Fox News will not change ‘programming strategy’ despite financial losses and plunging ratings

NEW YORK — The Fox News Channel has no plans to change its “successful” approach to programming despite a record defamation settlement and the unceremonious departure of its most prominent star.

“There’s no change to our programming strategy at Fox News,” Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch reportedly told analysts Tuesday. “It’s obviously a successful strategy, and as always, we are adjusting our programming and our lineup and that’s what we continue to do.”

Murdoch made that claim during a question-answer session with economic analysts by phone, according to the Washington Post. Fox Corp. reported a $50 million loss in the second quarter of 2022. A $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems was said to be a factor.

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Fox News agreed to pay Dominion in April after the network spread lies about the voting technology company’s performance in the 2020 presidential election. Guests and hosts falsely advanced the narrative Dominion voting machines may have been partly to blame for former President Donald Trump’s electoral defeat.

Communications from the lawsuit’s discovery process unearthed vulgar messages from Fox News’ primetime host Tucker Carlson, who the company distanced itself from last week. Carlson supporters, including controversial NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre, called for a boycott of the network in the aftermath of its split from the inflammatory right-wing pundit.

A rotation of hosts have filled in for the 8 p.m. spot left vacant by Carlson’s departure. He has not publicly spoken about his former employer since both parties “agreed to part ways,” according to Fox News.

Murdoch didn’t address Carlson by name Tuesday, according to the Washington Post. But he claimed he’s pleased with advertiser’s interest in working with Fox News — prime-time programming in particular — despite a post-Carlson ratings plunge in the 8 p.m. spot. Fox News routinely outpaces its cable news competitors, though rival right-wing networks like Newsmax hope to peel away disgruntled Carlson loyalists.

A $2.7 billion lawsuit filed by the Smartmatic voting technologies company is expected to see a courtroom in 2025 unless Fox News reaches a settlement in that case. Murdoch reportedly told analysts that the suit, which also accuses Fox News of defamation, is “fundamentally different” from the one filed by Dominion.