Tucker Carlson is Fox’s highest rated show/host. How did he get there? Intense attention to viewer data. They are called “minute-by-minutes” and are the equivalent of facebook metrics. Satellite and cable have a data back channel that informs broadcasters of exactly when viewers tune in or tune out. It’s live real-time market research on what viewers want and Tucker’s viewers want anti-immigrant hate. Just as facebook measures everything possible about your interactions, Tucker and company watch closely if you are watching or not.
What can we do with this kind of information? As painful as it sounds, you can actually tune in to Tucker’s show and then change channels away whenever he attacks others, kisses trump’s ass, or whatever bugs you the most about the semi-sentient potato. By tuning out at opportune times, you can lower their signal to noise and help confuse their numbers. Odds are we would be a minor influence but anything can help degrade their metrics. It’s countered by even giving Fox a viewer as that adds to ratings in general. I don’t know where the balance is best - screwing with their metrics vs making it seem like Fox has another (new) viewer. It may even be counter productive to watch him at all. It’s certainly vomit-inducing.
Keep this in mind when watching other shows, too. Studio execs are essentially looking over your shoulder. Give them something to look at. Don’t like a show? Change the channel - or maybe worse since it’s their apocalypse - turn the TV off.
No one is paying attention to what you're watching on TV unless your TV is connected to a Neilson ratings box.