Tucker Carlson, former Fox News host, and widely popular conservative political commentator, sparked a social media buzz when his video tweet garnered more views than Fox News’ prime-time slot on Wednesday.
The news of Carlson’s departure from Fox News was announced earlier this week after nearly six years as the second-most popular program. In response, Carlson posted a video on Twitter that received 1.8 million views in the first hour of posting, and has now been viewed by over 73 million users. Fox News, however, saw a 21% drop in viewership during the same period.
The news of Carlson’s departure has also affected Fox Corporation, which owns Fox News. Its stock plunged more than 5%, losing $1 billion in market capitalization just minutes after the news broke.
The video’s popularity highlights the influence of social media on the news and media landscape. It demonstrates that Carlson’s conservative viewpoints have a dedicated audience that may follow him beyond traditional media platforms. With the rise of social media, content creators like Carlson can reach larger audiences without relying solely on established media outlets.
Tucker Carlson now has more views on his 1 Twitter video than EVERY show on Fox News in the last 24 hours COMBINED! ????
— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) April 28, 2023
The impact of Carlson’s departure from Fox News is significant. Fox News has lost 2 million viewers in the 8 PM time slot since Carlson’s departure. Last night’s show was viewed by a measly 1.3 million, and every show in prime time has lost 20% or more of its audience.
The future of Carlson’s career is uncertain, but his departure from Fox News and the popularity of his Twitter video suggests that he may continue to have a strong following. As political divisions in the United States become increasingly pronounced, it is likely that voices like Carlson’s will continue to draw large audiences and shape the conversation.
Good evening pic.twitter.com/SPrsYKWKCE
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) April 27, 2023
