Rocked by the lack of its top-rated opinion host Tucker Carlson, Fox News has overhauled its prime-time lineup in an effort to reverse its current scores declines.
The Rupert Murdoch-owned conservative information channel introduced that Jesse Watters — who has hosted a 7 p.m. Eastern program since Jan. 2021 — will transfer to the 8 p.m. slot beforehand held by Tucker Carlson. Watters will stay a co-host on “The Five.”
Fox News can also be transferring Greg Gutfeld’s speak present “Gutfeld!” an hour earlier, to 10 p.m. Eastern. The program is usually probably the most watched present on the community among the many 25-to-54 age group coveted by advertisers.
Laura Ingraham, the conservative host who has held the ten p.m. Eastern slot, strikes to 7 p.m. Sean Hannity’s nightly program stays at 9 p.m. Eastern.
The new lineup takes impact July 17.
Scheduling strikes are uncommon on the top-rated cable information channel and had been prompted by the sudden dismissal of Carlson, which got here simply days after Fox News reached a $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems over the community’s false statements about voter fraud within the 2020 election.
Carlson, an influential right-wing voice whose inflammatory feedback about race and immigration made him a magnet for controversy, was pushed out amid the authorized points dealing with Fox News.
The host and the community are being sued by a former producer who alleges she was subjected to a hostile work atmosphere whereas employed on Carlson’s program. Evidence within the Dominion case confirmed Carlson making derogatory remarks about Fox News colleagues and administration.
But since Carlson’s departure, Fox News has seen a dramatic decline within the 8 p.m. hour, dropping half of the three million viewers who had been tuning in nightly. The loss has harm the remainder of the Fox News line-up, regardless that it stays forward of its prime opponents CNN and MSNBC.
Watters, 44, has lengthy been common amongst Fox News viewers. “The Five,” a round-table program the place he holds the middle chair, is the community’s most-watched present, and his 7 p.m. Eastern program attracts round 2 million viewers.
He bought his begin on Bill O’Reilly’s Fox News program, the place he did ambush interviews of figures focused by the host who departed in 2017. Watters usually performs his position as provocateur with tongue in cheek and is inclined to creating outrageous statements.
Fox News has a historical past of changing hosts who depart the community. The media trade anticipated a downturn after O’Reilly was ousted over sexual harassment allegations. But Carlson, a cable information journeyman when he arrived, pumped up his rhetoric and have become a polarizing star.
Carlson continues to receives a commission by Fox News, which might hold him off the air by means of his contract which runs by means of 2024. He introduced earlier this month that he plans to relaunch his program on Twitter, however no different particulars have emerged.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”