Tucker Carlson Dominates Ratings in O'Reilly Spot

"Tucker Carlson Tonight" averaged 3.2 million viewers and 636,000 adults in the 25-54 demographic at 8 p.m. Monday, The Hollywood Reporter reported, citing Nielsen Media early returns.

It was the first time the show replaced the popular "O'Reilly Factor," the longtime ratings kingpin on the Fox News Channel. O'Reilly averaged 3.9 million and a 635,000 in the adult 25-54 demo in his last night on the air April 10, The Hollywood Reporter noted.

Fox News cut ties with O'Reilly last week as claims of sexual harassment against the talk show host continued to affect advertisers. Dozens of companies yanked their ads off "The O'Reilly Factor" after a New York Times report pointed out that Fox had paid about $13 million to settle past harassment claims by five women dating back 13 years, Deadline.com noted.

"The Five," Fox News panel talk show that was moved into Carlson's old slot at 9 p.m., drew 2.8 million viewers and 568,000 adults 24-54, which was good enough to beat out "The Rachel Maddow Show" on MSNBC, which drew 2.2 million and 523,000 adults 25-54.

Overall, Fox News continued its dominance of the 8-11 p.m. primetime slots without the O'Reilly lead-in, noted The Hollywood Reporter. Fox News averaged 2.8 million viewers and 582,547 adults 24-54 Monday, while MSNBC attracted 1.8 million viewers and 424,425 adults 24-54, followed by CNN 944,570 viewers and 328,705 adults 25-54, per The Hollywood Reporter.

"Compared to the same day last year, FNC's primetime average is up double-digits in both categories — up 31 percent in total viewers and 54 percent in the demo," The Wrap writer Brian Flood noted.

It marks the second time Carlson was called upon to replace a popular Fox News primetime host. "Tucker Carlson Tonight" began in January, replacing "The Kelly File" when Megyn Kelly left Fox News for NBC.

The Hill reported in late January that Carlson had nearly doubled Kelly's ratings in the adult 25-54 demo over the same period last year, averaging 775,000 viewers per night compared to 398,000 for Kelly in 2016, per Nielsen Media Research.

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