Are conservatives getting tired of Sean Hannity?
The conservative star could lose both his prime-time Fox News slot and his radio show

Last week, the Drudge Report reported rumors that Fox News stalwart Sean Hannity was getting booted from his prime-time slot in favor of Megyn Kelly.
Today, Mediate "learned from multiple talk radio sources" that Hannity will get the heave-ho from Cumulus radio, a rumor backed up by a brash Michael Savage:
I predict, right here, right now, that I Michael Savage and the Savage Nation is going to take over The Sean Hannity Show time slot by the end of the year. He's probably a nice guy, but his time is come and his time has gone. I am the heir apparent to afternoon drive on the East Coast and around America on Cumulus stations, which have the most powerful stations in the radio world. [Mediaite]
Has Sean Hannity lost his appeal among conservative viewers and listeners?
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Not really. Hannity still blows away the competition in his 9 p.m. slot on Fox News, easily trouncing CNN's Piers Morgan and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.
But his current audience may not be what his bosses are worried about. Indeed, his rumored ouster could simply be a reflection of Fox News chief Roger Ailes' plans for the future. Salon's Jordan Chariton points out that Fox News lost 11 percent of its younger viewers, ages 25 to 54, in the second quarter of 2013 compared to the same time last year.
Like the GOP, Fox News can't depend solely on older white males. Kelly is also beating CNN and MSNBC in her two-hour afternoon program America Live. Ailes has had nothing but praise for Kelly, recently telling Neil Cavuto, "Megyn has earned a better time period. She'll be in our prime-time lineup."
As The Daily Beast's Lloyd Grove notes, he was more vague when praising Hannity, whom he called "probably the nicest guy in the building." In the world of political punditry, that is not always a compliment.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
In the end, replacing Hannity with Kelly just comes down to business, writes Erik Wemple at The Washington Post:
The world of cable news, however, is driven not by media critics' self-important quibbles, not by contacts, not by intangibles, not even by looks. It's driven by ratings, and they may explain why Kelly is moving into prime time… Fox News' prime-time viewership among that younger demographic is on a five-year skid. Ailes, often alleged to be a paranoid type, may well be guessing that the 42-year-old Kelly will pull in the youngsters more effectively than the 51-year-old Hannity. [The Washington Post]
As for Hannity's radio show, it still draws the second-biggest audience in talk radio, trailing only The Rush Limbaugh Show. The problem there is reportedly Hannity's $20 million a year salary. Savage might not beat Hannity's ratings, but Cumulus could ultimately see a higher profit margin by paying Savage less.
For his part, Hannity doesn't seem too fazed by the potential changes.
"I am actually enjoying people that really don't know a whole lot, just going nuts," Hannity said on his radio show. "Let's just say in the end, I'm very happy. That's all I can say at this point."
Keith Wagstaff is a staff writer at TheWeek.com covering politics and current events. He has previously written for such publications as TIME, Details, VICE, and the Village Voice.
-
Why does Elon Musk take his son everywhere?
Talking Point With his four-year-old 'emotional support human' by his side, what message is the world's richest man sending?
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Why are sinkholes becoming more common?
Podcast Plus, will Saudi investment help create the "Netflix of sport"? And why has New Zealand's new tourism campaign met with a savage reception?
By The Week UK Published
-
How Poland became Europe's military power
The Explainer Warsaw has made its armed forces a priority as it looks to protect its borders and stay close to the US
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published