FNC Replacing 'The Kelly File' With 'Tucker Carlson Tonight'

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Fox News Channel will move its Tucker Carlson Tonight show into the 9 p.m. timeslot to fill the void created with the departure of Megyn Kelly.

Tucker Carlson Tonight will replace The Kelly File beginning Jan. 9, according to Fox News officials. The Kelly File will end its run on the network Friday following Kelly’s announcementearlier in the week that she’s moving to NBC News.

Tucker Carlson Tonightlaunched this past November in the 7 p.m. timeslot and last month finished as the second most watched cable news program on Fox News among adults 25-54. Martha MacCallum will take over for Carlson at 7 p.m. with a new series ,The First 100 Days, chronicling President-elect Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office.

“In less than two months, Tucker has taken cable news by storm with his spirited interviews and consistently strong performance,” said Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman of 21st Century Fox and Fox News 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.”

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.