OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Fox News host Tucker Carlson has ruled primetime news television for a long time but now he has some new competition.
Newsmax TV host Eric Bolling had an announcement on Friday that his show is moving to the 8PM timeslot and he is coming for the other cable news hosts, Mediaite reported.
“This show is moving to a brand new time slot, starting Tuesday,” the host said. “You can get your daily dose of common sense and knowledge with a healthy dose of stark.”
“Anderson Cooper, lookout. Coming after you. Chris Hayes, coming after you. Tucker, coming after you, pal. Got you in our sights,” he said.
“Viewers know and trust Eric Bolling as one of the most tenacious guys in TV news, and insiders know he’s a true veteran who is driven to follow the facts and deliver the news,” the Newsmax CEO said when his show debuted in the afternoon.
“Every weekday, ‘Eric Bolling The Balance’ helps viewers make sense of the day’s biggest headlines from D.C., Wall Street, and the world … and most importantly, how those headlines affect the people on Main Street,” the press release said.
There is no doubt that having a popular former Fox News host in a primetime slot is likely to help Newsmax.
Bolling has maintained his popularity with a conservative audience with his daytime show and social media presence.
As for his friend Tucker Carlson, his primetime show on Fox News has smashed another key barrier.
Deadline published the viewership results for cable news shows this week and Carlson, as well as Fox News, smashed all of the competition.
Television viewership data found that Carlson’s show is the number one most-watched show among Democrats in the key demographic of 25-54 year-olds.
“The data showed that Carlson pulled in 101,000 viewers who self-identified as Democrats in the 25-54 demographic. MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” and Fox’s “The Five” were tied for second place, each attracting 88,000 viewers in the key demo who self-identified as Democrats. The next two spots are occupied by Sean Hannity, who took in 81,000 young Democrat viewers, and Greg Gutfeld, who pulled 73,000,” the report found.
Deadline detailed how in May, Fox News dominated all cable news competition.
The network drew 2.27 million total viewers in primetime, up 4% from May 2021. MSNBC averaged 1.02 million, down 32%, while CNN averaged 660,000, down 28%. In the 25-54 demographic, Fox News topped with an average of 351,000 viewers, compared to 150,000 for CNN and 105,000 for MSNBC.
In total day, Fox News averaged 1.46 million, up 23%. MSNBC posted 634,000, down 24%, and CNN averaged 500,000, down 19%. Fox News was the top-rated cable network overall in total day viewers. In the 25-54 demo, Fox News topped with an average of 229,000, followed by 106,000 for CNN and 70,000 for MSNBC.
The Five was the top show in total viewers among cable news networks, averaging 3.28 million viewers, followed by Tucker Carlson Tonight with 3.2 million, Hannity with 2.7 million, Jesse Watters Primetime with 2.6 million, and Special Report with Bret Baier with 2.48 million.
“In the 25-54 demo, Tucker Carlson Tonight was on top with an average of 522,000 viewers, followed by The Five with 447,000, Hannity with 428,000, The Ingraham Angle with 382,000, and Jesse Watters Primetime at 362,000,” Deadline reported.
The hit show “The Five” once again led all cable news shows in total viewers and it wasn’t even close.
“Fox News Channel was the most-watched basic cable network in total day and the third-most-watched in primetime. The cable news powerhouse also averaged more total primetime viewers than CNN and MSNBC combined for the 45th consecutive week,” AdWeek reported.
AdWeek also noted how far-left networks CNN and MSNBC continue to struggle:
MSNBC finished last week No. 4 on cable in total primetime viewers, failing to crack a million (910,000) for the third consecutive week. Prior to the week of May 2, MSNBC hadn’t averaged fewer than 1 million primetime viewers in a week (outside of holiday weeks) since 2016. The 910,000 primetime viewer average is -7% from what the network averaged in the daypart the previous week. MSNBC also averaged 603,000 total day viewers last week, No. 4 on basic cable and -3% from the prior week. When it came to adults 25-54, MSNBC averaged 90,000 in primetime this past week—which is -6% from the prior week—and 66,000 adults 25-54 in total day, which is -3% from the prior week.
