Tucker No Longer the King at Fox News

It might have taken 5 people to do it, but Tucker Carlson’s nightly show of hate is no longer the reigning champ at Fox News.

According to Nielsen data for 2022, Fox News round table program "The Five" is the most watched show in cable news with an average of 3.5 million viewers. This figure surpasses "Tucker Carlson Tonight," which averaged 3.3 million viewers for the year. The ratings for "The Five" are up 17% from 2021, making it the first cable news show outside of prime-time to finish the year as the top-rated program.

"The Five," which airs at 5 p.m. Eastern and 2 p.m. Pacific, features a panel of conservatives and liberals who debate a range of issues. The program, which launched in 2011, has attracted a diverse audience, including those who identify as Democrats or independents.

Cable news audiences have become more divided in recent years, with conservatives turning to Fox News and liberals gravitating towards MSNBC. CNN has attempted to strike a balance by booking more Republican officials on its programs, as Warner Bros. Discovery executives believe the network leaned too far left during the Trump presidency.

Tucker Carlson, a controversial and provocative conservative commentator on Fox News, remains popular with viewers aged 25 to 54, a demographic favored by advertisers. However, many advertisers avoid Carlson's show due to his inflammatory comments on immigration and other issues, which have sparked threats of consumer boycotts.

The only non-sports cable program with a larger audience than "The Five" is Paramount Network's drama "Yellowstone."