Fox News host Tucker Carlson reportedly uses minute-by-minute ratings that shows his audience loves when he spouts talking points supported by white nationalists, according to a report published by The New York Times.
Three former Fox employees told the Times Carlson relied on “minute-by-minute” ratings data to show how viewers respond to different coverage.
Carlson’s segments about immigration and the white nationalist ‘Great Replacement Theory’, were major hits on his prime time show.
“He is going to double down on the white nationalism because the minute-by-minutes show that the audience eats it up,” one former Fox employee who worked with Carlson told The Times.
The practice is not limited to just Carlson, Fox News also uses minute-by-minute ratings which showed segments that are considered to be unfavorable to Trump were not interesting to viewers.
“They’re all obsessed with the minute-by-minutes,” another former Fox employee told The Times. “Every second that goes on that network now gets scrutinized.”
According to The Times, the network’s executives indicated to employees that they want to push a narrative that focused on “grievance,” and “the stuff that would get people boiled up.”
A current employee said the driving narrative at the network was one that made viewers believe they’re in danger. “They’re coming for you, the Blacks are coming for you, the Mexicans are coming for you.”
“Tucker Carlson programming embraces diversity of thought and presents various points of view in an industry where contrarian thought and the search for truth are often ignored,” senior executive producer for Carlson’s show, Justin Wells said.
Fox News said they “couldn’t be prouder of our entire team, whose commitment to excellence in journalism and opinion has led FOX News Media to all-time ratings records and delivered the best in class to our viewers.”
