Fox News prime-time ratings plunge after Carlson departure: Nielsen

Fox News' prime-time viewership dramatically decreased without Tucker Carlson, according to Nielsen, the data and marketing measurement firm. 

"Fox News Tonight," which is temporarily filling in the longtime spot occupied by "Tucker Carlson Tonight," brought in 1.7 million viewers with "Fox & Friends" host Brian Kilmeade on Monday, the same day Carlson left the network, according to Nielsen data cited by The Los Angeles Times.

Carlson's eponymous 8 p.m. ET show averaged 3.2 million viewers during the first quarter of 2023, meaning that ratings fell 47% without him.

Carlson's departure comes as Fox News faces ongoing legal problems, including lawsuits related to the network's coverage of the 2020 election and a discrimination lawsuit filed by a former producer.

Other Fox News shows also suffered when Carlson left. "Hannity" viewership declined 20% from last week, averaging 2 million viewers, while 1.56 million people tuned into "The Ingraham Angle," down 12%. 

Fox News' loss appears to have bolstered viewership at Newsmax.

"Eric Bolling The Balance" had 562,000 viewers during Carlson's typical 8 p.m. slot, marking a fivefold increase from last Tuesday when Carlson was interviewing Elon Musk. 

Newsmax's "Rob Schmitt Tonight," "Prime News" and "Greg Kelly Reports" also all doubled in size from last week. 

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.