Fox News To Move Tucker Carlson Into Kelly's Timeslot

Conservative journalist Tucker Carlson has been named as the replacement for Fox News star anchor Megan Kelly as she departs the network this Friday.

Carlson started in the 7 p.m. spot in November after longtime Fox anchor Greta Van Susteren left. His show, a mix of confrontational interviews and news coverage, has seen success.

He previously hosted shows on CNN and MSNBC, and is a former co-host of Fox's weekend morning show "Fox and Friends."

Martha MacCallum

According to The NY Times, Martha MacCallum, co-anchor of Fox News’s morning news show “America’s Newsroom,” is to succeed Mr. Carlson at 7 p.m..

MacCallum’s 7 p.m. hosting duties will initially be for the first 100 days of the administration of President-elect Donald J. Trump, the people said.

Carlson’s selection is a swift conclusion to an anchor sweepstakes that only emerged on Tuesday, when Ms. Kelly, the No. 2 anchor in cable news ratings, behind her colleague Bill O’Reilly, announced that she would be leaving Fox for NBC News. Her new role there will include a daytime news show and a Sunday newsmagazine that will compete against CBS’s “60 Minutes.”

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

Tucker Carlson Tonight will feature powerful analysis and spirited debates with guests from across the political and cultural spectrum. Carlson will bring his signature style to tackle issues largely uncovered by the media in every corner of the United States, challenging political correctness with a “Campus Craziness” segment and tackling media bias and outrage during “Tucker’s TwitterStorm.” Additionally, viewers will have the chance to interact with Carlson live throughout the hour using the hashtag #Tucker across all social media platforms.

Carlson joined FNC in 2009 as a political contributor and was named co-host of FOX & Friends Weekend in 2012. He also played an integral role in 2016 election coverage, most recently serving as a key contributor on election night. In 2010, he founded The Daily Caller, a 24-hour news site featuring original reporting, commentary and breaking news. Carlson will remain a passive owner of The Daily Caller, but will no longer serve as the website’s editor-in-chief.