Many Fox News fans and the industry were and are very interested in how much of a hit Fox News would take without Bill O’Reilly as the lead in to their prime time programs week nights. The answer? Not bad. Not that bad at all. This comes from week ending Friday May 5th.
First things first. During the average cable news total day Fox News beats CNN and MSNBC combined. Fox News has 1820 (we are going to assume that’s one million eight hundred thousand homes. MSNBC 934,000 and CNN 708,000. During prime time Fox News stays number one with 2,715,000 homes. MSNBC at 1,867,000. And hopeless CNN at 902,000. It would appear always looking for the dark side of President Trump posing as a straight news network finds the general public fed up. At least viewers know where MSNBC and Fox News stand on political matters.
Here’s the breakdown beginning at 4 PM EDT….CNN 286, Fox 264 and MSNBC 111. Neil Cavuto’s continuous absence due to health issues seems to have taken its toll. At 5PM it appears Erick Bolling’s news show The Specialists is a bomb. Absolutely no chemistry and most feel it’s a bore. Barely hanging on to their time slot after The Five crushed the competition for years. The Specialists 323, CNN 297 and MSNBC at 180. Fox News Special Report still strong with 462 to CNN’s 342 and MSNBC 172. Somewhat of surprise for MSNBC now featuring long time Fox host Greta Van Susteren in that slot and losing big time. Martha MacCallum at Fox 7 PM holding quite strong with 428 to CNN’s 315 and Chris Matthew’s still bringing up the rear in that time slot with 293. Matthews is simply too abrasive for the masses. A nasty arrogant guy.
Now here’s the prime time ratings beginning at 8 PM EDT. Tucker Carlson, taking Bill O’Reilly’s old time slot, is doing pretty well so far. Surprising to many including jacksjargon. He has 608 to Anderson Cooper’s 342 and whoever at MSNB 338. The potential down side for Tucker Carlson is will his ratings stay up there. Remember he has the number one time slot he inherited from Bill O’Reilly’s The Factor. It’s still early for his show. Can he hang on? Note the regular promoting of his show on Fox News promo spots. The Five is doing very well in their new 9 PM time. To the surprise of many who dislike Bob Beckel, he amounts to the perfect foil on the show. Fox took him back after a brief stint at CNN with the proviso he act more professionally with his contrary comments. There has to be some conflict to make that show click. The public simply likes those people. One never knows what will come out of the mouth of Greg Gutfeld. And Sean Hannity, still bashing away at all liberals and constantly having the same guests, stays most powerful. He is a solid end of prime time for Fox News. Hannity 590, Lawrence looney tunes O’Donnell, (he calls himself a European socialist) the polar opposite of Hannity politically, has a solid following with 447 and Don Lemon going down with the sinking prime time ship at CNN is at 313. Even the Tucker Carlson repeat at 11 PM is still a solid number one over a first run of Brian Williams and Don Lemon at CNN.
Best guess is, so far, the brass at Fox News is relieved that O’Reilly’s absence has not caused the dip (or disaster) some expected. But, for how long? However, being surrounded with a strong Martha McCallum and The Five solid hit show followed by Hannity gives him a decent chance. Don’t think the Fox brass aren’t standing ready for a Carlson replacement should he start lagging. Prime time lead in is critical and they took a huge chance using Carlson in that time slot.
Meanwhile…be sure we have not heard the last from Bill O’Reilly. Even with what damage he may have suffered (his ratings never suffered) the huge audience has dwindled for Carlson, O’Reilly is big time income for whoever lands him. His audience is extremely loyal and will rejoin him wherever he lands. Anytime he guests on any other program their ratings that take a nice spike. Why else would David Letterman put up with him so many times. Bill will figure it out. Rest assured he is not done. Jacksjargon has to drag out the old line….”He shall return.”
Jackjargon.com