Tucker Carlson, one of Fox News’ most prominent and influential personalities, is leaving the network, according to a statement released on Monday. The news triggered a 4% drop in Fox shares.
In a brief statement, Fox News Media announced, “FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways,” expressing their gratitude to him for his service as a host and contributor prior to that. The date of Carlson’s last program with the network was not revealed in the statement.
Carlson’s departure comes as a surprise considering his pivotal role in the network’s programming and his popularity among viewers. He joined Fox News in 2009 as a political analyst and contributor before taking over for Bill O’Reilly’s time slot with “Tucker Carlson Tonight” in 2016. Remaining at the helm of the show for nearly six years, Carlson attracted millions of viewers and played a significant role in shaping the network’s prime-time lineup.
Known for his confrontational style of interviewing, provocative takes on social and political issues, and vocal support for former President Donald Trump during his time in office, Carlson played a crucial role in solidifying the network’s conservative orientation. His absence leaves a significant gap in Fox News’ lineup, which experts believe could impact the network’s overall ratings and its position in the highly competitive cable news landscape.
Despite occasional controversies and criticisms related to his comments, Carlson remained popular and influential throughout his tenure at Fox News. His show consistently ranked among the top-rated programs on cable news, with viewership often reaching several million per episode. Carlson’s popularity provided extra clout for the network in wider political discourse, as he was regarded by many as one of the leading conservative voices in the United States.
Apart from his on-air commentary, Carlson is also known for his prolific writing career, penning several best-selling books on various socio-political topics, including “Ship of Fools” and “The Long Slide.” With his departure from Fox News, it remains to be seen whether he will focus more on his writing career or explore different mediums for his political commentary.
Fox News, on the other hand, faces the challenging task of finding a suitable replacement for Carlson’s prime-time slot, both in terms of audience appeal and content. While the network has a pool of popular contributors and guest hosts to choose from, it will likely need someone with a combination of charisma, intellect, and ideological orientation to maintain their ratings and overall network performance in the face of strong competition from newcomers like Newsmax and long-standing rivals like CNN and MSNBC.
One potential successor to Carlson’s position could be Ben Shapiro, who has previously filled in as a guest host on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” and maintains a substantial following through his radio show, “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and his contribution to the website he co-founded, the Daily Wire. Shapiro’s conservative perspectives, intellectual rigor, and engaging debate skills could potentially make him a suitable replacement for Carlson, though no official announcement has been made by Fox News regarding this matter.
Alternatively, Fox News could experiment with a more diverse range of contributors and approaches to balance its conservative-leaning coverage, bringing in fresh perspectives and widening its appeal, although such a move could potentially risk alienating the core viewership that has been crucial to the network’s success.
Carlson’s departure from Fox News marks the end of an era for the network, which could face an uncertain future without one of its most influential figures. It is worth keeping an eye on how the network adapts to this change, as well as how Carlson’s career proceeds beyond his time at Fox News.