Tucker Carlson to Take Megyn Kelly’s Slot, Martha MacCallum Goes Primetime

Fox News anchors Tucker Carlson, left, and Martha MacCallum, right. (Photo: Fox News)

Fox News made announced on Thursday Tucker Carlson will take Megyn Kelly’s slot at 9PM EST and Martha MacCallum go primetime and take over for Carlson at 7PM. The change to the top-rated prime-time lineup comes as Kelly, the host of the “The Kelly File,” confirmed she decided to leave Fox News later this year to join NBC News, which she frequently criticized as not being “Fair and Balanced.”

Carlson’s rise to prominence and popularity in record time on the network has exceeded even his predecessor’s downfall. Kelly grew in popularity among mainstream media elites for her public feud with the then-Republican frontrunner and New York businessman, thus it’s fitting she would move to an outlet openly hostile to President-elect Donald J. Trump. However, Carlson was one of the few voices in the wilderness who understood the Trump phenomena and disconnect between D.C. party establishment and Big Media elites.

“In less than two months, Tucker has taken cable news by storm with his spirited interviews and consistently strong performance,” Executive Chairman of 21st Century Fox Rupert Murdoch said in a statement. “Viewers have overwhelmingly responded to the show and we look forward to him being a part of Fox News’ powerful primetime line-up.”

While Fox News Channel has been the most watched television news channel for nearly 15 years, Kelly’s feud has also resulted in major damage to Fox News’ brand. In August, 2015, FOX News hosted the first Republican presidential debate and boasted their highest ratings ever. But it sparked the controversy between Ms. Kelly and Mr. Trump, which viewers frowned upon.

Their brand among Republicans tanked and, according to the YouGov BrandIndex survey, their image among the general public overall also took a dive, fell to par with CNN and the trend lines were moving in the wrong direction.

Since his record-breaking launch of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” last November, he has become one of the most popular cable news programs on television. The show finished the month of December as the number two cable news program in the Adults 25-54 demographic, second only to “The O’Reilly Factor.”

The new program will continue as “Tucker Carlson Tonight” and will broadcast live from FNC’s Washington, D.C. bureau.

MacCallum will take over for Carlson at 7pm, kicking off primetime with a new news program, “The First 100 Days.” The show will chronicle the beginning of the new administration and run through President-elect Trump’s first 100 days in office.

“Martha is a versatile and skilled anchor who has proven to be an essential component of our news programming,” Murdoch said. “For the last 12 years, our viewers have trusted her reporting and we are pleased she will be part of our primetime line-up for the first 100 days of the new presidency.”

MacCallum will also co-anchor the network’s Inauguration Day coverage on Friday, January 20th alongside Chief Political Anchor Bret Baier.