thus far withstood the cord-cutting phenomenon by consumers, ranking as cable’s most-watched network. It probably will stay so in the near future. But with a dwindling and aging cable viewer base, the outlook for FNC’s potency (as well as for all of cable news) in the distant future is murky, at best.
Top 10 most-watched cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) in total viewers:
1. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 5/22/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.636 million viewers
2. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 5/25/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.464 million viewers
3. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 5/23/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.444 million viewers
4. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 5/22/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.331 million viewers
5. The Five (FOXNC, Fri. 5/26/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.187 million viewers
6. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Mon. 5/22/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 2.027 million viewers
7. Fox News Tonight (FOXNC, Wed. 5/24/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.955 million viewers
8. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Tue. 5/23/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.929 million viewers
9. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 5/24/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.896 million viewers
10. Jesse Watters Primetime (FOXNC, Wed. 5/24/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 1.870 million viewers
188. Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN, Thu. 5/25/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.650 million viewers
249. Rob Schmitt Tonight (NMX, Mon. 5/22/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.520 million viewers
395. Forensic Files (HLN, late Thu. 5/25/2023 12:30 AM, 30 min.) 0.327 million viewers
406. Varney & Company (FBN, Wed. 5/24/2023 10:00 AM, 60 min.) 0.306 million viewers
496. Fast Money Halftime Report (CNBC, Thu. 5/25/2023 12:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.234 million viewers
639. Cuomo (NWSN, Thu. 5/25/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.175 million viewers
656. Heavy Rescue: 401 “(101) War Zone” (TWC, Sun. 5/28/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.169 million viewers
742. FBI Files (COURT TV, Sun. 5/28/2023 3:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.135 million viewers
Top 10 cable news programs (and the top programs of other outlets with their respective associated ranks) among adults 25-54:
1. The Five (FOXNC, Mon. 5/22/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.262 million adults 25-54
2. Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC, Mon. 5/22/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.259 million adults 25-54
3. The Five (FOXNC, Tue. 5/23/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.253 million adults 25-54
4. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Wed. 5/24/2023 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.245 million adults 25-54
5. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Mon. 5/22/2023 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.245 million adults 25-54
6. Gutfeld! (FOXNC, Tue. 5/23/2023 11:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.242 million adults 25-54
7. The Ingraham Angle (FOXNC, Wed. 5/24/2023 10:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.241 million adults 25-54
8. The Five (FOXNC, Thu. 5/25/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.231 million adults 25-54
9. Hannity (FOXNC, Tue. 5/23/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.215 million adults 25-54
10. Hannity (FOXNC, Wed. 5/24/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.211 million adults 25-54
72. CNN News Central (CNN, Wed. 5/24/2023 3:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.141 million adults 25-54
140. Forensic Files (HLN, Thu. 5/25/2023 11:30 PM, 30 min.) 0.112 million adults 25-54
323. Eric Bolling The Balance (NMX, Mon. 5/22/2023 8:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.071 million adults 25-54
419. Deep Water Salvage “(207) Tale Of Two Wrecks” (TWC, Fri. 5/26/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.055 million adults 25-54
457. Fast Money (CNBC, Thu. 5/25/2023 5:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.049 million adults 25-54
488. FBI Files (COURT TV, Sun. 5/28/2023 4:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.045 million adults 25-54
569. Newsnation Prime (NWSN, Sun. 5/28/2023 7:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.037 million adults 25-54
627. Legends & Lies (FBN, Sat. 5/27/2023 9:00 PM, 60 min.) 0.032 million adults 25-54
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
