(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) Still reeling from plummeting viewership, declining market share and tumbling stock valuation after ousting wildly popular host Tucker Carlson, the allegedly conservativ Fox News is reportedly scrambling to right its sinking ship with a bevy of primetime changes.
Ironically, it was the Drudge Report, a once-reliable conservative outlet that has come under fire, to some degree much like Fox News, for capitulating to leftists, that broke the news of the shifting primetime landscape at the network.
Blaring a headline “WORLD EXCLUSIVE: FOXNEWS SETS NEW SCHEDULE,” Drudge reported that Fox host Sean Hannity would soon be moving to takeover Carlson’s coveted 8 p.m. slot in primetime. The increasingly popular and ratings-friendly Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld are also reportedly headed for primetime.
“FOXNEWS is preparing to announce an ambitious new schedule, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned, a schedule where ever hour of primetime will change!” the website touted. “TOP SOURCE TELLS DRUDGE: ‘IT’S OUR BOLDEST AND MOST FEARLESS LINE-UP EVER’…”
To be clear: If Watters and Gutfeld “get primetime,” and Hannity is at 8 pm, then it would mean that Laura Ingraham isn’t in the block traditionally considered primetime. Though she could be at 7 pm, which Fox has also marketed as primetime. This all still speculative for now tho
— Jeremy Barr (@jeremymbarr) May 17, 2023
A Fox News spokesperson, however, said that, “No decision has been made on a new primetime line-up and there are multiple scenarios under consideration.”
Those considerations reportedly also involved shifting Watters, who has shined in the network’s 7 p.m. slot, to primetime, along with late-night star Greg Gutfled.
Variety hinted that Watters, seen by many as a more grassroots conservative than Hannity, would be a more appropriate fit to fill Carlson’s old spot, while noting the such a shakeup “would have significant ramifications that would not dovetail with recent Fox News strategy.”
Variety also noted that any move for Hannity “would put the veteran host in a different hour for the third time during his time with Fox News. He has previously anchored both the 9 and 10 slots.”
Whatever changes come to pass might ultimately be irrelevant to Fox’s future fortunes, said Blaze Media CEO Tyler Carditis.
“Without Tucker, the ‘mainstream’ becomes even less relevant than it already is,” Carditis tweeted. “The idea that most people get their ‘right-wing ideas’ from their living room TV is quaint, but laughable. Tucker will be ubiquitous.”
Public sentiment on Twitter followed that line of reasoning, and indicated Fox faced a heavy lift to restore its credibility with viewers.
Yes. I watch The Five, Jesse Watters Primetime, Hannity and Gutfeld. If Fox cancels any of these, i’m done with them. They were off the rails to cancel Tucker.
— Suzanne Mears (@suzanne_mears) May 10, 2023
“No one cares who is replacing Tucker Carlson at fox!” wrote another commentator. “What we do care about is when we will be able to watch Tucker again!”
Fox News' just-announced primetime schedule is a real gag fest. ZERO interest watching Sean Hannity at any hour. If I want his style, I'll go to a dive bar.
— Scott St. Clair (@PiperScott1949) May 17, 2023
