Fox News has experienced a significant drop in ratings following the dismissal of its popular primetime host Tucker Carlson. The first Tuesday evening broadcast after Carlson’s departure drew an audience of approximately 1.48 million viewers, a stark contrast to the average 3 million viewers that “Tucker Carlson Tonight” previously attracted.
Even former progressive media host Brian Stelter took note of the drastic decline in Fox’s audience numbers. Ex-Fox News host Megyn Kelly likened the network’s decision to let Carlson go to Bud Light’s marketing campaign featuring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, stating, “Bloodbath. Not even Bud Lite… lost this much of its customer base.”
The initial primetime broadcast without Carlson rebranded as “Fox News Tonight” garnered 2.6 million viewers last Monday, a noticeable decrease from the 3.2 million viewers the previous week’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight” had pulled in. It’s possible some viewers were unaware of Carlson’s sudden departure from the network, which was framed as a mutual decision by the company.
Since 2017, Carlson has consistently dominated cable news television ratings, with some broadcasts drawing audiences of up to 3.7 million viewers. His rating success has left many wondering why such a popular host was fired in the first place. Reports suggest that Carlson’s provocative off-screen rhetoric may have upset Fox’s corporate management.
As of now, Fox News has not announced a permanent replacement for “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” leaving viewers and the network to grapple with the new reality of lower ratings and a notable absence in their primetime lineup.
