Carlson’s first replacement host, Brian Kilmeade, performed better earlier in the week, netting 2.59 million viewers Monday, however he suffered a significant viewership decline Tuesday, managing only 1.7 million viewers. By Wednesday, Kilmeade netted just 1.3 million, while MSNBC host Chris Hayes notched 1.38 million viewers the same night.

Fox News averaged 3.25 million viewers in the same time slot with Carlson at the helm. Carlson’s show, “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” was the second highest-rated show on cable news, only behind Fox News’ “The Five.”

Fox News lost to other 8 p.m. cable shows in the 25-54 demo. MSNBC and CNN drew in 167,000 and 139,000, respectively. Fox News drew in 124,000 during the same hour.

[No one doubted this would happen, and to an extent it’s expected. Using guests hosts under normal circumstances usually means a drop in engagement, both in TV and radio. This situation differs in that the host got cancelled even while getting top ratings, and the audience may well feel that Fox is snubbing *them* as well as Tucker. Can Fox find a replacement that can hold the old audience before they get used to going elsewhere? They’d better find one fast. — Ed]