Portrait of Tucker Carlson
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Tucker Carlson on Fox News

Fired from prime-time show (strong)

TL;DR

Tucker Carlson's association with Fox News ended abruptly in 2023 when the network terminated his contract for his nightly talk show.

Key Points

  • His contract with Fox News was terminated on the morning of Monday, April 24, 2023.

  • His show, Tucker Carlson Tonight, began in November 2016, replacing Megyn Kelly's program in the 9:00 p.m. slot in January 2017.

  • In February 2021, he signed a multiyear deal with Fox News to expand his content to include specials and a podcast on Fox Nation.

Summary

Tucker Carlson hosted the highly-rated nightly political talk show Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News from 2016 until his contract was terminated on April 24, 2023. The network did not provide a public reason for the dismissal, although reports indicated it may have been influenced by pending litigation and private messages where he criticized Fox management. During his tenure, his show consistently drew large audiences, at times becoming the most-watched cable news program in the United States, generating significant revenue despite repeated advertiser boycotts over his commentary.

Before his departure, Carlson also launched other content for the network, including a weekly podcast and monthly specials for the sister streaming service, Fox Nation, under a multiyear deal announced in February 2021. Following his exit, he moved his programming online, launching Tucker on X and subsequently The Tucker Carlson Show, while Fox News rotated guest hosts in his former 8:00 p.m. time slot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tucker Carlson's time as the host of his nightly show on Fox News ended abruptly on the morning of Monday, April 24, 2023. The network announced his departure that day without providing an official reason for the termination of his contract.

His most successful program was Tucker Carlson Tonight, which premiered in November 2016. It became the highest-rated cable news show in the U.S. at one point, achieving a record average viewership of 5.3 million viewers in October 2020.

Yes, he had other roles, including signing a multiyear deal in February 2021 to host a weekly podcast and monthly specials for the streaming service Fox Nation. He also hosted Tucker Carlson Today on the platform.